C'est l'heure de l'apéro: Santé!

 

In France, just before noon or in the evening just before you sit down to eat, it's 'apéritif' time - a sacred ritual, a way of life.

 

 

 

Apéritif is a special moment combining drinks, snacks before the meal, a good time with friends chatting and relaxing. It's a moment of conviviability and ode to local specialities.

 

 

No apéritif is like another - hosts use their imagination.

 

 

 

I'll shut my eyes, remember my last summer's apéritifs in Provence: sun, friends, a sip of pastis, tapenade, a slice of saucisson, long discussions, laughter ... a moment of pure happiness ..

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Santé!

Crayfish galore

We had our traditional girls crayfish party. Once again had a great time and laughed plenty!

 

 

As you should do, we ate crayfish, sang schnaps songs and toasted with schnaps a few time.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In Finland, crayfish parties are held in August-September to mark the end of the summer.

This popular tradition originates from Swedish hight society.

 

 

 

I you are around during that period, try to get an invite, it's worth the detour (and the headache)!

Abrivado and Bandido in Bouillargues

The festivities in Bouillargues last for a few days (from Thursday till Monday if I remember right) and we got to see the bulls for a couple of time during our stay.
On Monday, 40 bulls were let in the village's streets! I was not there but I have been promised a few pictures and when I get them I will make an exception to the rule and load a few here.

Abrivado: the bulls charge through the village to the arena.
Bandido: the return of the bulls from the arena to the paty (grazing grounds).

 

 

 

Similar festivities start in April till November all around the region. The Camargue area is plenty of traditions and I have not seen half of it. I will need to get back there again and again :)
-c-

Provencal mass and Roussataïo in Bouillargues

Bouillargues and its august festivities = friends, apéritifs, lunch & dinner, horses and bulls - I love it!

 

 

 

Provencal mass

 

Roussataïo (old tradition consisting of herding mares and foals to new grazing grounds) celebrated with camargue horses herded through Bouillargues streets by gardians in traditional dress (mounted cattle hersdmen in the Camargue delta in Provence).

Le 14 Juillet, La Fête Nationale, Bastille Day

That meant our village party, apéritif, dinner, lantern parade, fireworks, dancing and many friends!

Juhannus - Midsummer

Today is Juhannus in Finland – a celebration of the Summer Solstice and its nightless night as well as of John the Baptist. Juhannus is one of the most important holidays and held on Saturday between 20 – 26 June.

The celebration starts on the Friday with most of the Finns travelling to their mökki (summer cottage) in the countryside together with family and/or friends.

The mökki is decorated with birch branches to insure future happiness and flowers to welcome the summer.

On the menu are new potatoes, grilled sausages & meat and strawberries. Then it’s time to enjoy your sauna, not forgetting to gently beat yourself with the vihta (leafy boughs of birch). Traditional Finnish songs are played all night long.

Closer to midnight, everyone heads to see the star of the night, the kokko (bonfire).

Happy Juhannus to all and let’s welcome the summer!

-c-

If you call it Vappu, that's what you get

It is Vappu (Walpurgis day) - a traditional spring festival and one of the biggest holiday in Finland.
Celebration starts on the evening of 30 April and continues to 1 May. All upper seconday school get to wear the white cap and you can imagine how its white colour get a darker shade every year! I would imagine the darker/dirtier it gets, the more respect you get  ;)
On 1 May, all generations party and picnic in the parks consuming sima (mead) and sparkling wine.

On Vappu's eve, I got to get together with a few friends and even though we have still cold weather it felt as summer is around the corner - maybe due to the buffet table's rainbow of colors and tastes.

 

 

Hyvää Vappua!
-c-