It's beginning to look a lot like...

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas here in France. They put up the lights over the streets and on the light posts, so it is pretty festive walking around. There is a restaurant that I walk by every day that has a Christmas tree and a neon light wishing everyone “Bonnes Fetes” or “Happy Holidays”. In one of the main squares that I walk by each day on my way to work, there is normally a little flower market that is enclosed, so it is there all year round. This week the flower market became a Christmas tree farm and lots of live trees are out there for the picking. The trees here are all the same and they look a bit like Charlie Brown Christmas trees. There is lots of room for hanging ornaments! There are big trees and little trees, but they pretty much all look the same.
In Place de Jaude, the huge square in the center of town they have erected a Ferris wheel just like the one that was here last year when I arrived. I’m not sure the appeal of riding a Ferris wheel when it is negative degrees outside, but my roommate did it and had a grand time. She’s trying to get me to go back. Next to the Ferris Wheel is a massive Christmas tree with ornaments on it.
I have gone to both masses in Advent and while the Cathedral is much too big to decorate fully, there is a nativity scene in the back of the church that is pretty decorated. I didn’t say prettily decorated for a reason, but it is there. You know who is still missing though.
Right outside of the Cathedral is a Christmas market, where vendors sell their wares out of little wooden huts. You can find sweaters or toys or wooden games. You can also find truffade (the local dish with potatoes and cheese), Canadian pancakes with maple syrup and any kind of cheese or dried meat you desire.
Bars around here have started serving Bier de Noel. The one we had on Saturday was the Delirium Christmas Beer and it was bitter and tasted like coffee. Not my cup of …..er…beer.
There are Christmas concerts going on around town and lastly, the stores ARE OPEN on Sunday. It is the first capitalist thing I have noticed all year. Welcome to the season kids!