29 November 2010

November in Paris and Thanksgiving Cheer

Big happy plate of Thanksgiving leftovers.

I have long thought that France had more federal holidays than the US. It seems the French are always having days off, especially in the spring. In May it feels like every week there's a bank holiday. (Actually, this is not just an impression, there are French federal holidays on May 1, May 8, and this year May 13 and May 24.) However, contrary to what I thought, France only has one more holiday per year than the US. The major difference is that half the French holidays are Catholic ones (and you can bring that up next time one of your French friends mentions the proliferation of the phrase "God bless America" and how secular France is). In case you're curious (I know I was), the bank holidays in France are:

New Year's Day, Easter Monday, Labor Day (not the same day as the US, but the same idea), V Day (aka "the allies beat the Nazis day"), Ascension Thursday, Pentecost, Bastille Day, Assumption Day (yes, the day the Virgin Mary rose into heaven), All Saints Day, Armistice, and Christmas

For you non-Americans, US National holidays are:

New Year's, Martin Luther King Day, President's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day (aka July 4), Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veterans' Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas.

The epitome of Paris in November.

Besides the religious quality of French national holidays, the other main difference is the time of year. France has the most holidays in the spring, which is nice because it's starting to warm up and everyone wants to play hooky anyway and lie around in the sun. The US has the most holidays in the fall and winter, which is even nicer, perhaps, because it's a time of year when it gets dark early and everything is black and white and gray, and everyone needs a little cheer.


That is what I love about Thanksgiving. Less pressure than Christmas because there are no presents to buy, Thanksgiving is just about sharing a good meal with family and/or friends. When the sky is low and drab as it has been for weeks here in Paris, that is exactly what I need! This year, we had Thanksgiving with Nick and Camille and a friend of theirs. It was a no stress, low key event (we all had to work thurs. and fri.) but like all meals with foodies, it was very yummy!
A ray of sun, quick, take a picture!

I made a version of this blue cheese potatoes au gratin that included the celeriac I got in my CSA and a chocolate pecan pie (basically my original recipe, but with less corn syrup and chopped chocolate added). We combined our CSA spinach into creamed spinach. Camille made her signature wild mushroom bread pudding, sweet potato/yam purée and delicious gravy, and Nick made turkey roast. We topped it all off with some good wine for a perfect November-blues-beating evening!

10 comments:

Rosa's Yummy Yums said...

I hope you had a great Thanksgiving! That tart looks so scrumptious.

Cheers,

Rosa

the Junkie book said...

lucky you have frens who can cook. thanks for sharing your good moment. why can't my frens cook?????

Ivy said...

The tart sounds delicious. In Greece we have about the same holidays as in France, although Orthodox, except of course our Independence Day.

Hopie said...

Rosa - I did! Thank you!

Kitchenmorph - Ah, sounds like it's time to make some new friends ;-)

Ivy - Thank you! That makes sense that Greece has the Orthodox holidays but I was surprised about France because the French make a big deal out of being a "secular" country.

giz said...

I like your research on the holidays. We even have "family day" in Canada.
Glad you had a good Thanksgiving.

Hopie said...

Giz - Family day. That's pretty cool! I want one of those! Do you have religious holidays like All Saints and Pentecost and all that too?

Anonymous said...

One nice thing about having Thanksgiving in France is that you don't have to worry about the grocery store being closed! :) Thanks for sharing another holiday meal with us!

Hopie said...

Camille - I know! I thought of that too! Always a pleasure to share a meal with you guys.

Caroline said...

You love thanksgiving for the same reasons I do - good food and family, without worrying about purchasing presents. Looks like you had a wonderful feast for Thanksgiving!

Hopie said...

Caroline - Yep, that's exactly it! It was great. I hope yours was too.