If you want to be happy in a million ways,
For the holidays,
You can’t beat home, sweet home."
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| This fella was welcoming visitors to le Village des Artisans (Craft Village) |
"I'll be home for Christmas...
My sojourn in Nice has come to an end. I leave Nice this Saturday to celebrate my 62nd birthday (soixante-deuxieme anniversaire) and the holiday season (fetes) at home in New York City.
This will be my final photography blog from Nice. I'm very grateful that so many of you have taken the time to view my posts, but I doubt that many of you would be intersted in my wanderings in and photos of NYC. It's been done!
So (Alors), what do I have for you today? Yesterday (Hier), the mayor of Nice (Maire de Nice) officially launched Christmas in Nice (Noel a Nice).
The lights in Place Massena were turned on,
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| Chanukah began December 1. The Menorah flames compete with the electrical lights. |
and the Skating Rink (la Patinoire) welcomed skaters of ages.
As you can see...
"It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas"
"Ev'rywhere you go;
Take a look..."
They have ...
"O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree!
Thy leaves are so unchanging."
Except for trees in France. They love to flock them with artifical snow.
Frosty the Snowman
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| Was a jolly happy soul With a corncob pipe and a button nose And two eyes made of coal |
Santa Claus Is Coming to Town
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| "You better watch out" |
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| "You better not cry." |
... and Santa's Sleigh ...
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| "Sleigh bells ring, are you listening, In the lane, snow is glistening A beautiful sight, We're happy tonight, Walking in a winter wonderland." |
... all very appealing to the Nicoise children (les jeunes enfants de Nice.)
This is all happening in Place Massena. But there are signs of the holiday in other parts of the city as well.
Trees have been strung with lights.
Stores are tastefully decorated or surprisingly...not decorated at all.
Ornate buildings are sometimes lit beautifully throughout the year, but some, add a dash of color now, to invoke the holiday.
And then there are more lights...
On a night when I was walking through Nice talking the pictures above, I came across this odd sight.
A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
"Mankind was my business. The common welfare was my business; charity, mercy, forbearance, and benevolence were all my business."
I know, this is a little heavy for a holiday blog, but as Dicken's himself said in his preface...
"I have endeavored in this ghostly little book, to raise the Ghost of an Idea, which shall not put my readers out of humor with themselves, with each other, with the season, or with me. May it haunt their houses pleasantly, and no one wish to lay it.
Their faithful Friend and Servant, C.D.
December, 1843"
"Scrooge was better than his word. He did it all, and infintely more; and to Tiny Tim, who did not die, he was a second father. He became as good a friend, as good a master, and as good a man, as the good old city knew, or any other good old city, town, or borough in the good old world."
Have yourself a merry little Christmas,"Let your heart be light
From now on,
our troubles will be out of sight
Have yourself a merry little Christmas,
Make the Yule-tide gay,
From now on,
our troubles will be miles away.
Here we are as in olden days,
Happy golden days of yore.
Faithful friends who are dear to us
Gather near to us once more.
Through the years
We all will be together,
If the Fates allow
Hang a shining star upon the highest bough.
And have yourself A merry little Christmas now."
From now on,
our troubles will be out of sight
Have yourself a merry little Christmas,
Make the Yule-tide gay,
From now on,
our troubles will be miles away.
Here we are as in olden days,
Happy golden days of yore.
Faithful friends who are dear to us
Gather near to us once more.
Through the years
We all will be together,
If the Fates allow
Hang a shining star upon the highest bough.
And have yourself A merry little Christmas now."
