Provencal Holidays - no christmas sweaters

Like holidays around the world, the winter holiday season in Provence is all about food, and food with cultural symbolism. The 13 desserts arises from the last supper, and the 12 who attended it plus Jesus, so 13 is not considered an unlucky number here. The bouche de noel is all over in each bakery, and even in our favorite ice cream shop in St. Remy as an ice cream cake. When we walked through town yesterday to the cheese shop we decided to drink coffee at the ice cream shop which had just opened at 11:30 a.m. and the locals were already lined up to pick up their orders, pastry, ice cream cake, and other goodies. It was a 12 on a 1-10 people watching scale. The interactions, the style, the response to receiving their orders. Not significantly different then the US, but with more style, and calmer. The decorations here are pleasant, subtle, and not overpowering. Santa is almost no where to be found, and haven't seen any reindeer - no Rudolph, and very importantly - no Christmas sweaters!