Stories Collected While Living in France

French la Vie

Merry Christmas!

Aubusson christmas

A photo I took of an Aubusson tapestry in a church in Arles.

Merry Christmas!

We are setting sail on a Mediterranean Christmas Cruise.

Where are you celebrating Christmas?

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http://willows95988.typepad.com/.a/6a00d83451cb9a69e20148c6df9a91970c-300wi

 

 

When I arrived in France years ago, Christmas trees were not part of the French Christmas tradition. The Christmas consumer market had not yet taken off. The French florists usually had a few dried up pine trees for sale, reminding me of Charlie Brown's Christmas tree.

 

Given this bit of history I want you to imagine a young woman, nine months pregnant, determined to have a Christmas tree, for her soon-to-be-Franco-American baby. Imagine her buying a Charlie Brown tree, then dragging it behind her as she walked the streets of Paris back to her apartment. Then hauling it up the three flights of stairs where she placed the tree upright. One side had bare branches. The other side had needles dangling. The scattered scent of pine, was replaced by sweat and a funny feeling in her womb.

I had a Christmas tree just in time for the first ornament that came bright and beautiful!

 

 

 

 

Comments

20 responses to “Merry Christmas!”

  1. Paula

    Merry Christmas Corey to you and yours. Enjoy your cruise and the rest from cooking. I will be cooking christmas dinner (turkey) in Edinburgh, (infact it is in the oven now!) xx

    Reply
  2. Elizabeth

    A Very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Healthy 2012, Corey, to you and your kin…we’re here in Misissippi, will have Christmas Breakfast with Mamaw, then a small ham for dinner, cooked by my hubby.
    Have a wonderful cruise!.

    Reply
  3. Becky F

    Merry Christmas Corey to you and your family. Best wishes for a wonderful cruise. I’m sure your first Christmas tree was one of the most beautiful ever.

    Reply
  4. jeni

    Merry Christmas to you and your family. Have a relaxing time, with beautiful sunrises and sunsets and love by your side. We are staying home here in Arkansas for once, with only one of our three kids. We will miss the two boys, but the fire is burning and Rob is preparing the Pheasant to take to a Christmas dinner at our friends home. It should be a festive, lovely evening!
    All the best in the New Year!
    Cheers!!

    Reply
  5. Kathie B

    Just a quiet day here, with sunshine and slightly milder than normal temperatures; to this native-California gal, snow is highly overrated! Am looking forward to participating vicariously in your Mediterranean cruise in the coming days — it must be lovely there now.
    Boa viagem!

    Reply
  6. Angela Vular

    Have a wonderful holiday cruisin! I hope you and your family have a new year filled with love, peace, and happiness.
    It is Christmas morning here in Pennsylvania and I’m the only one up as usual. Later today I will be baking bread and making lasagna for dinner. My son is home from California and my youngest slept here last night (instead of his apartment in the city). The oldest one has to work today but he’ll stop in for dinner and presents. It’s nice to have them under one roof again.

    Reply
  7. Denise Moulun-Pasek

    We are celebrating Christmas here in St. Albert with very little snow and temperatures hovering around -1! Du jamais vu!
    Merry Christmas to you and FH and the “little ones”!
    Bisous from a not so cold Canada

    Reply
  8. Karen@PasGrande-Chose

    I have two Christmas babies (my girls’ birthdays are the 21st and 27th December!) so your story really made me smile! Happy Christmas, Corey, to you, Yann, Chelsea and Sacha – have a wonderful cruise xo

    Reply
  9. martina

    We are in Seattle. Just a cozy Christmas with family here. The veterinarian gave me a little live tree which now has my strand of pearls as its’ garland (it is a very tiny tree). Oh my the interesting places around the world where other commenters are celebrating!
    Enjoy that cruise Corey and Merry Christmas to all.

    Reply
  10. susan

    Merry Christmas to your beautiful family. I’m enjoying every minute with my son before he heads back to Southern California. My daughter will be a tourist in New York this week, starting today.
    Enjoy your cruise!

    Reply
  11. cynthia wolff

    merry xmas Corey and co.

    Reply
  12. pattyg

    Merry Christmas Corey and family!
    Loving all the photos and stories you have been sharing with us these last few weeks.
    Have a lovely cruise and wishing you and your family peace and joy!
    Your story reminds me that once as a college student in Hawaii with no money, I made a paper tree to hang up for christmas. Glad you were able to find the dried out tree to remind you of home.

    Reply
  13. Marilyn

    I do hope your cruise is wonderful. Family time together can’t be anything, but extra special. Enjoy!

    Reply
  14. Jenny M

    We had a lovely Christmas lunch here at home with the extended family, only thing missing was our daughter, due to work commitments was unable to be with us.
    Your Mediterrean Christmas cruise sounds wonderful….wishing you & your family a lovely Christmas and may the New Year blessings bring you good health, love & joy.
    from Jenny in humid & stormy Melbourne, Australia

    Reply
  15. Cheryl ~ Casual Cottage Chic in Temecula

    Relax and enjoy the fun of a cruise! No food to prepare and lots of entertaining and sightseeing 🙂 The perfect end to a year filled with many ups and downs!! Do share pics so we can all “tag along” on your vacation 😉

    Reply
  16. deborah

    Merry Christmas!

    Reply
  17. Shelley

    Just catching up on your blog after a busy few months….like slipping into a comfy, albeit creative and chic robe and drawing on a warm cup of cocoa. Enjoy your time!

    Reply
  18. thiswhiteshed.blogspot.com

    It appears I’ve missed quite a lot…as usual you’ve revealed your pain and joy with a lovely blend of reverence and eloquence.

    Reply
  19. Alan

    No Christmas trees? After twisting my ankle taking down ours here on the 26th of December, I wish we had that tradition. Ouch! (Took it down because somebody in the house is allergic to it)

    Reply
  20. Mary

    Corey, I wonder whether you’ve ever read the beautiful e.e. cummings poem “Little Tree.” Your post made me think of it. Among other lines are these…
    “[little tree]
    lift up your arms…
    ever finger shall have its ring
    and there won’t be a single place dark or unhappy.”
    Bons baisers de Minnesota, et bonne croisière, whether it’s literal or figurative.

    Reply

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