in Seine-et-Marne, we followed firefighters during the sale of calendars

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“Good evening Madam, these are the Villeparisis firefighters, we are coming to calendars “. They have repeated this sentence in unison, dozens and dozens of times, in recent weeks.

Since 1^is December 2024, and until mid-January 2025, firefighters from the Villeparisis fire and rescue center (Seine-et-Marne) come to people's homes to sell 2025 calendars. We followed them, for an evening, on this adventure, in the streets of Villevaudé.

Very useful calendars

The appointment is given a little after 6 p.m., rue de la Tourin Villevaudé. They are easily recognized, their satchel on the shoulders, and their jacket flanked by a band rouge. It’s them, the firefighters, who came on their free time sell their 2025 calendars.

Introductions made, we set off, and we begin to ring the doorbell. Some open, others don't. Some have not yet returned from work. Too bad for them, they won't have their calendar!

This calendar, precisely, is printed by a local companywhich itself finds advertisers. “Thanks to this, we can print it for free,” explains Sergeant Alexis Pregnancyvolunteer firefighter in Villeparisis. Inside, in addition to the 365 days that 2025 will have, we find photographs of certain Villeparisis firefighters.

But, concretely, what is the point the money raised by selling calendars? At least in the case of Villeparisis, this allows several things to be financed. “The money raised takes part in the work of the pupilsbut also in the financing of insurance taken out for cover the firefighters in the event of an accident,” he lists.

In addition, the amount collected also allows to improve the ordinary life of the barracksto pay for household appliances, coffee, etc.

Throughout the discussion, interspersed with meetings with residents, we arrive at dead ends, which, inevitably, we do not enter when driving by car. This is also one of the advantages of the firefighters passing by on foot.

Casually, we also collect memories while passing on foot. We spot fire hydrants, streets, paths…

So much so that he is able to describe what we will find at the end of a dead end, in which he has not set foot for several months.

And then, on the sidewalks, he recognizes people who have already bought a calendar, or with whom he has already visited. “Sometimes we come, and we find a person who we had transported a few months earlier. We get news like that,” he smiles.

Testimonials of support

Let's return to rue de la Tour. There, a father buys the famous calendar, with a smile on his face, happy with his gesture. He explains: “ we need firefighters all the time. Buying their calendar is also thanking them,” he says.

A little further on, a woman, her child in her arms, even comes to meet them. She also wants to get her 2025 calendar. Why this one more than another? “Your question is hard!” I feel like it's more useful to buy it from the firefighters rather than from others, and from supermarkets,” she believes.

The sale is also, and we will see this throughout the evening, an opportunity to demonstrate one's reconnaissance towards the profession. Many people tell their petite anecdote with the firefighters.

You've already helped me a lot on the road, I'm not going to ask you for change!

“It’s nice to see you, you are always there for us », tries another, when a couple recounts a memory, dating from a few months ago. “The firefighters had come to recover a snake, who had taken refuge under a piece of furniture at home,” he says.

The opportunity for exchanges between firefighters and residents, who seem to be welcome. “People are very receptive. It's really very rare that they slam the door in our face. And then, we have the impression that purchasing the calendar, for them, is like a sign of recognition », Estimates Corporal Kevin Schottalso a volunteer firefighter in Villeparisis.

The question of currency

Regularly, when the door opens, residents are annoyed. “Wait, I’ll be back, I'm going to see if I have any change “. Yes, the little red and yellow coins that once hung around in the pockets, in the seat of your pants or in the cup holder of your car no longer show up.

Today, in the all-digital age, currency is no longer… common currency! One even goes so far as to run into his car, parked a little further down the street, to find some coins.

“Are you coming back?” I will go to the distributor,” say several people. The address noted, colleagues will come back to sell the calendar.

One year, it happened that the firefighters came with an electronic payment terminal to be able to take bank cards.

But, beyond the gradual disappearance of species, firefighters have the feeling that the tradition is fading in recent years. For what ?

There may be a cultural aspect, but we also have the gap due to Covid, then there was Ukraine, the economic context… it’s a mixture of many things.

As a result, the “average basket” falls. On average, we give 5 euroseven if some want to be more generous. Sometimes, the sums soar, and the firefighters can receive a donation of 50 or even 100 euros, say the two acolytes.

Despite everything, the “ tradition remains anchored in minds”, and the firefighters will be back on your doorstep at the end of the year.

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