Everyone has their own program for this first day of the year, and for many Reunion Islanders it's about having a picnic, whether in the hills or on the beach.
They didn't miss the first picnic of the year! Sheltered by the Hermitage casuarina trees, a few families had decided to enjoy the beach this January 1st. Small groups had formed here and there, far from the crowds of the day before when more than 20,000 revelers were expected.
The last revelers who were still sleeping at first light were able to see the arrival of agents from the town halls of Saint-Paul and Tamarun who had the difficult task of cleaning the beach of its waste. “We arrived at 10am and the beach was perfect, thank you for that“, would like to point out a lady who came for a picnic this Wednesday.
As the morning progressed, the very tired revelers from the day before were replaced by new arrivals, very fresh for the inaugural picnic of 2025. Like Thérésa, who arrived at the Hermitage at 7:30 a.m. with her family! Fearing not finding a place to settle, the family chose to anticipate and come very early. “In the end there weren't many people, we thought there would be more“, she notes.
This gives them more time to get on with their day's plans: eating, bathing, and so on! “There are sweet potatoes, cassava, green bananas, chicken merguez, beef…“, explains the young woman, who says she never celebrates a New Year at home, but always outside.
Josie she planned “lentils, rougail z'areng, the after-holiday menu, and rougail sausages, chicken carry, and rougail dakatine!“All cooked in advance to better enjoy the day. In the group, Yves, one of the hosts from the Lot in mainland France, brought foie gras and ratafia for an aperitif.”The atmosphere is sensational, I want to come to Reunion every year! We spend extraordinary moments as a family“, he emphasizes.
Others opted for more freshness, aiming for one of the countless picnic sites on the heights of the island. In Colorado, above Saint-Denis, families were gathered around the picnic tables of the place, busy preparing a good meal over a wood fire.
“We're having a New Year's Eve barbecue. There's a bit of everything: bananas, cassava, chicken. We try to get together with family, friends, and have a good day“, describes a young woman.
Watch the report from Réunion La 1ère:
The fiesta continues this January 1st in the picnic areas! Atmosphere in Colorado.
“It's wonderful! Reunion is picnics!“, declares a gentleman, who went to Colorado with his pot of roast chicken. He feels particularly grateful to be in good health on January 1st.”When we get up in the morning and we are on our two feet and we feel good, especially when we reach a certain age, we say thank you“, he philosophizes.
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©Marie-Ange Frassati
Many other Reunion Islanders have opted for traditional visits to family to wish a Happy New Year, or simply for a nice day of relaxation with a good carry home after New Year's Eve… After all, on this first day of the year, everyone has their own desire.
