We rang promptly at 8 PM. Five perfectly dressed beautiful French children climbed all over us to receive and give their three kisses. We have never felt so welcomed in our lives. We were immediately surrounded and uplifted by the enthusiasm of children about to be visited by Santa.  It was so good to then meet Martine’s good looking and talented son and daughter. He is responsible for France’s Clear Channel. She teaches English in a Catholic high school.

We started by singing carols in English. How did Martine know that the one part of Christmas I had been missing was the chance to sing a Christmas carol ? The children sang without accent. Incredible !

The fire cast a soft glow over a Christmas tree, the champagne and aperitifs. A painting of Martine’s lovely mother smiled down from the wall.

Guy, Martine's husband, who speaks only French, was so pleased to recommend an American movie with French subtitles that he had seen just that day, “Another Year.” He thought, rightly that this movie would be excellent entertainment for us as well as a chance to improve our French.

The rest of the family speaks both English and French. Martine loves to speak English and her daughter teaches it. No wonder the children speak without accent. I think that Nicholas prefers French. At any rate, Martine, stunning as usual, in black pants and top with a brilliant red scarf, greeted us in English and for the rest of the evening we spoke smatterings of both French and English. (This is a trick we have not yet mastered but which Martine’s family seems to handle seamlessly!)

After a few songs, the children went to play in the back so that Father Noel might come visit. You may notice he looks a lot like fathers and grandfathers.

In many French homes, like this one, the presents are opened on Christmas Eve, before the adults sit down to dinner. Each child had a separate stack of gifts so it was absolutely clear what belonged to each one.  In minutes, all the gifts were open and in use.

(Alex, Martine’s son, told me that the older children specify the make and model of the presents they want and even where to buy them.)

What a surprise to find that Santa had visited us too…wine for Bob and gels and soap from The Body Shoppe for me. I wonder if Santa visited Martine and Guy? (The beautiful blond is Martine and Guy’s daughter. You can barely see Martine’s profile in the lower right.)

Nicholas, a talented professional children's artist who is always smiling, the husband of Martine's daughter (the blond above), lights candles for the Christmas feast.

We started with the entrée: foie gras, a Christmas tradition, that Martine’s daughter had made from scratch, caramelized onion curry and a chutney of fruit. The bread for the foie gras set it off perfectly. The three tastes contrasted and exploded with flavor in our mouths.  Each of these three dishes had, in themselves, required hours to prepare. The main course followed, a thick white fish, smothered with a sauce from Sete, that melted in our mouths.

The next course consisted of a salad and at least five kinds of delicious cheese As if by magic the children reappeared for dessert—a delicious ice cream Christmas log and cake. Martine crossed her fingers as they sat around the coffee table in the living room enjoying these melting, chocolate confections.

For the last course, Martine had set out coffee cups big enough to hold cream in case I wanted my coffee with cream. For the French, it is absolutely uncivilized to have coffee with cream after breakfast. One certainly doesn’t even consider it after a holiday feast!

Then, suddenly, it was 11 PM. The children’s energy playing with their new toys remained undiminished I looked around the room at these five adults who had created this evening after a week of living in close proximity with each other and five small children. Since it was cold and rainy outside, they must have been indoors a great deal. Shopping for meals and gifts. Presents to wrap. The tree to buy and set up. The festival dinner table to set. A festival meal to prepare in addition to their regular meals. Where do they get the energy to get it all done and still be polite and kind to outsiders as well as each other?

We took our leave with gratefulness in our hearts for their invitation to share Christmas Eve with them. For the French, this is THE family dinner of the year. What kindness and generosity we found in their home on this evening. The Christmas angels had indeed come to call.

Best of holidays to you all,

Sharon and Bob