Pink Trash Travels

When growing up, Christmas was one of my favorite times of the year. Not only for the obvious reasons, but every year in November we'd receive an ornament and advent calendar from a foreign country. Thanks to our subscription to The World Book Encyclopedia, my brothers and I would eventually fight for opening rights to the package and the individual doors on the calendar. This was my first exposure to holiday celebrations overseas. Now that I'm living the experience, it's a bit different than expected.

In France, the Christmas tree has never been popular. Instead, the Parisians opt for a traditional nativity set, or creché that serves as the focus for the Christmas celebration. And if they do display a tree, it's most likely flocked black, pink or white and stuck in a stump. That, or they form one from wigs, feathers, wine bottles and cheese logs. In addition, it's not about green and red. Rather, the Parisians utilize the color spectrum with oranges, blues and purples. Leave it to the French to stylize Christmas.

A French Christmas also isn't about jolly old men, flying animals and little people with special gifts that make toys. They focus more on the family aspect of the holiday. Loved ones come together to worship, share and enjoy the time of being together. Not that this view of Christmas doesn't exist in the states. It does. But can you imagine a Christmas without Rudolph, Santa and Herbie the Christmas Elf?

So to you, Chris and I send holiday cheer from Paris. I've included a few shots below of areas around our home including the Champs Elysee, windows at Galleries Lafayette and one of our favorite streets, Rue Montogrueil. Have a wonderful holiday season. And when you're watching the 25 days of Christmas on ABC Family, think of me. "You put one foot in front of the other...and soon you'll be walking out the door!"