Paris prepares for its first Christmas outside Notre Dame
The cathedral’s famed celebrations will take place at Saint-Germain l’Auxerrois as its congregants and choir carry their faith “beyond the walls.”
Notre Dame kept Christmas going even during two world wars – a beacon of hope amid the bloodshed.
Yet an accidental fire in peacetime finally stopped the Paris cathedral from celebrating Midnight Mass this year, for the first time in over two centuries.
As the lights stay dim in the once-invincible 855-year-old landmark, officials are trying hard to focus on the immediate task of keeping burned out Notre Dame’s spirit alive in exile through service, song, and prayer.
“This is the first time since the French Revolution that there will be no midnight Mass [at Notre Dame],” cathedral rector Patrick Chauvet told The Associated Press.
There was even a Christmas service amid the carnage of World War I, Mr. Chauvet noted, “because the canons were there and the canons had to celebrate somewhere,” referring to the cathedral’s clergy. During World War II, when Paris was under Nazi occupation, “there was no problem.” He said that to his knowledge, it was only closed for Christmas in the period after 1789, when the anti-Catholic French revolutionaries turned the monument into “a temple of reason.”
Christmas-in-exile at Saint-Germain l’Auxerrois this year will be a history-making moment.
“We have the opportunity to celebrate the Mass outside the walls, so to speak … but with some indicators that Notre Dame is connected to us,” Mr. Chauvet said.
Those indicators include a wooden liturgical platform that has been constructed in the Saint-Germain church to resemble Notre Dame’s own. A service will be led at midnight on Dec. 24 by Mr. Chauvet to a crowd of faithful, including many who would normally worship in the cathedral, accompanied by song from some of Notre Dame’s now-itinerant choir.
The cathedral’s iconic Gothic sculpture “The Virgin of Paris,” from which some say Notre Dame owes its name, is also on display in the new annex.
The 14th-century masterpiece, which measures around six feet and depicts Mary and baby Jesus, has come to embody the officials’ message of hope following the fire.
10 French food specialities you absolutely have to try in Paris
Whenever we travel to a new city, we are looking forward to trying its food specialties. That’s why I’m sharing with you my top 10 French food specialties you absolutely have to try in Paris!
The list of delightful French delicacies seems endless, so I’ve rounded up the top 10 for you. You’ve all heard about the delicious Parisian pastries, and of course the French wine and cheese don’t go unnoticed by the rest of the world, but just what are the best French specialties you can try in Paris? Read on to find out my top 10 French food specialties you absolutely have to try in Paris!
A trip to the sea: Huîtres
If you like seafood and mollusks, you have to try oysters in Paris. Parisians love to eat oysters. There’s a specific way to eat it. You open the oyster, put some lemon in it, and eat it right from its shell. I’m pretty sure you will love the experience! My advice would be for you to go to either the Saint-Germain area, or rue Montorgueil.
On the bustling Rue Montorgeuil, there’s a fish store called Soguisa. It’s a bit expensive, but they really have excellent oysters! Plus, the salesmen will give you the best advice about the way to properly eat their products! Soguisa is the main fish store in the Montorgueil neighborhood. All the residents of this neighborhood go there to buy fresh seafood and shellfish! [ . . . ]
Continue at: 10 French food specialities you absolutely have to try in Paris – Discover Walks Paris
Pauline Croze “Mise à nu” (version acoustique)
“Drôle de drame” un film de Marcel Carné
More than 80 years after its theatrical release, rediscover “Drôle de drama”, the unusual classic by Marcel Carné, on December 18 at the cinema
One of the most jubilant, delusional, absurd, “bizarre” films in French cinema!
Weird, yes, we said weird… An adaptation of Jacques Prévert (script and dialogues), from the novel His First Offence by the British author Joseph Storer Clouston.
Synopsis
London 1900. The very serious professor of botany Irwin Molyneux is none other than Felix Chapel, author of detective novels. The Bishop of Bedford, Irwin’s cousin, does not like this kind of literature and declares it very loudly during a supper where he is invited to the Molyneux. The absence of Margaret, Molyneux’s wife, at this supper, will trigger a series of very amusing misunderstandings.
“Drôle de Drama” The cult film by Marcel Carné and Jacques Prévert, finally back to the cinema on December 18 in a restored version at the cinema.
Plus de 80 ans après sa sortie en salle, redécouvrez “Drôle de drame”, le classique insolite de Marcel Carné, le 18 décembre au cinéma.
Source: “Drôle de drame” un film de Marcel Carné / France Culture
Midnight in Paris intro
Their can be little disagreement that song, “Si Tu Vois Ma Mère” by Sidney Bechet, is a jazz classic.
Monsieur Pas de Merde is of the opinion that the introduction scene from Woody Allen’s 2011 movie “Midnight in Paris” was the best part of the film. What do you think?
Pas De Merde 