Season of Spetacles

Like most countries that celebrate Christmas, France is looking forward to December 25. Most villages deck the streets with lights and garlands. Santa pays a visit to each village one way or another--Vinon-sur-Verdon has a Santa that comes to visit on a plane.  No Christmas party is complete without every attendee showing up is a Santa hat of some kind. While the society is very secular, December is time for performances and pageants: "les spectacles" in French. Here are a few ways we've made a spectacle of ourselves this season.

Anna, Sophie and J performed in a church pageant last weekend. While not the traditional story of Christ's birth from the Bible, it was a story about finding Christmas. Taken from a story written by an American, the youth of our stake sang, danced, acted, and even roller-skated as they portrayed the story of a French au pair looking for a way to give a gift to the Saviour in New York City.

Anna played the lead role of the au pair, Ursula. She sang a solo at the end of the show and did a great job (even though her knees where shaking under her dress). Sophie danced the waltz during a party scene and played the mother of the family Ursula worked for. James put his energy into a few group dance numbers and was part of the chorus.

As the youth are spread out over a 150 km radius, it is difficult to get together to practice. There were only three rehearsals before the show. It was a remarkable feat. We were so grateful to youth leaders and branch members who supported our children and helped them get from here to there.

E started taking a Zumba/modern dance class this year. Her teacher, Ivana, put together a petit spectacle de noel so parents could see what their children have been learning. The room (a sort of cultural hall for the village) was decorated with red and white boxes, red fabric and a Christmas tree. All the dancers wore Santa hats in true French style. It was a very festive recital. I am so proud of E for going to class even though she has to go by herself and everything is in French. She's quite a kid.

This week J's music teacher put together a winter concert--the first of its kind in the history of the school. In addition to singing, J's class got to play the drums. As drumming is something he has always wanted to do, he looked pretty happy. Hopefully, it compensated for the singing part.

Our last performance is in the form of a piano recital for Sophie (and maybe E if she works up her courage) tomorrow night. Here is a one of the pieces Sophie will play.

We wish you all a joyeuse fête.

Meredith