Last Saturday we were invited to a neighourbood get together La Fête des Voisins
which literally means neighbourhood party. This is a traditional get together which takes place all across France albeit later in May generally.
When living in Lyon, this was the type of get together that I’d watch on the television but never see or even hear about in real life, so when we got a note through the letter box some weeks ago I was delighted.
Since moving to the French countryside I’ve not really met that many people and have remained in close contact with my Lyon based friends. It can be quite a lonely existence but the friends I have made more than make up for quantity in quality.
It’s said here that people are wary of foreigners and when I say foreigners, I don’t mean people from other countries but people from other parts of France! So I guess I am a super dooper foreigner for people in these parts!
Anyway, back to La Fête des Voisins. We’d been invited to Chez Gael which was one of our neighbours although I didn’t have a clue which one or where they lived. Our neighbourhood is quite extensive and to walk round it takes me 35 minutes and there aren’t that many houses.
I managed to locate the house quite easily last Saturday by walking down the lane whilst pushing Little Piglet (yes, I’ve decided on a name). I couldn’t but notice the huge marquees outside a house at the top of the hill, so I was guessing that either the party was there or I’d be gate crashing someone’s wedding reception… Thankfully upon arrival my destination was confirmed as being the correct place! Ouf!
I’d been told to bring along something for the aperitif or for dessert and in Mr Piglet’s absence (he was working) I took a long a bottle of white and some crisps. Good job I had Little Piglet in her pushchair as I was confronted with lots of home made specialties from the other guests making my offering look very basic. Little Piglet’s presence more than made up my lack of food however as everyone cooed over her, saying how gracious she is.
Eventually Mr Piglet turned up and it was great meeting all the people who live nearby. It was frequently commented how people were glad that the previous owners had gone and how they were very cold and snubbed people. We chatted and met so many people, I can only remember their faces not their names or where they live so it’s going to be fun over the next few months working out where everyone lives and checking out their names on their letter boxes.
I even met a lady who grew up in our house, it belonged to her great grandmother and her bedroom was Little Piglet’s room! She is very fond of the house and hopefully she’ll accept my invitation to drop in for coffee one day and tell me more about the house and how it was before it was renovated.
After a while the heavens opened and as Mr Piglet had returned to work and I hadn’t the foresight to bring an umbrella or rain cover I was kind of stuck, baby in tow and wondering when the rain would stop so I could run home. General debate amongst the neighbours decided that it wasn’t wise for me to run home in the wet so a car was arranged and a kind soul (the retired village Doctor!) drove us home.
We were made to feel truly welcome and it felt great to finally meet up with our neighbours and it feels even better to be able to greet them when I’m out on a stroll or working in the garden.
Vive La Fête des voisins !
Where I was living la fete des voisins was a town thing…great to know it happens in the country and that you had such a good time….Baby Piglet assisting of course
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Thanks Fly! It didn’t happen much in Lyon so maybe it’s only in certain cities? It was great anyway and we were even in the local press!
Oops, missed that completely. Sounds like you had a lovely time. I’ll have to remember to mark my diary for next year and do something neighbourly.
Definitely!
ps. You’ve got la fete de la musique on the 21st June which is another occasion to unite the neighbours!
I think its great to get together with your neighbors. We have a get together once a year with everyone invited who has ever lived on our street in CA. That is not as many years as it might sound as our whole street was built new in 1992, I would love to come to a fete des voisins in France. I think we sort of have one when there is a line out the door of the boulangerie in the morning and everyone is catching up.
LOL! I love how communities come together at the boulangerie in France, isn’t it just fantastic?
How lovely to have such a thing, to meet the neighbors.
I always found that babies ( and later pups) were a good way to meet people, everyone always wants to talk to a baby, pet a pup.
This sounds like a great way to be introduced to everyone at once . I know you must be feeling so much more a part of the place now.
besitos to you and little piglet, C
Thanks Candice! I thought that babies helped meet people too but have found that most people just keep themselves and their babies to themselves although I have met a few people. French women tend to be friends more with their family and sister in laws rather than other women!
And I bet the food is so much better than our usual chips, salsa, beer and brownies.
OMG it was! I felt totally inadequate with the chips and wine I’d taken along!
They have them in some parts of our bit of Normandy, Piglet, but we have to content ourselves with the fete communale and the soirees. La Fete des Voisins sounds great fun.
Well it’s all privately organised so who knows, maybe next year you can set up your own?
How lovely! Good to hear you’re being welcomed in your new neighbourhood!!
Thank you! It is a relief as I’ve always been told how wary countryfolk are of foreigners…