Experience Language: Experience Life!
Newsletter - December 2004

Bonjour and welcome to our December newsletter. Bonne lecture!

In this issue:

• The Thirteen Christmas Desserts in Provence
• French Christmas Glossary
• Special Offer - Aix en Provence
• Ice Skate in Paris

The Thirteen Christmas Desserts in Provence

Treize desserts? Mais oui! Would you believe that it is a tradition in Provence to have a seven course meal ending with thirteen desserts on Christmas Eve? The meal is called 'le gros souper' (the big supper) and is totally meat free. The desserts are said to symbolise Christ and his twelve apostles. All the desserts are served at the same time and everyone must have one of each. Don't worry they are not big desserts.

The first four plates were traditionally said to be for the four religious orders (brothers and sisters) who begged for their food:

1. Almonds for the Carmelites with bare feet. (amandes)
2. Figs for the Franciscans (figues sèches)
3. Raisins for the Dominicans (raisins)
4. Walnuts for the Augustines (noix)

Then there were four plates of fresh fruit

1. Apples (pommes)
2. Pears (poires)
3. Oranges (oranges)
4. Melons (melons)

And last, but not least ...

1. Black nougat and white nougat (nougat noir et nougat blanc)
2. Quince jams (pâtes de coing)
3. A savoury bread filled with paste made from sun dried tomatoes, or anchovy, olive oil and garlic (une fougasse ou pompe à huile)
4. Dates (dattes)
5. Almond-paste delicacy with its sugar icing (Calissons d'Aix)

Click her for more information about Christmas in Provence.

French Christmas Glossary

• Joyeux Noël - Happy Christmas.
• Une bûche de Noël - The special Christmas cake which is shaped like a log.
• La messe de minuit - Midnight Mass.
• Le Père Noël / papa Noël - Santa Claus.
• La dinde aux marrons - Turkey with chestnuts.
• Des cadeaux - Presents.
• Un sapin de Noël - A Christmas tree.
• La crèche - The crib.
• Les santons - Little figures in the crib with Jesus.
• Les Rois Mages - The Three Kings / Wise Men.
• Le réveillon de Noël - The special meal eaten on return from Midnight Mass or on Christmas Eve.

Special Offer - Aix en Provence

We are happy to inform you that together with our partner school in Aix we are offering a 10% discount on the course fees for any enrolment received before December 31st 2004 for a course in Aix starting between January 1st and April 1st 2005.

Click here for more information on the courses offered in Aix en Provence.

Ice Skate in Paris

If you are in Paris this winter, don't miss the fantastic opportunity to go ice skating outside the Hôtel de Ville. Best of all it is free!

Click here for more information on the Ice Skating in Paris

Nous vous souhaitons nos meilleurs voeux de fin d'année.

The Experience Language Team

Experience Language is not responsible for the content of any external Internet links from this newsletter.

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