Christmas isn't quite the affair in France as it is in the states. Don't get me wrong, it's a well celebrated holiday. But you don't see the extravagant decorating or the hear the incessant Christmas music starting in October that you get stateside. On one hand, I don't mind it. On the other, I miss a little bit of the excess. And I really miss decorating my home for Christmas.
Friday, I wandered up to Boulevard Haussmann to see what was happening at the big department stores here in Paris. I can't really do any shopping but I just wanted to see if I could scare up a little dose of Christmas. The two biggies here are Galerie Lafayette and Printemps and they came through, injecting me with the fix of Christmas commercialism that I desperately needed. First, the light show on the exterior of the Galeries Lafayette. Absolutely breathtaking. I couldn't figure out how add a video to the blog but these lights change colors and design constantly across the huge facade.
The interior of the building, which dates from around 1912 was just as beautiful. Yes, that is a stained glass dome at the top!
Both of the stores featured Rock and Roll themed animated windows this year and though I didn't take any photos, they were delightful and brought back memories of the annual trek to Minneapolis with my boys to take in the delightful animations in the Daytons' windows...just as my parents did with me when I was a child.
The reason I didn't take any photos of the animations was because the other windows at Printemp were just so beautiful. Sponsored by Chanel, they take us on a trip around the world. Not my world, but perhaps the world of Chanel! Nonetheless, they are exquisite and I thought you should be treated to a few of them.
Yeah, yeah, I know, I'm supposed to denounce Christmas commercialism and revel in the simplicity and love of the season. Fa la la la la. Which I generally do. Unless I'm without all the overkill and excess. Then I get all hinky. So thank you Paris for pulling through for me. I've got just enough to survive until I get back to the states for Christmas...in just a couple of weeks!
Have a great week everyone,
I feel very unchristmassy this year but these photos are excellent and have cheered me up a bit. Diane
ReplyDeleteAww this brings back so many memories of when I dragged the Frenchman downtown with little ones in tow to marvel at the department store window displays. Ah, the City of Lights still puts on show.
ReplyDeleteWhat beautiful windows!
ReplyDeleteI'm looking forward to seeing the ones in London when I go in a couple of weeks.
Love the pictures, a window into the magic of the holidays through French perspectives.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the Christmas pictures. Grace is opposite of a vampire -- she doesn't go out at night so doesn't get pictures of Christmas lights.
ReplyDeleteSuper windows!
ReplyDeleteThe lights changing in video - for your memories at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zfv2v7k_wBU
ReplyDeleteGalleries Lafayette makes my heart beat all kind of fast... in a really good way! :-)
ReplyDeleteYou brought back some sweet memories of Paris. I was there on New Year's Eve to see in 1980. And another time... August of 1978? I remember the dome... the Christmas decorations were still up on the New Year's Eve trip. Glad you're getting to experience Paris over the holidays.
ReplyDeleteFabulous pictures: commercial? yes, of course, but it still makes me dream...
ReplyDeleteClearly I need to get myself to that part of the city for a Christmas cheer injection! Why haven't I done that? Crazy crazy!
ReplyDeleteVery excellent photos. Galeries Lafayette is so beautiful at night. I'm looking forward to seeing that building personally.
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