A French phrase often used to express a cheerful enjoyment of life, an exultation of spirit. The exuberant enjoyment of life they would also call it in English. La Joie de Vivre is difficult to explain. It is more something that you feel. It can be a joy of seeing something or someone, a joy of eating or a joy of anything one might do. It is a comprehensive joy, a philosophy of life as the French say. Casual use of the phrase in French can be dated back at least as far as in the late 17th century, but it was only brought into literary prominence in the 19th century. Thereafter, it took on increasing weight as a mode of life, evolving at times almost into some kind of religion in the early 20th century. In the later half of that century, its emphasis on enthusiasm, energy and spontaneity gave it a global prominence with the rise of hippie culture. This picture was made in France on the beautiful beach of Le Touquet Paris Plage.
