I have not yet spent New Year's Eve in Les Arcs-sur-Argens.
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| Fireworks at Les Arcs-sur-Argens. |
The year I was about to, was also the year when it was Very
Cheap to fly home over New Year.
So we caught a flight and landed at
Tullamarine during a lightning storm where the plane made a slightly scary
swerve down the runway in the wet.
Everyone started cheering as we emerged from customs and it
was several seconds before I realised that it had just turned midnight and
rather than welcoming us home, they were welcoming the New Year.
Le Nouvel An (New Year) in
France takes on almost as much importance as Christmas. Most of the cards at
this time carry good wishes for the New Year.
January 1 is also le
jour de Saint-Sylvestre (St Sylvester’s day) – he was a very early
pope, dating back to around 335AD.
Food is important – foie
gras, oysters, smoked salmon, crayfish (not unlike an Aussie Christmas).
And should you go out for the evening, you will enjoy a large
meal accompanied by singing, dancing and even an orchestra.
The midnight embracing and celebrations are just as
enthusiastic as they are in Australia, with people wishing each other health, happiness, love,
success and the fulfilment of dreams.
So I wish everyone a very Happy New Year and may 2016 be the
best yet.
Bonne Année !
Bonne Année to too you Jan. Thank you for your gorgeous blog and for your ongoing support of Distant Francophile over the year.
ReplyDeleteIt is a time to celebrate with positivity the coming of another year.
ReplyDeleteAt the end of 2000 I was lucky to be at a massive concert at Place de Concorde. Dancing in the street, champagne bottles everywhere and the avenue to Champs Elysees packed with revellers. And I was one of them! So lucky!
What a brilliant New Year to remember.
ReplyDelete