First Day Of Summer?

Le Feu De La St Jean
Tonight was the celebration of the first day of summer, Le Feu De La St Jean. As I may well have commented before (can't be bothered to go back and check) for some reason this is not celebrated on the 21st of June (technically the first day) but on the 23rd. As it has been for the last several years except that, this year, for some reason I am not aware of, it was the 24th and not the 23rd.

Anyway, it was the usual event of the village letting its hair down in a very acceptable and agreeable way, all ages (and pets) participating. The fire is now permanently based on the river bed. The first time I witnessed this celebration, the fire was on the bridge that spans the two halves of the village and the local fireman had to put it out. Now it's down on the river bed, which affords a good view from the bridge, and always has a dry stone bank on which to burn it. And it can be left to burn itself out safely. The stone banks move every year according to how the winter “floods” have rearranged them but there is always a stone bank. This year it was in the middle of the river between two branches of water either side. Kids were down on the stonebank gleefully helping to light the fire.

I wandered amongst the villagers assembled on the bridge variously muttering "Pauvre Jeanne d'Arc" and "Que Jeanne d'Arc brule bien", getting some laughs but also some odd looks.

The entertainment was provided by two guitarists playing mostly Spanish songs and my eye was focused on two girls of about ten years old who merrily bomped away to the music, stopping occasionally to pick up younger brothers/sisters and continue bomping while carrying them. That's what I love about this event. All the family joins in and, one way or another, they all look after one another to see that they all have a good time. And kids are omni-present, not yet so locked up with computers and playstations that they can't be torn away for some more primitive entertainment.

Arriving back at my house I was waylaid by the crowd renting the house adjoining mine and invited to have a drink with them. They were an extended family of mixed Irish/Geordie background and very good company. Questions about what I was doing in Mollans gradually turned to football and we had a great time reminiscing about Chelsea and Newcastle teams of the mid-1950s through the 1960s. Milburn, Mitchell, Scoular, Harvey and Bentley, Greaves, Osgood, Hudson, Houseman, etc. Those were the days.....(my friends)...........

My question as to how they had found Mollans was answered by the appearance of Andrew and Petra, an Englishman and Dutch lady, who live in nearby Propiac and whom I had encountered from time to time but never really got acquainted with. It seems we may have various things in common, including wide travel experience, so I hope I will get to know them better.