Christmas in Paris - USA

As you grow older, Christmas loses some of its charm and excitement. There's no restless sleep on Christmas Eve, waiting for Santa to arrive, or creation of long wish lists for items to be delivered down the chimney by a jolly fat man with a beard. I believe you call him Ded Moroz, but no matter the name, most of us likely believed this imaginary character to be real at one point in our lives.

As long as you're surrounded by children, the spirt of the holiday can easily be recaptured and brought to life at a moment's notice. The same is true each December in most American cities, but particularly in small town USA, where there's always a more intimate and cozy feeling. Many have commented that in America we like a "show" - big parades, concerts, etc. and it's true. Perhaps the greatest time to witness this spectacle is at Christmas, when almost every town and a lot of individual homes are decorated with festive lights, wreaths and other symbols of the holiday. In America, these symbols include Santas, snowmen, elves, reindeer, doves and, for the religous and churches throughout the USA, manger scenes. Some of the mangers even have live animals and humans, particularly on Christmas Eve.

I already showed you Moscow, Tennessee, a sleepy little Tennessee town. On the same day, I visited Paris, which inhabits about 10,000 residents. Maybe these photos will put you in the holiday mood, if your enthusiasm for the season has not yet been ignited...( Read more... )