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Parisians are all grown ups. They have no time to fool around. Life is too serious for that.
Most Parisians are very happy with their grown-upness – growing up in Paris was not all that fun anyway. In the course of a lifetime, only one thing is susceptible to bring the Parisian back to a state comparable to that of a child. That is snow. Amusement parks don’t do much for Parisians. Snow does.
Snow is a very rare thing in Paris. No living Parisian has woken up to snow more than 20 times in his lifetime. It will snow in Paris every other year. Usually for 20 minutes. Parisians love snow. Snow in Paris is evanescent. Never sticks. In this evanescence lie the beauty and charm Parisians fall for.
The second the first snow flake starts falling down, a Parisian (usually, the most idle one), will go “oh, il neige”. Snow being hardly conceivable a concept in Paris, he will systematically confirm the news: “Regardez, il neige”.
Other Parisians in the room will regarder. Indeed, il neige. Usually, much cheesy talking ensues: from ”J’adore la neige” to “C’est trop beau”. Depth is not the least of Parisians’ qualities.
When snow starts falling, everything stops in Paris. The city goes in a poetic black-out for one minute. Everyone just watches the snow fall with a smile. Hesitant between sheer melancholy and simple happiness.
Sheer melancholy being too intimate and simple happiness being obviously a myth, Parisians quickly choose to pull themselves together. States of latency are not to persist for too long in Paris. Life is too serious for latency. The Parisian shall take control over his emotions. At this point comes the litany talks on how snow ends up being dirty because of all the cars and pollution.
All the smart talking about how it’s interesting than in banlieue, it’s usually colder so snow actually stays, while in Paris it does not.
These conversations have no other goal than allowing the Parisian to brush the disruption of snow out of his life.
Opening up to emotion is a slippery slope for Parisians.
Useful tip: Starting a snowball fight is only acceptable during the previously exposed moment of latency. After this, it would be childish.
Sound like a Parisian: « J’aime trop la neige, ça me donne envie d’aller au ski »
+43C demain a Melbourne et encore plus chaud dans les banlieues… c’est ca qu’on discute ici
A day or two after Christmas 2005 we witnessed snow in Paris. A little, VERY LITTLE, stuck till morning. It was special. We had flown half way around the world from our snow covered Michigan home to see an older city sparkle with frozen flakes. On Christmas Eve we had watched a café owner throw “fake snow” around the doorway to his “salle”. The real snow was so much more surreal. We interrupted our reverie to buy more wine.
Today, after shoveling the driveway for the 16th time this winter, I would settle for a short dusting around the Musée de Cluny and the shocked look on the faces of the unflappable Parisians.
Jessica… Melbourne seemed hot to me back in November, so I can’t imagine right now. 43 sounds HOT. Bon courage!!
Craig… unflappable: didn’t know that adjective! Merci. I like new words. I don’t think anyone has ever shoveled a driveway in France! Strangely, it sounds utterly American a thing to do.
I was teaching last week when snow started flawing. I pointed to the window and said excitedly, “Look! Snow!” My adult, Parisian students all looked out the window with visible delight, until one of them regained her composure and, to save collective face, said, “Bah. It’s just snow. It always snows here.”
What can you do?
Je pars plutot en ete mais j’aimerais bien voir Paris dans la neige.. on verra..
AP… Parisians end up being pretty expectable people when it starts snowing… Reenchanting life is a daily crusade in this city. PS: i was pleased to meet you – hope you enjoyed the tasting – it was an unusual one!!
JB… Qui sait, avec le changement climatique, plus rien n’est impossible!!
This is such a wonderful post – and I am still smiling as I type.
I woke to pristine white light this morning – and the sight of that thick blanket of all-enveloping snow which makes the familiar so fascinatingly different.
Of course I have followed the English news with a wry laugh. Transport networks have ground to a halt – and with them, whole cities. Employees rejoice and sleep longer in their beds – the snow a convenient excuse to avoid the daily drudgery of work work work…
In Ecosse – well, some of us are a little sanguine, some a little cynical but most simply delight – snow is to be revelled in and we join children in sledging and building igloos and snowmen! Little sophistication here…
I think there is not much to add! You have perfectly analyzed and resumed what happens!
Femme Libre… Thank you very much. And welcome! And don’t worry for your fellow Scots… I don’t see how sophistication comes in handy when it comes to snow. Snowballs and snowmen really are the best thing to do with it! Scots 1 – Parisians 0. Now let’s seeif we can reverse the trend in teh 6 Nations. I look forward to hearing Flowers of Scotland in Myrrayfield soon. Always such a grandiose moment!
Peter… Merci Peter. It was a bit of a different post. Minimalist let’s call it!!
‘When snow starts falling, everything stops in Paris. The city goes in a poetic black-out for one minute. Everyone just watches the snow fall with a smile. Hesitant between sheer melancholy and simple happiness.’
Love this!
I’ve just discoverd your blog.
I’m english and have lived in Paris for the past 6 years. I have to agree, its all so true.
I was laughing for a long time.
Chapeau!
Rachelle… Merci! It’s true though!!
Keith… Well, you are one patient man!!Welcome to this little blog. And thank you for your kind words. Glad if it made you laugh… it’s a much needed thing these days.
“Sheer melancholy being too intimate and simple happiness being obviously a myth.” I wish I had written that line! (Don’t write back that I just did!!
)
One of the most beautiful sights to me is fresh new snow everywhere in the park just basking in the glow of streetlights. I love how quiet and still everything becomes and the only sound you can only hear is the crunching underfoot as you make your way through. It doesn’t last long, but for those few moments it’s stunning.
Carole… I’m flattered, thank you.
Amanda… Sounds like it!
Haven’t visited for a while, but this is truly a marvellous post. J’adore la neige.
Ha ha, I love your posts! Canadians also look up at the skies and hold their breaths at the first snow. But that soon falls away to the dread of shoveling.. and shoveling.. and more shoveling… The novelty of snow disappears rather quickly.
Oh, tu dis des coneries! il neige tous les ans a paris! mais solement un peu
Je suis montréalaise, et je déteste la neige. The damned stuff lasts for months here and makes it impossible to ride my pretty little bicycle. Or dress with chic.
Now Parisians who have spent some time in Montréal can show their utter cool by utter disdain and désabusement with respect to the sprinkling of Parisian “snow”. Though actually you had quite a bit this past winter.
Falling snow has a quality all it’s own, there is nothing that can replace it. Of course, like many things in life children will see this better than adults. I vividly remember the look, the sounds and even the smell of falling snow as a child, when I thought it was wondrous. Now I just thing “great, now I have to shovel again.”
it’s not well to have snow all the year like Russia. The fun part comes from that it’s rare to snow in Paris if you asked anyone Parisian if he would like it to snow today. He will answer YES, I love it but if you asked anyone Russian living in Paris he will answer that he hates it
it’s completely rare. I visited it more than 4 times and never experience a snowing day
T’es drôle !
Another entertaining post Olivier, thanks. Hey, I’m after a restaurant recommendation for NYE around the area of rue de Libourne, Paris. Am I crazy thinking I can still make a restaurant booking for NYE???
It’s still better since I don’t have snow in my country at all..
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