Yesterday was the Fête de Classe for those born in a year ending with the digit 8. For some years now R has animated a short thanksgiving in the Abbey which included placing a lighted votive on the altar for all the decades present. 2018 has followed many previous years where those born - from 0 this year to 90 years - were fully represented.
The Thanksgiving is followed by laying a wreath at Paimpont's War Memorial for all those who have gone before, born in a year ending with whatever the final digit is of the current year.
Thereafter...party time. We were 208 for lunch in Paimpont's L'Etang Bleu (Blue Lake), a splendid modern building which hosts most local events.
The entire day and evening is arranged by a committee of those born in the year being celebrated, aka 8. This year's committee was mostly 20 year olds, only one of whom was a girl and 2 'eminents gris'...grandfathers! The work behind the scenes proved effective and the whole day was a huge success. Splendid weather, many touches of fun and hilarity, bygone photos of those present...and previous photos of many from 10, 20 years ago etc.
We finished about 7pm and had to leave as the caterers needed to clear and reset all for the evening Buffet and Ball. As guests, we were invited to both, yet elected to only assist at the daytime bash. It still took us an hour to leave...and then had to go and drink champagne at a friend's house.
The photo...at last...shows some of the 20 year old lads, at crack of sparrows, making a bower of balloons at the entrance. I'd been in the bourg and stopped to chat with them on the way home. At High Noon, they were all dressed in the same tenue and looked stunning.
Well organised event, personable youth team, excellent local caterers, splendid weather, comprehensive all age event. We've been invited every year since R has been involved (by the committee's request) to be part of this very French event.
Your narrative catches the spirit of this event rather well... and the image shows the dedication which the organisers bring to this event. You didn't mention that the lone 20 year old girl was the President of the organising committee!
Indeed...I didn’t! Why should I necessarily do so?