15 November 2007

French Thanksgiving?

AMERICANS KNOW THAT we celebrate a very important holiday on the 4th Thursday of every November -- Thanksgiving. Today I learned that the French have their own November holiday-of-sorts, theirs coming on the 3rd Thursday of every November: Beaujolais Nouveau! Here's a quick article describing the annual event.

Every Cave du Vine I saw on my way home from work looked to be in a festive mood. Most had tables, chairs, and free samples out front -- despite the fact that is snowed today and it was quite cold.
CJS

8 comments :

Anonymous said...

Some of us celebrate this holiday with a bottle of Dubeouf Beajolais Nouveau in the States. Basically the only time of year enjoy the rank Gamay grape.

Betty Carlson said...

Well, they're not very comparable but I had never thought of the fact that they both fall on a Thursday in November!

Anonymous said...

An American celebrating Beajolais Nouveau? (above comment) I am surpised since I always assume that Americans can't enjoy wine because all they want to do is critique it. Beajolais isn't great wine -- it's just fun to have every once in a while. Don't think the US understands that.

French for a While said...

Let's not fight!

Anonymous said...

You can't lump beajolais nouveau and beajolais into the same category. The grapes that go into Beajolais nouveau were just picked weeks ago. They have not had any aging in a barrel or bottle. Gamay gets a bad rap because of the nouveau. There are some vignerons in Beajolais who do produce some very wonderful beajolais. Beajolais is a very beautiful part of France and it is well worth exploring the villages to find some of those producers.

Anonymous said...

What's it like getting up to your house with snow on the road?

Anonymous said...

Of course, meant Beajolais Nouveau!! Sorry.

French for a While said...

Michel:
The snow was beautiful and the whole mountains are covered. But it didn't stick to the ground in Le Rouret. It did, however, stick only about 10 km from here, once you got up the mountains a bit.