Christmas time in France

 

I finish my teaching on 20th December and I had asked my travel agent to book me a return ticket to India on 23rd December and got my tickets. The day he came to hand ove rmy tickets he told me , madam,  we book so many tickets for people to go and have Christmas in Paris and you are returning back, just two days before.  Hence I cancelled my tickets and booked a new one and extended my stay till 28th December. I  shift to Paris after my teaching assignment. I think this was a good move for I have seen for the first time Christmas celebration in France. The towns become alive from November itself. France,  bursts out of its sleepy autumn quiet and lights up-- literally and figuratively every nook and corner. In Arras, Lile, Lyon and even Paris , I could see trees strung with garlands of shimmering light, and many other places around the city are decorated in the same festive spirit. Though it is cold in France and often rainy or icy. Temperatures approach or descend below zero. Snow is rare, but a Christmas  tradition is the temporary ice skating rinks that get set up around the city. There are huge wheels put up and there is often a small market like our Shipa rama which is found in most of the cities. Christmas market, an outdoor "village" of wooden booths offering gourmet treats like mulled wine and gingerbread, gifts, decorations, and other delights. Each street is decorated in a different way with a different design of light. I wish I had the SLR camera of my son, Sankalp to capture some of the night lights and I cannot do any justice with my small camera but the time in and around Christmas is indeed a beautiful time to visit France.