Christmas Eve, the celebration of the New Year… For many, the end-of-year celebrations are moments of sharing, with family or friends. However, many found themselves alone, by choice or against their will. Some tried to get together, sometimes with strangers, to collectively celebrate culturally shared holidays with loved ones.
“The opportunity to do something else”
This is the case of Amandine Roy, who arrived in Touraine two months ago. “I grew up in Franche-Comté. My parents are still there and my two brothers in Alsace. I had to go to Strasbourg (Bas-Rhin) for Christmas, but train journeys were €500 return a month and a half ago already. It was too expensive for me”regrets the digital advisor.
This is not the first time that Amandine has spent the holidays away from her family. “During Covid, I was in contact, but I was still with my partner. There, I was all alone for Christmas. There’s a part of me that’s a little sad, because I don’t see my family often and I’m disappointed that I didn’t share that with my niece and the kids. But I desecrated the celebration and that gave me the opportunity to do something else”she puts things into perspective.
Amandine therefore turned to associations by offering her help through social networks. “ I wanted to take the opportunity to volunteer and help an association which organizes a Christmas for the most deprived “, she confides.
Solidarity evenings
Not being with his family for Christmas is a choice that was partly imposed on Vincent Chapron. Divorced, the father could not celebrate New Year’s Eve with his children on the evening of the 24th. Although he was, however, invited to spend Christmas with his parents and his sister, he opted to stay on his own to volunteer at “Christmas for All”, organized by Secours catholique with the support of local associations.
“I discovered this initiative last year and wanted to repeat the experience. I find that it is a moment of sharing, meeting and authenticity”describes Vincent. “The volunteers and people I was able to meet there are generally single, isolated people in financial difficulty. This shared New Year’s Eve allows us to spend Christmas together”he adds.
For her part, Sabrina is organizing a similar evening for the New Year. A volunteer in the Handistea association, she is preparing a shared New Year’s Eve for isolated disabled people. “At Christmas, most see their families. But for New Year’s Eve, their loved ones each have their own evening, with their friends, and many disabled people who are not used to going out much are left out.”notes Sabrina.
She therefore contacted multiple service providers, caterers, DJs and many others for an evening which should bring together around forty people. However, the organization asks guests for a financial contribution of €15, which everyone is ready to pay for this friendly evening. “We received a lot of enthusiasm and encouragement. This is an opportunity to please people who rarely have the opportunity to celebrate the New Year surrounded, ” she concludes.
