New Year's Traditions

Last year, Isabelle explained to us how, in France, little tokens or treats are put at each place setting on the New Year's table. The French, I think, give far more consideration to the concept of the new year than we do in North America, where it seems to be associated more with a party the night before and a big meal on the actual day. The French take more care to wish each other well and look ahead with hope. In today's mail, we received a New Year's card from Sophie and Jean Paul in Ronce. Sophie describes it as a "very French" card and I think it is utterly charming. While having a grandchild on another continent is brutally hard to deal with, our lives have been enriched by this French connection.