Christmas Fetes

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I’ve been enjoying our Christmas parties here. Today was our church’s repas fraternel/Christmas party complete with a long meal, christmas songs, and games.  Friday we had our university bible study group party. For the bible study party we had something called “raclette” – it is this apparatus that has a hot plate on top of an electric coil and a bottom tray. To use the raclette, you put some cheese and charcuterie (meats like prosciutto) on the bottom tray where they get broiled by the electric coil and you put veggies on the top hot-plate/griddle.  After your cheese melts and your veggies cook, you serve your self some meat and veggies on top of a soft-skinned potato.  It is convenient for a party because everyone gathers around the raclette and makes their individual serving of cheese and meat and veggies.  Shared meals here are never quick. I enjoy this aspect of life and culture here – taking time to enjoy being in the company of others and not rushing life. Our bible study dinner ended around 11 p.m. or so and everyone disbursed around midnight.  First you enjoy apperatifs before the meal – common apperatifs include olives, olives, and more olives, crackers, chips, pretzels – little finger foods – along with a glass of wine.  Then comes the main meal. I have not had any really involved meals so far – but I don’t doubt that they can involve several courses of meat dishes, quiches, soups, etc.  After the main meal, you cleanse your palate with some salad. Then comes the cheese course. And after cheese comes dessert taken with tea or cafe.   I think everyone should eat like the French.

I’m also including a picture of my charlie brown christmas tree   – Mon sapin bien-aime