Wednesday 30 December 2015

Happy New Year - Bonne Année


I have not yet spent New Year's Eve in Les Arcs-sur-Argens.
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 !

3 comments:

  1. Bonne Année to too you Jan. Thank you for your gorgeous blog and for your ongoing support of Distant Francophile over the year.

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  2. It is a time to celebrate with positivity the coming of another year.
    At 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!

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  3. What a brilliant New Year to remember.

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