In these uncertain times, here is an event which, at the end of the year, puts a smile on everyone’s face. For the 17th year, since this Saturday, December 14, 2024, Carpentras is offering its unusual Christmases. Between strolls, street shows, skits, the city center is hosting 150 shows until January 5, 2025. For the opening, Square Champeville at 2:30 p.m., residents and visitors had an appointment with the local company Caramentran and Léon and his orchestra.
Mambo, bossa nova led the audience, in rhythm, for a swaying dance around the nicest of dinosaurs, the audience now knowing by heart, the tune of “Léon the dragon, eats candies, cartons, strawberries in abundance…“The dragon (kindly) set fire to the procession which paused in front of the cathedral square where the pastoral of the santons was given!
A won over audience
In the parade that followed, we saw merchants push their doors open and begin dancing, children and parents embraced by the dragon. We saw funny girls, perched on stilts, making their cinema during the Lumière Brothers Parade. “It’s great. It’s very beautiful” exclaimed Thérèse, 77, who had not come to attend the shows for several years.
On the town hall square, a strange bird, half ostrich, half peacock, affectionately pecked at young and old alike, parading on its heels and handing out “Signorina” all the time. Behind her, the audience, with smiles on their faces, asked for more. In the process, Les Filles de l’Air (the Baladins of Laughter company), pumped up to the max, boosted the morale of all the troops, aboard their hot air balloon. With small stamps, they stamped countless children’s hands and left their imprint: “Mom, did you see?“Drawed on the back of the little handcuffs, butterflies ready to take flight, like a poetic invitation to take flight… These unusual 17th Christmases, it’s certain, will take us on a journey.
All the information can be found on the Unusual Christmases website.
