Hello, and a very happy holiday to all!
I thought I would share with you some photos of how Christmas is celebrated here, specifically in Monaco and Nice. With France being a secular country, you might wonder why all the hoopla around a day based on religion. The answer is one of practicality. Christian holidays were celebrated centuries before the secularism law was codified in 1905. At that time, politicians thought it would not go over well to remove many beloved holidays, so they remain celebrated to this day. In fact, roughly half of France’s 11 public holidays are Catholic ones.
I was invited by a fellow music lover to attend a performance of The Messiah in Monaco on a Saturday, in mid-December. I love hearing that piece at this time of year, so happily accepted. The choir and orchestra were outstanding, as were the church’s acoustics. Afterward, my friend suggested walking over to the Casino to view the epicenter of decorations. Oh la la! Magnifique, as one might expect from glitzy Monaco.
Remaining photos are of Nice, which is merrily festive with its lit up palm trees and street decorations. The photo above was taken in a Nice hotel bar, right after the manager brought out a flag and placed it in Santa’s arms to celebrate France’s win over Morocco! The excitement was palpable as France got closer and closer to a repeat of their World Cup 2018 victory. And, vraiment, why not combine patriotic fervor and holiday joy?!
Monaco
Nice
