Stories Collected While Living in France

French la Vie

Christmas-tree

Wow! What a list you gave me. This little Santa's Helper has her work cut out. I'll try to find the photos you asked for in yesterday's comment. With my camera in one hand and your list in the other, I'm venturing into the Christmas Season Shopping Wilderness and heading to the city. I'll show Christmas in our village as well.

Why didn't any request a ball or a dolly that laughs and cries?

Tomorrow I hope to have most of the photos you requested… is that wishful thinking? Isn't that what Christmas is about: Hopes and dreams coming true, the promise of newness, rebirth, and joy? And a candy cane or two.

(Photo above is of our Christmas tree two years ago. I wish I hadn't ever taken it down because I haven't put it up since. Bad, bad me!)

 

Christmas collage

 

Most French homes deck the halls differently than they do in the States. Christmas season starts on the 24th at midnight mass. Supper follows. It makes for a long night.

So when most of North America is taking Christmas down, France is just getting started. Hence, the 12 days of Christmas begin on Christmas ending on Epiphany.,

If you have any more ideas, feel free to let me know.

Comments

25 responses to “”

  1. Everton Terrace

    How fun! Somehow I missed yesterday’s post but I’m certain everyone has requested the same things I would like to see. Wonderful idea, looking forward to it.

    Reply
  2. Jenna

    Enjoy yourself! It was wise to take it down, think about trying to dust that tree for two years.

    Reply
  3. Brenda L from TN

    I’m glad you took a picture of your tree…it was one of the things I requested…(It’s beautiful by the way) (:
    Good Luck with the other requests…

    Reply
  4. Laura @ 52 FLEA

    Have fun out on the town!
    I asked to see your own home decorations so you can check me off your list!
    There….one done!
    Your tree was spectacular!
    🙂

    Reply
  5. Cheryl ~ Casual Cottage Chic

    Christmas has become soooooo commercial in the States. I prefer the simplicity of how France celebrates the birth of Jesus. You still have time to decorate a tabletop tree like before. Then plant the tree in your courtyard so it continues to grow, like your children 😉

    Reply
  6. Debra

    C, but I do want the dollie that laughs and crys! . . what a hoot, gorgeous tree, and beautiful reminder of what the holiday is. xo

    Reply
  7. Jeanne

    I love your tree and thee and everything you share and all your Customs in France
    I love you my darling
    Ooooh La La♥
    Kisses
    I love you

    Reply
  8. J

    Ooh – Perhaps a beautiful creche? Enjoy your day… we all look forward to your photos! j.

    Reply
  9. Star

    I wanted to give myself time to think of what I’d like to see a picture of and then did not get back here yesterday. My wish would have been for just a “slice of life” the way the French celebrate Christmastime (a peek at what I would see if I could be there with you).
    Along with others, I feel that this holiday (who am I kidding, every holiday or occasion) has become so commercial here in the States that it is challenging to find what passes for “typical” any more.

    Reply
  10. Camille Schaeffer

    Yes in France they celebrate Christmas the way it should be done with the last day of Christmas on the Epiphany, the day the Wise men find the baby Jesus. In the US, the stores have Valentine stuff out by that day. So wrong.

    Reply
  11. Amy Kortuem

    Your tree is beautiful! I have a tree, and it has lights on it, but my cats peed on my new velvety tree skirt and I got so mad I just lost the whole spirit for decorating.
    But at night, if I turn off the lights and squint my eyes when I look at the tree, I can imagine that it’s decorated and swathed in velvet at the bottom, rather than just strung in lights and sitting in a bare stand.
    I love my cats, I love my cats, I love my cats….

    Reply
  12. Nancy from Mass

    My family celebrated the Reveillon on Christmas Eve. After Midnight Mass we would gather in the parlor and open gifts while the Tortiere was baking. After the gifts were opened (and many cups of coffee were had), we would join in the kitchen for a feast – usually at 4 or 5 in the morning and enjoy the morning. I miss that. My son wants us to start having a Reveillon next year…I just may do that.
    Also, I won the feve last year for the Gateau de Roi…I can’t wait to make it for the Epiphany!

    Reply
  13. Franca Bollo

    I just want to say “Epiphany” is one of my most favorite English words. That’s all.

    Reply
  14. Chris Kerr

    WOW! Corey!! I LOVE your tree! I’m sorry you took it down, as it would make me smile all year long…oh well. At least you have the picture.

    Reply
  15. Marilyn

    This tree two years ago is beautiful. I think I would have left it up. But then it loses the magic after awhile, so probably good it came down. Can’t wait to see the magic you find with the list and your camera.

    Reply
  16. Cheryl ~ Casual Cottage Chic

    I came back to your posting to read comments…and just cracked up with Amy’s comment about her tree and the cats peeing on the skirt. We have 3 little kittens that we adopted at 3-weeks old and bottle fed; this is their first Christmas. And they are soooo curious about our little tree in the family room. I dare not hang ornaments, but the lights seem to really attract their attention. But…they have been fairly good; only pulled the tree over once and have not peed on the tree skirt….yet! Notonly do I enjoy your posts, but also the comments from readers 🙂

    Reply
  17. Lia

    Shh, look in here Corey
    now,
    I’m going to tell you
    something
    you are a naughty girl…
    Santa is watching…..
    the girl in me
    the mother in me
    the friend of thee
    would love
    to
    see
    your
    2010
    tree.
    with Corey and FH sitting around wine
    in hand
    decorating
    Anne could snap the photo
    wine close at hand
    Merry Christmas
    I’m going to do
    my tree
    now
    as santa is watching
    X

    Reply
  18. Marie-Noëlle

    More ideas ??? Plenty, but here is a TOUGH one for you !!!
    If by any chance you visit a workshop of santons, I’d love to see a picture of the santonnier at work… that is a DIFFICULT one, isn’t it !?
    And even MORE difficult : Could it be when he/she works at character Corey Amaro ?!? I would be delighted !!!
    THANK YOU !!!

    Reply
  19. Marie-Noëlle

    To your readers:
    In France we traditionnally decorate homes – and not houses and gardens, which is the US way.
    But little by little the US way has moved to this country. The new technologies, and media and moreover business have influenced some of my country fellows – and some gardens are lit up here as well.
    I myself stick to my tradition and keep decorating inside – and only inside.

    Reply
  20. karen

    Cory…with allthis dancing & prancing

    Reply
  21. karen

    Cory…with allthis dancing & prancing

    Reply
  22. Rebecca from the pacific northwest

    The cat-tree problems mentioned here remind me of one of the first trees I ever had as a young woman on my own in my 20’s: I had several kittens who would surely clamber up into the tree… so I suspended my 4-foot-tall tree from the ceiling! Suspended a metal bowl of water under the trunk so the tree could drink, and decorated it to my heart’s delight. (No velvet tree skirt though. The kittens continued their daily lives none the wiser! My favorite tree ever.

    Reply
  23. Rebecca from the pacific northwest

    Forgot I was going to comment about the timing of Christmas! I love the Episcopal tradition (also experienced in my young womanhood) of starting Christmas like the French do, on Dec 24, and going on for a while afterwards. I somehow feel we’re all so WEARY of Christmas by the time it rolls around after having been overloaded with all the stimulation of so much music in grocery stores and Target and everywhere, and all the other stimuli.
    I am seeking, this year, to find the Sacred in the coming of Christ to live among us. It’s hard to hear that quiet beauty in all the hubbub.

    Reply
  24. Marie

    What a pretty tree!! 🙂 I miss you Coco!
    -Ree <3

    Reply
  25. Irene

    It’s the same tradition in Greece. The 12 days begin on Christmas and end in Epiphany. That is when the evil, dirty yet stupid creatures who all year round try to cut the Earth from its trunk, come to the surface and spoil all food that remains uncovered. They fear the fire, so a log must be burning all night at the hearth. They leave hurriedly on the eve of Epiphany when the Earth’s waters are about to be bblessed by the baptism of Jesus. By that time, however, the Earth’s trunk is healed and they must start all over again…till next Christmas.
    I love folk lore and traditions. They may be sinister at times, but can you imagine how many people have elaborated over them, how many nights they have spent by the fire telling stories, people whose names we’ll never know, but who left behind the little treasures you find in brocante and the fragments of their stories that lived to be told to this day?
    Wishing you the sweetest of Christmases!

    Reply

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