Summer Fete Preparations

Yesterday evening was the planning meeting for the Village Fete.

I arrived at 8.30pm at the village hall along with 8 or 9 other villagers my head bursting with lots of ways in which we could raise money.

We sat around a large rectangular table and a large Ordnance Survey plan was placed in the middle of the table. Now I was confused, I was about to explain White Elephant stalls, coconut shy and the rat in the drainpipe… When I stopped my own confused thoughts, I caught the end of the conversation.. the 15km, or maybe 18km walk round the village would start at 7.30am and this would be followed by a four course lunch and then a small fete would follow. An 18km walk..7.30am..Sunday morning !!... What happened to sitting around under big trees eating ice creams and watching a tug of war !!!.. I had got this fete lark seriously wrong.

As I listened, I slowly began to understand. The summer fete was for the people of the village, for everyone to enjoy and participate. All the activities would be free and the only charge would be 6 euros for the midday meal. It was not about raising money at all.

Intergration

I have just returned from our local shop / café / bar / post office.

This village shop is run by a husband and wife, in their fifties who make am excellent team and have always welcomed us since we arrived 6 years ago.

After all my letters had been weighed and stamped, the lunchtime baguette purchased I settled myself at the bar with a small cup of deliciously hot strong coffee. Not long after, a woman breezed into the shop giving Joelle four kisses, quite normal practice for close friends and family, but her husband received just a nod of the head, which to me seemed a bit odd. The woman and Joelle chatted for a while and after she left I asked why Yannik had received such a cool reception. They both laughed, and Yannik replied ‘Although I have lived here for thirty years, I’m a foreigner like you… my grandmother isn’t buried in the village cemetery !!’

Fête du Travail

The Fête du Travail (Labour day), the first of the Official holidays in May. This public holiday celebrates the social and economic achievements of the labour movement.

On May 1st, 1561, King Charles IX of France received a lily of the valley as a lucky charm. He decided to offer a lily of the valley each year to the ladies of the court.

It has now become the tradition on May 1^st to give lily of the valley to your friends and family as a symbol of springtime and to wish them happiness. It is said that whoever finds a lily of the valley with 13 small bells will be particularly lucky !

It is the only day one can sell flowers on the streets without official authorization and without having to pay tax !!