Summer Solstice, Feux de la Saint-Jean

 On June 21, summer solstice, is celebrated with music festivals that take place in cities and villages all over France. We happen to be in Paris that day, and throughout the city various venues were being set up for music performances that evening. Unfortunately, we left for home before we could experience one note of music. But you can be sure that I am making a note on next year's calendar of, "events not to miss."

Out to dinner near the Eiffel Tower

On June 24, Feux de la Saint-Jean (bonfires of St. John) is celebrated by the burning of huge bonfires throughout France. It is a tradition dating back 3000 years in Europe and was originally celebrated on June 21, in honor of the sun. The date changed over the years when Christianity became France's official religion. You can learn more about it here.




We were invited by our American/French friends to a small town near Vittel to witness this event. The wooden owl took several weeks to build by the town people, and stood taller than the trees as you can see. Fireworks exploded in the sky and food and drink stands were available, a DJ was playing music to dance to. We left about midnight and the party was still going strong.

George and I have been wondering if building a fire in the backyard is prohibited - campfires for camping or backyard fires are not part of the French culture, however the French love to barbecue. 

I can just hear it now if we attempted to build a fire in our yard...our neighbor says - call the fire department--there's a fire next door...oh, wait that's those crazy ass Americans doing something with marshmallows and sausages!! How do you say crazy ass in French, just so I know?

This fire on Saturday could be our only one for a long, long time.

Horse Races

The racetrack in Vittel hosts many horse racing events throughout the summer and into the fall and these events are in full swing right now. On Saturday we watched horses compete in a race that I can only describe as a cross country race on horseback. Riders gallop full tilt down hills, around hedgerows, through water, over ditches and bridges, through paths in the forest, and over unbelievable high and wide jumps. The jumps are solid construction (no bars to knock off and fall to the ground) where, if a horse ran into them, it could be very dangerous for the horse and rider.

Competitors from numerous European countries participated in this cross country event and also a second jumping event inside a horse ring. Our French friends told us that some horses and riders participating will go on to the 2012 Olympics. 

I have to admit that the cross country races was more exciting than the event in the ring, and we cringed often during the race thinking, how is that horse going to make it over THAT jump!