Fête Nationale, the celebrations start

Holiday barbecue picnic by the river Thongue

As expected, and as predicted in the last posting, this will be an exceptionally busy week. The holiday season is now in full swing and of course, Tuesday this week is Fête Nationale, the biggest celebration period of the year.

As a French person the period always brings out pride and good feelings about my country. It has everything to offer citizens and this day is a way to celebrate being French.

In real term this means many, many events to attend, people to meet and generally have set out determined to have a good time. There is a good feeling of national pride but certainly not nationalistic in the worst sense of the word.

Throughout the country the celebrations differ from region to region. Of course the capital is home to the big parades, with the president taking the salute as troops from all regiments proudly march past. And of course, night time is given to the Eiffel tower with what has to be the biggest and best firework display.

Village festivities in Languedoc-Roussillon

Closer to home, in my region of Languedoc-Roussillon, every town and village have their days of festivities, with streets festooned with red white and blue bunting, tricolour flags flying everywhere, and people getting ready to take to the streets to have their parties.

Here in my village of Montblanc, the celebrations started Sunday, with the final championship petanque games on La Place outside the Mairie. This always causes excitement and plenty of heated discussion. On the eve of Fête National, Monday, we really take to the streets. After crowds gather in front of the Mairie to be given their own French Flag, there is a leisurely walk through the village. This gives friends and neighbours time to meet, talk and generally catch up with the gossip and news. And as this is holiday time, there are always plenty of foreign holiday makers - British, Irish, German, and Dutch - from all parts of the world, who are encouraged to join in the celebrations. This is a wonderful time to spend a holiday in the south of Fance and to join in the fun and excitement.

The walk is punctured with regular scheduled stops at the homes of the village councillors. The tradition is for a selection of around six councillors to have 'open-door' and provide nibbles and wine for the assembly, all set up on trestle tables outside their home.

The barbecue picnic down by the river

The walk continues and villagers thread their way eventually to the large picnic at the side of the River Thongue. This is a huge area, with purpose built barbecue are for anyone to use at anytime. As usual the council have erected a stage with full stage lighting and set up tables and chairs for the village to enjoy music and dancing. And of course the barbecue!

Some of the town hall team volunteer to cook what appears to be hundreds of kilos of plump, ripe sausages. Certainly not the British sausages I tasted once. Ughh! These are pure pork "saucisse de Toulouse" made by the local butcher.

One batch of saucisse de Toulouse being cooked on one of the large barbecue frames

No soft doughy finger cakes for these sausages. They deserve the very best French Baguettes, baked on the day by our local baker. All this with the best rose and red wine provided by our local Cave Co-operative, and all given freely for everyone to enjoy.

Me and Alain getting the fresh baquettes ready from the Town Hall van

Then, once everyone has settled down, it's music time, with a local group providing the entertainment - a mixture of popular English and French music. Just right for dancing the night away, not forgetting that the celebrations continue the next day. More about that later...

The music and dancing starts