Retraite aux Flambeaux

After an exciting shopping trip to Carrefour and the laundry (where I paid 15 euros to wash our sheets!) followed by doing very little of anything, we bundled the little ones to attend the Retraite aux flambeaux. We didn't really know what to expect, having hear only that the lights in the village would be turned off, and the kids would be carrying lights. When we got to the appointed place, they were handing out sword like devices to the bigger children and adults and lanterns on rods with glow sticks to the little ones.

Rave time!! Actually, we milled around until darkness fell at which point they led a goat out, which was towing a bathtub with a sound system, trailed by two dancers. Yes, it was getting a little weird! Shortly before the sound system was started, we discovered that the swords were actually torches, and everyone began lighting them. The little kids had their light sticks snapped for them by their parents.

After torches were ignited, we all walked up to the church. It was pretty cool, and the whole time I was marveling at our adoptive country, and how different it is from the US. I just can't see a town sponsored event happening in the states that involves giving flaming sword-torches to kids (or even adults) and marching through a village! It would be a lawyers dream, I'm sure. Even the very young kids were amazingly well behaved with their torches -- treating them with respect and care, and even watching out for the younger kids. I have a feeling that in most places in the states, it would have rapidly devolved into flaming sword fights and trips to the hospital. Here is the walk up to the town hall:





There were lots of flares lit too, so there was a haze of smoke, which gave the event a pretty haunted feel to it.







Zoe loved all of it, of course, and did an admirable amount of walking and torch avoiding. She didn't want to carry a lantern, but LOVED the light sticks. She actually went to sleep with them later that night because of her unwillingness to part with them.