Fête Nationale - the celebrations continue

July 14, and Montblanc celebrates Bastille Day
When you plan your holidays in France for next year, then, for something extra special, try to arrange the dates around July 14. This is of course the National Day, the day (s) when France celebrates being France. Certainly here in the south of France, it is non-stop party celebrations, with yet another opportunity for the French people to enjoy life to the full.

In my last posting I explained the events on the eve of National Day, which for my village was a huge barbeque and dancing in the village picnic area. Our village of Montblanc is no different from other villages in the area, each having their own beautiful way of celebrating Bastille Day.

But of course, the real event is Tuesday July 14. The day starts with the obligatory Pentanque Final, Final, in front of the Mairie, play commencing at 9.00am, and finishing at 13.00 with a huge paella royale - everyone invited.

Café de France used to dry and gardianne toro

The activities start again at 19h, with a meal organized by the Café de France, the village bar and cafe. The meal is served on the main market street, opposite the Cafe de France, with seating arranged around the music stage, already festooned with lighting, flags and bunting. There is melon and prosciutto, then a choice between dry or gardianne de toro, followed by fruit salad. By the time the meal is served the place is full, with hundreds of people sat in groups busy chatting with friends and neighbors and enjoying a glass (or two) of our best rosé wine village.

David takes this photo of our table as we sit with friends and neighbors

Festival fireworks
After the meal, a slow walk to our football field for a grand firework display. This is a must for everyone, so seats are left unattended so everyone can enjoy the show - with the obligatory Ooooh and Aaah as each rocket burst fills the sky.

The fireworks being watch at the entrance to the football field

Torches
At the end of the display adults and children alike are given their torches - a medieval type blazing torch. Willing volunteers are quick to assemble the torch and make sure they are lit.

Police and brass band
Then, patiently waiting until everyone has their flame ready in their hand, people crowd onto hand and Béziers Cap d'Agde road and walk slowly back to the village, escorted by the village police car, with it's newly bought blue flashing lights on top. Behind the police because there is a local jazz brass band, playing slow marching music to liven things up. It's a ten minute walk back to the village square, plenty of time to catch up with other friends that you had not seen during the meal, and to give the customary "kiss-kiss-kiss" on the cheeks, with a good greeting of "hello" or "good evening".

The brass jazz band leading villagers back to The Place

Music for the evening
Arriving at the Place, the group Providing the evening's entertainment are already making music. But, they stop for a break as the mayor asks everyone to stand and sing the La Marseillaise - the national anthem. This is a really beautiful moment for me, to see everyone standing, most people singing, and everyone feeling proud as the national anthem plays.

Then, on with the music - and the dancing, and of course, more wine to help spend an eventful evening together with our friends.

The group "Cocktail Music" on stage at The Place

A little bit of Spain and France mixed together
There is one more event to mark the end of the day, the "Toro de Fuego".

A bit of history to explain. Years ago, this part of France was part of Spain, or rather Catalonia, a country on its own. At one time stretched from the Catalonia capital Barcelona to Nimes, the language was Catalan - still spoken by many in our village, and the customs and culture were not what you would call typically French, rather Spanish. Today, everyone enjoys this mix of French and Spanish, and the Toro de Fuego helps keep up the traditional mix - as does the paella served at most events in the village.

So, at midnight, the Toro - a 'bull' decorated with loads of fireworks, struts slowly down the main village street in tune to the music played by the group on the stage. This is the time to take cover, and hide from the bull, as are spluttering fireworks, exploding and spraying all over the place.


It could be quit dangerous I guess. David is me this would not be allowed in the UK on health and safety grounds. But I think it's good fun - and you would hide from a real bull in the street just as I am doing now. In reality the bull is man-made and is held high by one of our local fire fighters, and for sure, all the village fire fighting team - including para-medics, and here as well, just in case.

Then as the partying continued until the early hours, people slowly drift away after another enjoyable National Day. As I said at the beginning on the post, try to make your summer holiday with week containing July 14. It is extra special. However, if that's not possible, you have the rest of the summer and this is the start of all the village events, continuing thro 'July, August into September.