The far north of France experienced one of the sunniest summers in memory, complemented by enough rain to keep the Seven Valleys lush and green. Trees and hedges are heavy with ripening apples, plums, pears, and juicy blackberries, and fields are dotted with bales of hay awaiting storage. Villages prepare for a series of harvest thanksgiving parties called ducasses, featuring music, community gatherings, and regional dishes like mussels in white wine and large vats of French fries. A long-serving bread seller who arrived daily in all weather has retired and been replaced by a vending machine, ending a cherished local tradition.
Here in the far north of France, we are calling it "the new south of France" because we have had one of the sunniest summers anyone can remember. We've had a fair bit of rain too so the Seven Valleys where I live are lush and green, and nature has had a ball - everything is ripening; apple, plum and pear trees are bursting with fruit, big juicy blackberries are dangling from hedges, and the fields are full of bales of hay waiting to be stored.
Soon we'll have a harvest thanksgiving party in the village - called a ducasse, a Flemish word as this region was once part of Flanders, and traditions are held dear. The town hall will throb to the sound of music - there's bound to be a fair amount of the late great Johnny Hallyday - AKA the "French Elvis," alongside more modern music. Great big cauldrons will steam with the mouth-watering aroma of mussels cooked in white wine and great vats of French fries.
#rural-france #ducasse-harvest-festival #community-traditions #local-baker-replaced-by-vending-machine
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