Solstice '25
Where All Roads Meet
We find ourselves in the middle of Roman Saturnalia, when, as you undoubtedly know, masters and slaves switched places for ten days and domestic workers had the run of farm and mansion. I’m no expert on this, so let me wonder out loud to what extent this holiday was celebrated up and down the mighty Italian peninsula and how many households really did participate ? I have a hard time imagining Lord Fatsus getting up off the divan to serve his chimney sweep cocktails but as they say — stranger things. Open questions, as always.
Here outside of Paris, somewhere (can’t be too specific) on the border of Villemo- and Gagn- townships, Solstice was celebrated with pagan fires a few feet from goddess Pomona (apple in hand) who wears Christmas lights and a red scarf. Here where all roads and faiths-in-life meet.
Apart from one other person who works in a clinic, I may be the only person here with my “status” on reasonably solid ground. The others, who stayed out of camera range, come from l’Europe del Est, all striving and sweating to get “into” France in every sense of the word.
Our unnamed suburb of Paris has its invisible dividing line between the beautiful old mansions and the train-station encampment of new arrivals, many of whom, from the looks of it on the street, spend their day wandering around without the slightest idea what they’re doing here. This cannot end well.
A refuge bequeathed to me by someone from that county of countries in the old Yugoslavia which NATO couldn’t resist dismembering. Countries which are more and more taking a good look around while smelling the coffee and charting pluses and minuses of being in the long queue for EU membership. (At present only Croatia is a member state.) A story Riffs will cover in the new year.
Thank you, Madame. I don’t forget. To everyone else, have a Great One, whatever sail you’re hoisting.
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A red flag should appear on your screen with a special end of year/New Year’s subscription discount. It was a headache to put together, I really am no good at these things, money in general. Anyway, grab it while you can. Plenty going on ’round here in new times ’26.
