There’s something I missed about Christmas in France that I was reminded of yesterday when a smiling fireman (sapeur pompier) knocked at our door. Actually calling them firman is not quite accurate as over here they’re ambulance and paramedic as well. Any kind of accident, it’s them you call first (free call in France, dial 18).
Anyway, said fireman and a friend will turn up this time of the year wanting a few Euros donation – which is effectively for their Christmas party. And why not, most of these guys are volunteers and I certainly wouldn’t want the job!
Of course this being France, you aren’t asked for a donation, you are asked to buy a calendar.
We give the sapeaurs pompiers 20 Euros. The calendar isn’t worth that much – but they most certainly are.
Most households in France end up with a few calendars by the end of Christmas. Whoever delivers your post will have one for you and in fact the post office (La Poste) calendar is a bit of an institution, usually much better quality that the sapeurs’. We only give 10 Euros for this one though. It’s not that we don’t like our post lady, she’s very friendly, it’s just that we don’t quite value her service at the same level as people who are prepared to risk their lives for us!
We also get one from the local sports association. Well, I say sports association because that’s what they call themselves, but as far as I can see unless you play football you’re going to be a bit short of team-mates.
They get 10 Euros too, because it’s a small community and everyone knows everyone… It’s the accepted price.
In other areas of France the pre-Christmas calendar-fest might have one or two more but I don’t think people feel under any pressure to contribute. For us, the local football club needs the money, the postie’s calendar is worth the money and buying a beer or two for the sapeurs pompiers could be priceless!
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