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A fête worse than déjà vu? |
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Thursday, 07 August 2008 |
After six years of living in France, I wonder if I am becoming
a killjoy in my dotage. Having visited several fêtes around
our region, including our own in Anères, I have to conclude
that déjà vu is uppermost in my mind.
The outward signs are bunting (often paper) strung across
streets – a tempting target for le moindre vent. Two days of
assorted apéritifs, late-starting meals, a disco and the
obligatory pétanque tournament. The latter is rarely local and
depending on the prize money, attracts semi-professionals
from far and wide.
My thoughts go back to our days in Bere Regis, Dorset, a
reasonably pleasant village. There was an annual carnival
with floats which paraded through the village, ending in a
kind of stall arrangement on the sports ground. It does appear
that a large number of these sad carnivals or fêtes involve so
many residents that there are insufficient onlookers to provide
atmosphere.
I had expected the French versions, particularly rural, to
be a deal better – sadly, not so. People nowadays have other
more sophisticated fish to fry and I believe that TV has
become the medium which has convinced even the most
dedicated villager to look upon this once-important day as
irrelevant, perhaps even pathetic.
James Munro, Hautes-Pyrénées
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