8 years ago by
At our house, Christmas is kind of haphazard. We have absolutely no traditions, unless you count cutting your hands shucking oysters or stuffing yourself with foie gras until you have no room for the rest of dinner (my mother loves foie gras and Sauternes, and I have a sneaking suspicion that’s her one and only reason for celebrating Christmas. We grew up atheist, after all).
Ah yes, and making gorgeous, colorful Christmas trees because our family is super into decorating.
One day we decided we were against turkey (too dry!) so we started doing baked fish. At one point, the dessert had to be Black Forest cake (in the shape of a “bûche”, yule log, which is a French tradition) then we switched to Strawberry Cream cake (in the shape of bûche) then more recently, we’ve switched to a delicious Christmas bûche (not in the shape of a yule log) that we get on Cours Napoléon. Sometimes my mother decides to go to bed at 9:00 no matter how much we protest, and sometimes a part of the family goes to Midnight Mass, which in Corsica is really at midnight (I heard in other places it’s not). Sometimes everything is wrapped up in two hours, dishes included, and other times, we spend all night singing Corsican songs by the fire, drinking champagne and eating clementines. Then there are times when we all end up half asleep in front of the TV by 9:30, totally forgetting the melting ice cream cake we left on the table.
As for gifts, we don’t make too much fuss. Secretly, I’d actually really like it if we made a little bit more of a fuss. I really like the idea of giving gifts, even if they’re very simple. Opening them together, laughing, enjoying ourselves.
I think one day, I’ll tell everyone to come celebrate Christmas in New York, and gifts will be required, haha. I think it’s important to create family traditions.
Fortunately, my brothers and sisters had the great idea to have adorable kids, so we get to live vicariously through them the joy of opening presents by the Christmas tree. I love hearing the kids waking up early to tear open the wrapping paper, tease each other, exchange loot, and spend hours there, with their eyes still sleepy and full of dreams…
Translated by Andrea Perdue
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Merry Merry Christmas Garance!
christmas=family time! :)
http://littleaesthete.com/
Coucou Garance, j’ai acheté ton livre au Bon Marché et je ne le quitte plus ! Il est devenu mon meilleur ami !
Merci beaucoup pour ce beau cadeau que tu nous à fait.
Un joyeux Noël à toi et à ta famille,
Bisous
Clémence
Joyeux noël Garance
Joyeux Noël Garance ! Nous faisons plus les Rois Mages chez moi mais je me suis offert ton livre pour Noël ;-) ! Je t’embrasse
Feliz navidad!!!! From Puerto Vallarta México
*_* Feliz Natal from Lisbon,Garance!
Merry Christmas from Brussels
Wesolych Swiat from Palm City
Guten Weinachten !!! Garance
Joyeux Noel chere Garance !
Joyeux Noel Garance !
Je me suis achetée ton livre à sa sortie et ma mère m’a offert le même exemplaire ce soir à Noël !!!!!
Je suis gâtée !!!!
Quel post adorable ! Et merci de partager la photo, avec ce petit air boudeur. Joyeux Noël Corse !
I wish you, your team and all your readers a joyful, peaceful and respectful festivus. Thank you Garance for spreading love, good wishes and happiness to everyone…
Hugs from Sanja in sunny and hot Melbourne Australia.
Joyeux noël Garance! Ici, quatre enfants ont ouvert leurs cadeaux avec des étoiles dans les yeux. j’espère que tu pourras vivre ce beau moment.
Joyeux noël from Doha !!
Bon Noel Garance
Gabriella
Merry Christmas, everyone!
Häid jõulupühi!
https://sofaundermapletree.wordpress.com
Joyeux Noel Garance wherever you are. Hoping your book tour is a big success!
Janine Claire
http://www.noworriesparis.com
Merry Christmas, Garance! Apropos gift giving at Christmas – I was out-of-my-skin with happiness and gratitude when my husband presented me with your book this year! I think he must have peeked at the books that I mark on Amazon without my knowing it. I am so delighted with the binding of it, the pleasing colors and the really great general design of it. That it has my personal favorite picture of you on the back detail was just so charming! So, as far as a wholistic presentation goes – I have to say that the book looks and feels great to the hand and eye. I very ceremoniously poured myself a glass of wine and waited till the house was quiet, then I sat down to relish the moment of opening the book to the first page. I told my husband that I was not going to start flipping through the the pages Willy-Nilly as one may with a general picture or design book. No… This was a treasure that I had been waiting for for some time now so I was going to treat the opening of the book with the Catholic – like gesture of opening the bible in church (minus the glass of wine). I liked your book right from the first page. When I got to page 16 – the section about the SCARF… Well… That’s when things got noisy! I nearly had to run to the loo, I lost it laughing my fanny off over that “scarf”. I won’t ruin the tale for those who haven’t had a chance to pick up the book yet, but… If the following pages have this kind of great story telling – in your voice that we have all come to appreciate and enjoy over the years… Then it will be a real winner! I hope you have a very wonderful holiday filled with love, family, great food and rest. It has been a pure delight following your blog since the early inception. Though I am a 61 year old lady, I absolutely find your style and wit to be a delight… Yes… A rich piece of cake – if you will. All the best! Xoxoxo
Buon Natale, Garance!
Always enjoy your posts! Enjoy your day and family, Happy Christmas wishes!
Hi Garance, I’ve got your book for Christmas and I’ve just finished reading it! It’ s great and inspired me to finally paint my nails first time in six months haha ;) i had a good laugh reading the book – thank you fo this gift! Merry Christmas and loads of love from Poland! ;)
Hi Garance and merry Christmas! I actually also got your book as a present from my siblings :) Unfortunately it has not arrived yet, so I actually got the front page printed out, but I will have it soon in my hands. The only reason I did not pre-order it was, that I was hoping they will get it me for Christmas. I know it will be worth to wait.
Just got your new book and hope to finally relax.
Happy New Year to you!
on te reconnaît très bien sur la photo…
(… juste en passant, Foie gras, foie avec un e).