mascamps.com Posted September 21, 2007 Share Posted September 21, 2007 We live in the Perpignan region and Xmas here is a pretty dismal and uninteresting time of year. We wish to go somewhere this year where Xmas actually exists as a festive season; we are thinking about Germany and Belgium right now. Is there anywhere in France that actually has some spirit at Xmas time...markets, lights etc?. Personally I think not but let me know if I am wrong. There are seven of us as a family who need to travel and we want to start our Xmas trip about 22/12th until the 28th/12th. Suggestions with regards to Holland/Italy are more than welcome. The family really want to get out of France for Xmas this year if possible as the past three have been so uninspiring atmosphere-wise. But if such a thing as a festive Xmas can be found within France we will happily travel to it. We need a break. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicos Posted September 21, 2007 Share Posted September 21, 2007 Would you consider inviting your French neighbours over for part of the day and giving them a taste of British Xmas???? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hoverfrog Posted September 22, 2007 Share Posted September 22, 2007 I'm going to hit myself tomorrow for replying to this, but what the heck!Christmas in the Limousin can be bleak too, but then it's like anything anywhere - it's what you make it!What does Christmas really mean to you? For me, it's church for mass Christmas evening, then wrappng the presents for the kids to tear apart Christmas morning, then a slow degeneration with friends until (after a surfeit of xmas dinner) ...eventually boxing day!Every family has it's traditions (somewhere along the line that included a bottle of Bristol Cream for those that prepared Xmas lunch in my family...) - needless to say that the adage that "those who got did not clear away" held true :)Anyway, that's a long-winded way of saying "you always take the weather with you", and why do you think Christmas isn't Christms where you are, and what do you need other people to add to it to make it more complete for you? Christmas is what you make it, same as everything else. "Make yourselves a jolly Christmas", just how you want it, and next year you will have all the neighbours wanting to join in.Don't be a parasite, don't rely on others to make it for you, - make it what YOU want it to be, what you think it should be. If you want the "party season" - well then have that party! Start that ball rolling; it's up to you :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Coeur de Lion Posted September 22, 2007 Share Posted September 22, 2007 I want them to change the date of Xmas to late Jan early Feb. Reason being is because those two months after Xmas are so bleak and you have nothing to look forward to once December has finished. It is so depressing. So by having it early Feb say, you get the whole of winter to look forward to it and once it's over there's just a couple more weeks left of winter before spring comes along and wakes everything up again. Win, win situation I think.As for Xmas itself, it's what you make of it yourself I think.R. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat Posted September 22, 2007 Share Posted September 22, 2007 Alsace is quite christmassy at Christmas, with markets, trees, lights, decorations and the like. They even try to claim that the christmas tree was their own invention. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clair Posted September 22, 2007 Share Posted September 22, 2007 As Alsace was sometimes part of Germany, they're probably partly right! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iceni Posted September 22, 2007 Share Posted September 22, 2007 Those who want to celebrate this johnny-come-lately christmas should find their own time of year and leave the Winter Solstice to us heathens - we were there first.I seem to remember reading somewhere that if the event happened it was probably in September anyway.Johnnot Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cooperlola Posted September 22, 2007 Share Posted September 22, 2007 Bruges always looks as if it would be good at Christmas. Or even (ducks) one of the UK's cathedral cities - Hereford springs to mind. But having said that, Le Mans is always great in December. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wendy Posted September 22, 2007 Share Posted September 22, 2007 Cat, I read that Alsace is great for Xmas. I have to agree though, Xmas isn't just Xmas Day. It's the whole lead up to the thing and as the French are not allowed to place Nativity scenes in public or sing carols in public - the shops don't even play carols - it dosen't really feel like Chrissy until the day. Or when you get the credit card bill in January...Did you know that Prince Albert (Mr Queen Victoria) introduced the Xmas tree to England?. My little piece of trivia for the day.[;-)] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Coeur de Lion Posted September 22, 2007 Share Posted September 22, 2007 [quote user="Iceni"]Those who want to celebrate this johnny-come-lately christmas should find their own time of year and leave the Winter Solstice to us heathens - we were there first.I seem to remember reading somewhere that if the event happened it was probably in September anyway.Johnnot[/quote]That's my point exactly. When Xmas was invented they put it at that time of year to attract more heathens to become Christians. Move it to the end of winter to give us something to hang onto through those cold months.R. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigears Posted September 23, 2007 Share Posted September 23, 2007 hiWhen we were working we always came to france for xmas, it was nice and quiet, not too much OTT, I hate the uk xmas, for me its so corrupt, its a retailers dream. Since we retired we only stay in france for 6 months, so xmas has to be elsewhere, this year in NZ, so good weather with christmas pud. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley1952 Posted November 4, 2007 Share Posted November 4, 2007 Try valkenburg (not sure of the spelling) the whole village is decked out loads of tourists there before christmas Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pads Posted November 4, 2007 Share Posted November 4, 2007 [quote user="LyndaandRichard"]I want them to change the date of Xmas to late Jan early Feb. Reason being is because those two months after Xmas are so bleak and you have nothing to look forward to once December has finished. It is so depressing. So by having it early Feb say, you get the whole of winter to look forward to it and once it's over there's just a couple more weeks left of winter before spring comes along and wakes everything up again. Win, win situation I think.As for Xmas itself, it's what you make of it yourself I think.R.[/quote]Jan Feb are what you make of it your self to ..........[:)] For me its the only time of the year I can garantee my hubby being home, with the lovely dark cold days we light the fire early, and either snuggle up in front of it with a nice bottle of wine, or pop to the pub and come back and crash on the sofa. Feb is also our anniversary of the day we met, (yes we still celebrate it after 25 years) and its also valentines day so they are the most romantic months of the year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sunday Driver Posted November 4, 2007 Share Posted November 4, 2007 We seem to have a good Xmas spirit here in North Deux Sevres.Our village pushes out the boat with Xmas decorations and lights.The Mairie:[IMG]http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w4/r850r/Xmas012.jpg[/IMG]The Church:[IMG]http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w4/r850r/Xmas016.jpg[/IMG] Our local small town (Cerizay) has a Xmas fair with stalls selling all sorts of goodies, rides for the kids, snow machines and hot wine stands...... Our nearest larger town (Bressuire) has a Christmas tree in the square and Xmas craft stalls etc....[IMG]http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w4/r850r/Xmas005.jpg[/IMG]All the street furniture (lamps, bollards, etc) is wrapped up in red and gold festive wrapping paper....[IMG]http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w4/r850r/Xmas006.jpg[/IMG] Our nearest city (Cholet) has a big fair in the main town square. They build a complete Xmas 'village' with Church, etc. All humbug, of course......[:(][:P] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RicandJo Posted November 5, 2007 Share Posted November 5, 2007 Frankfurt is excellent at Christmas. Fabulous xmas market and lovely people. The Holiday Inn Frankfurt City South is a great hotel with an excellent 'Bier Stube' bar which serves super food (some of the best steaks I ever had in my life!). Very reasonable to stay there too, bus stop right outside the hotel takes you the short hop to where all the markets and bars / restaurants are. Christmas in Italy is a bit like that in France - they're very religious and so it's a big time for families but not much happens outside! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chancer Posted November 5, 2007 Share Posted November 5, 2007 Thanks to Chinese "tat" shops like Gifi and Kassprix my village in France now rivals my village in England for tasteless house illuminations!Thank god we dont celebrate Guy fawkes night here or the fashion of having Fireworks at birthday partys ie every day of the year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PEPPA Posted November 6, 2007 Share Posted November 6, 2007 With young children Christmas Tat is unavoidable. Our decs our up 1st December.However we find Christmas far less commercialised Here- more about eating really well that purchasing huge expensive quantities of plastic rubbish for the children.As small holders our Christmas means reaping the rewards of raising our own animals for meat.Homecured Gammons Sausage & of course Turkey. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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