Christmastime in France

Hello again!

This month I’m going to be talking about everything Christmas!

The first weekend in December in France, there is always a telethon for funding research for genetic diseases. So instead of our normal Friday afternoon doing our APEs (after-school activities) and garderie (homework help and watching the kids until their parents pick them up) we took them to the APE room and they had their snacks from 4-4:30, then we took some of the kids to the high school/middle school to watch the mayor light up the Christmas lights in the city.

As we started walking to the school, it hailed and the sky was orange which was pretty surreal. Because it was so cold, we went quickly, but once we were there we stood around for a bit. Then, the mayor took a torch and lit up a bigger flame and at the same time all of the Christmas lights in the city turned on, and that was pretty cool. In Place Morny, by our house, there is a nice setup with trees in the center and Christmas lights radiating out from the center. After the lights were lit up, we went into a room in the school and did garderie until 6 when it was over.

As far as Christmas lesson plans go, so far in most of my classes (all ages) we have been listening to and learning the song “We Wish You a Merry Christmas.” The kids love to sing along and dance to the song! With the younger kids, we have been learning and practicing Christmas vocabulary. With the older kids, we’re going to be writing letters to Santa and have been learning Christmas and toy vocabulary, as well as English and American Christmas traditions.

Last weekend I had the opportunity to go to Strasbourg, France and visit my host mom from when I studied abroad there in college. We went to the Christmas market and I got to see her 5-week old granddaughter. It was a magical time, with lots of little vendors and Christmas lights all over. In the cathedral, there was a humongous nativity scene which was super cool to see. To top it all off, on Sunday morning, it snowed!

Ornaments at the market 

Christmas tree in a square in Strasbourg

Strasbourg Cathedral in the snow

My family is coming to visit over the break, and I am getting excited to welcome them to the house and Deauville! We found some Christmas decorations in the closet under the stairs, including Christmas lights, a Christmas tree, and some ornaments, so we have a little corner of Christmas that always looks so cheerful!

Until next time!

Denise