Chinese Lamtern Festival

Some 40 Chinese workers are busy constructing and erecting the Lantern Festival in a Gaillac park. The giant Heavenly Temple soars 18 metres, a replica of the original in Beijing (Pekin in French); the 70 metre long dragon is made entirely from porcelain plates and cups wired together; all the elements of the temple are hand made and covered with hand coloured silk.

Building the Heavenly Temple: pic Myriam Brisse.

The festival will run from the 1st December  to 31st January, pay on entry. As the elements will all be illuminated it is best seen at night, so will be open from 18h-23h.
Despite the undoubted spectacle, presented for the first time in Europe, the choice of Gaillac is not without controversy as its maire Patrice Gausserand is accused by some opposition members of using his office to promote his private business links with China. This will be considered by the Tribunal Administratif next week (13th November).
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Autumn Fete at Espinas

Samedi 30 sept. à 20h30 théâtre à voir en famille, par la troupe amateur de Blaye Les Mines (titre "Quel weekend!");entrée 5€ à partir de 12 ans; soupe au fromage offerte après la pièce ( a treat!!! really).
Dimanche 1er oct. vide-grenier de particuliers dans le village ( 2€/mètre. contact 05.63.68.20.88 / 07.80.55.96.55).

A few things to do this week

As the season ends and "la rentrée" looms up the calendar seems less charged than in recent weeks. But some villages are still "en fete" with the usual events. Here are a few T&G happenings which may interest you and your visitors.

Saturday  23 August

Bruniquel: Fete Medieval aux Chateaux. From 10am children's games and demonstrations of life in a
                  medieval camp; archery, cookery etc.
                 9pm Danses manouches.
Sunday 24 August

Bruniquel: medieval camp still open. Entry 6euros, free to under 5

Tuesday 26 August

Caylus: marche gourmand 7pm

Wednesday 27 August

Bruniquel: open air cinema - Les 400 coups of Francois Truffaut 9.30pm

Thursday 28th August
Folk 'n' Jazz at La Contie

St Antonin: Guided walking tour in English. 10.45am at the Office de Tourisme .5 euros

Friday 29 August

Caussade: Weekend of fetes, including fairground.
Negrepelisse: Fete auto/moto : All day expositions of vehicles, exchange of parts, models, marking
                      the 80th anniversary of Traction Citroen. 500 old vehicles and motos on Sunday.
                      info on www.la-cuisine.fr
Varen: petanque at the Bar des Sports. 2.30pm, followed by a free concert.

Saturday 30 August

Varen: Traditional dances under the market hall. 8pm Free. Animated by Sanguenitou.

St Antonin
Cinema at Le Querlys

Saturday 5pm Boyhood. VO English.
Sunday 5pm Planes2. Animated dubbed into French
Sunday 8.30pm Boyhood
Monday 5pm and 8.30 pm Boyhood
Tuesday 5pm Planes 2
Tuesday 8.30pm Qu'est qu'on a fait au bon dieu! French comedy.
Wednesday 4pm and 8.30pm Comrades (NB early start.) VO English. 3 hour film about
                   "Tolpuddle  Martyrs"

NO SEANCES THURSDAY OR FRIDAY

Saturday 30 August
5pm Qu'est qu'on a fait au bon dieu!
8.30 pm Comrades

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Who are these "intermittents de spectacle"?

There has been lots in the press and on TV about the threat to the summer festivals by striking intermittents. These are the casual workers, including actors and musicians, who work around the country to organise, promote and appear at the various festivals. From the very large festivals such as Avignon, Aix, Bourges, Nantes to the smallest, such as Varen Fete. The dispute seems to be about the unemployment and pension benefits of people who work intermittently in this business and the threats have brought intervention from Prime Minister Valls.
You may wonder at what the fuss is about, but the festivals are a major draw for the tourist industry - and France is the world's leading tourist destination. Apparently a wide spread strike in 2003 caused many festivals to be cancelled, costing millions to hotels and restaurants. Let's hope some solution can be found because summer here would not be the same without The Cordes Music Festival, or Jazz in Marciac or Le Riols en fete.
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Zany optimism in Verfeil

"Verfeil sur Seye - mean anything to you?  Luxurious  countryside; generous gastronomy; beautiful women? All of them are there, but above all its punk side"  That's how Acte deux introduce the village on their website in announcing a week of documentary films from 4th - 8th March.
Films every day from Tuesday to Saturday, from 14h - midnight. The programme is described as "independent, itinerant, free, alternative, experimental". Entry is free, but a contribution is expected. Food is available all week including a barbecue on Saturday. And the concert on Friday promises to be noisy. Entry charged based on the roll of a dice ( throw a 1 = 1 euro; six is free!).
The organisers recall the successes of "des croches et la lune", Verfeil's legendary week of cultural  (and horticultural) events and ask all to come and take part in the zany optimism as spring approaches.
details at http://www.act-2.org/

Val says I might try one and for the zany, noisy one perhaps could wear my " onesie"
Malc says   "Listen Val, never leave the house or grounds in that onesie!" he added please.
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Today is chandeleur / candlemass

We have been out tonight eating with a French friend, an invite one is always happy to receive. The lady is  a superb cook growing all her own fruit and vegetables, making her own fois gras ( she has 6 ducks coming next week to make more fois gras) After soup, fois gras, pot au feu, cheese and salad, pear tarte, and rounded of with pancakes as it is "chandeleur... and you always have pancakes at   chandeleur as it is lucky, so we were told. How do you say "gosh! we are stuffed"

Candlemas is a Christian holiday celebrated annually on February 2. It celebrates three occasions according to Christian belief: the presentation of the child Jesus; Jesus’ first entry into the temple; and it celebrates the Virgin Mary’s purification (mainly in Catholic churches).

What do people do?

Many Christians consider Jesus as the “light of the world” so it is fitting that candles are blessed on this day and that a candle-lit procession precedes the mass. It is traditional to eat crepes on Candlemas in some parts of Europe, such as France. Each family member prepares and cooks a crepe while holding a coin in hand. This is believed to assure wealth and happiness until the next Candlemas celebration.

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Elton John at Carcassone Festival in June

http://www.ladepeche.fr/article/2014/01/30/1806782-elton-john-gad-elmaleh-vanessa-paradis-decouvrez-programmation-festival-carcassonne.html

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December 8th La Fete de l' Immaculee Conception

Feast of the Immaculate Conception on the 8th Dec.
In the city of Lyons this is celebrated as  "La Fete De La Lumiere "( festival of light) said to commemorate the Virgins intervention to prevent the plague reaching Lyons in the middle ages. People put out rows of  candles in coloured glasses on their window sills, so all the centre is ablaze with flickering lights.
This reminds me of a similar evening we experienced in Pisa when our daughter was studying at Pisa University. On June 16th every year at sunset the Pisans light wax candles and place them in their windows, over 70,000 candles. The leaning Tower is also lit, as is the river Arno with floating candles. The Festival is called  " Luminara of St. Ranieri  and it is to celebrate San  Ranieri, the Citys Patron Saint.
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