New Year French Style

Happy New Year, 2011

It is probably the very different culture, but seeing the new year in with a hall full of French people was a pleasantly strange experience.

From 8:30 in the evening until 2 in the morning there was food and entertainment, and more food. The church became a food hall with beautifully set tables and the book stall became a bar. The aperitifs were tasteful and delicate and the following course turned out to be a 'starter' rather than the main course we thought it to be. These first 2 very fishy courses were followed by meat and potato dishes with duck, beef, and chicken on offer.

A shot at the new year

Everything was interrupted at midnight for a countdown and a pause in the eating activity whilst everyone kissed everyone else. Only the smallest children were excepted with the pastor's son shooting everyone with his plastic rifle.
And the entertainment included worship but also drama and games. These latter were an eye-opener with pictionary being mysterious (it can be hard to hear over the hubub when it is fast French) with strange phrases that are keyed into the new culture we are being increasingly part of. "Little stomach, all my work is for you". What can I say?
The deserts were exotic to our eyes and were consumed nearer to 2am than midnight. Most were still eating as we left.