Ambiance Noël

"A table!" is the French expression to call everyone to the table

 Claire is our interior decorator now. A very artistic young lady at 10 and 3/4 years old.

 Here is our Christmas tree (we didn't cut it ourselves this year, but we could have - it's all very special for an Aussie to be able to do these things.)

Antilope casserole for Christmas!

A typical French "bûche de Noël" - Christmas cake in the form of a log representing the warmth of the fire at the Winter solstice. Traditionally, a huge log was placed in the fire place and was supposed to burn for 12 hours. The head of the family said prayers over it and the tradition was mixed with superstitions and predictions. Since in the 20th Century, most households lost their open fire places, the tradition was transformed into an edible one, but it is still decorated with an axe, a saw and little gnome woodcutters.

 Another tradition, the Christmas tree, was taken on by Christians to represent the wooden cross that the baby Jesus was destined to die upon. Decorated by real candles even today, the tree represents the light of Christ come into the world.

We kept to the Anglo-Saxon tradition the next day and had home-made Christmas pudding. Thanks to mixed fruits bought in England in February! and to the Australian Women's Weekly recipe books! And to some Napoleon Brandy we flamed to pour over it: