I used this European tradition of not working on Sundays to reserve Sunday as my day of rest to sit at a cafe, drink some coffee, and write emails and postcards to my family and friends back home.
People have practiced Christianity in France since about the year 800AD, which means that for the French, Sunday is the first day of the week and therefore an important day of rest before the week begins. The French people believe that work should not be your life, and governmental policies support this. Over time, work hours have decreased to 35 hours of work a week and people in France get 5 weeks of paid vacation! Needless to say, I want to work in France some day. Although some Americans can sometimes associate French peple with being lazy because of all their time off, the French actually have a very high rate of productivity because when they are at work they are focused and get the job done.
Since most places are closed on Sundays, people tend to plan ahead. You will find that the malls, stores, and grocery shops are packed on Satuday. However, everyone seems more relaxed on Sunday. I often find people on strolls or having picnics in the park. The line at the boulangerie (bakery) is long, but the bread and pastries will be fresh and it's worth it to wait! Buying things like bread and flowers is a great reminder that these items, much like yourself, should always be fresh before the week begins.
