Faites de la musique on the Fête de la Musique

Along with the kitschy celebration of the release of the Beaujolais Nouveau sometime in mid November, the Fête de la Musique is one of my favorite unofficial "holidays" in France, festive occasions that make me pleased to be living in a country that would designate celebrations to such carnal pleasures as wine and music.

The streets of Montmartre early Wednesday evening were swarming with musicians and people sitting outside of cafes on tables moved into the blocked off streets.



One DJ was actually spinning from their window.





An eventual downpour moved our group back to our living room, cracking open a bottle of champagne, diving into a rich Poire Caramel tarte and and transforming our Fête de la Musique into, in the words of one attendee, the "Fête de l'ipod".

During the Fête de la Musique, people play music on the crowded streets and dance all throughout the shortest night of the year. The métro, for once, runs all night. Centuries ago, people celebrated the Feast of St John, or Midsummer, on June 24th, where they would play music and dance. The desire to celebrate the beginning of summer, with its warm long days and warm short nights, seems to be timeless...