Charming French Traditions: Les Voeux

Ever heard of the French tradition of "les voeux"? Roughly translated as "greetings" (a greetings card is a carte de voeux) it's an annual ritual that takes place in January. First, you present your "voeux" to friends and family the first time you see them in the New Year. Every conversation starts with some version of "best wishes for the New Year, good health, etc."

Every mayor holds a town voeux ceremony (ours was last Sunday and Virginie was there in her role as town councilor). Depending on the size of the town, he or she may hold several: one for city employees, one for the public, etc.

The same scene is repeated all the way up the ladder of power, from the mayor to the deputy to the senator and all the way to the President. He is subjected to a grueling "voeux" marathon. He travels around the country presenting his "voeux" (in the form of a agenda-laden speeches) to the different sectors of French society: from businesses to the media, healthcare to education, art and culture to the army, justice and legislators, farmers, unions and religious communities. I'm sure I'm forgetting a few.

Anyway, here's my chance to wish you our "meilleurs voeux" for 2010.