Everywhere I go! I love this time of year. The darkest time of the year lit up with all the Christmas and holiday decorations. I am enjoying experiencing Christmas for the first time in France. Although there's no snow here and I do miss that, but this region doesn't see much snow and therefore is not prepared to handle it. So it's probably for the best that the snow stays in the mountains - which are only a couple of hours away.
I just got off the phone with Andy who told me all about the winter blast that Colorado Springs received this weekend! Brrrrrr . . . . wish it could just snow and not be cold! The nice weather here means that I have been out visiting village churches and decorations and markets. Every little town has lights and trees and nativity scenes and lots of decorations. They have special masses and carol singing services. The markets are complete with hot spice wine and roasted chestnuts. It's like walking into a Currier and Ives Christmas card!
I thought I would share with you a few of my latest outings that are Christmas related. Last Saturday I went to the Chateau de Lavardens which is nearby to see an exhibit of santons. Many generations ago the santon were carved out of wood and hand painted to represent the people in the nativity scene. But French nativity scenes are so much more than the stable with Mary, Joseph, Baby Jesus, shepherds, wise men and a few barn animals. Nativity scenes here are an entire town - far beyond the stable. You have all the local merchants and their wives and children and the village buildings, etc. It's like they take the stable scene from the Bible and put it in a 17th or 18th century French village!
Today, there are still craftsmen who carve the santons, but most of the ones you find around here are molded from clay. They are still hand painted. They come in all sizes from just an inch or so tall to larger ones that are around 10 inches. Here are some photos I took of the exhibition which was spread throughout 4 large rooms in the chateau.
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| The larger ones are really elaborate |
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| Here you have the hunter, the woodsman and the old lady who gathers the wood |
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| I especially like the artist |
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| Here is one of the examples of the entire village! |
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| And another one - I spent hours looking at each village! |
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| And here's yet another one - taking up an entire table. You could buy the figurines. |
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| I fell in love with this little black nativity family |
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Last Sunday I visited a small village called Montaut les Crenaux as I wanted to see the 12th century church there which the guide book said was worth a visit. The town itself was walled and gated during the Middle Ages, but with the all the wars in this area over the centuries the walls and gates were destroyed. But not the church!
I was so happy to find out that I just happened to pick the day of the Christmas market. CoCo and I wandered around for quite a while enjoying the nice weather and the booths and merchants and also seeing the wonderful little church. Here are some photos of that day's outing.
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| Inside the 12th century church in Montaut |
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| The simple nativity scene inside the church |
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| One of the Medieval streets in Montaut |
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| Looking up at the church tower |
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Last night I went with H and G and their English friends, Elaine and Tony, to the 12th century church in our local village for a bilingual caroling service followed by hot spiced wine and pastries! What a lovely time we had! Here are some photos I took last night.
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| The front of the church of St Pierre |
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| A view of the altar inside |
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| The plaque telling of the history - starting in 1190!! |
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| A (blurry) photo of the nativity scene inside the church |
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| A photo of the amazing ceiling and the choir loft |
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As I sat there singing favorite Christmas carols in French and English I thought about the 800+ Christmases that this church has been a part of and all the people who have sat or stood where I was and sang similar carols to honor the birth of the Christ child. It gave me chills - in a good way! One of the many things I love about France - the layers of history that one finds everywhere. You don't have to be Catholic to appreciate the beauty and reverence that these churches represent. We are just another layer in that history.
Today I needed to see the mountains so I took off on my favorite route towards the Pic du Midi. Along the way I stopped to take photos of the roadside statues and monuments which I have come to affectionately call "Christ on the Cross Roads". (See what I did there?) It's nice to have a physical reminder that someone is always looking out for me on this journey of mine which has brought me to this corner of France at this moment in my life.
And then there were the mountains and their majesty!
Next week I'll tell you about how I spent this first Christmas in France. Until then, I hope you are all enjoying the week leading up to this very special holiday. Try to enjoy it and spend the weekend with family and friends doing things you love and celebrating Light coming into the world at the darkest time of the year. Merry Christmas. Joyeux Noel.
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| My little santons nativity scene and the reindeer that Cindy sent me |
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