There is one annual event on the French calendar that really gets on my bloody nerves; it's called Toussaint, All Saints, or All Hallows, take your pick.
In a couple of weeks time, every corner of every petrol station forecourt, every entrance to your local supermarket, and every garden centre, will be awash with horrible bloody potted Chrysanthemums (see above), waiting to be carted off to the graves of departed 'loved ones', in time for the 1st of November.
It wouldn't be so bad if they chose interesting plants, but it seems to be obligatory to use these small, often brown-flowered, unpleasant smelling, things, that make me feel quite ill.
Why not Roses, or Tulips, or Bougainvillea for heaven's sake? Why not dress the graves with multi-coloured bunting, or garlands of daisies? Or why not spread the ground with confetti, jelly babies, or chocolate angels?
No, it has to be those wretched, morbid, all-identical, melancholic, broken-winded, potted, bloody nasties.
I JUST DON'T LIKE 'EM.
Why not Roses, or Tulips, or Bougainvillea for heaven's sake? Why not dress the graves with multi-coloured bunting, or garlands of daisies? Or why not spread the ground with confetti, jelly babies, or chocolate angels?
No, it has to be those wretched, morbid, all-identical, melancholic, broken-winded, potted, bloody nasties.
I JUST DON'T LIKE 'EM.
In AUS chrysanthemums are a mothers day flower ~ and you don't even need to be deceased to receive them.
ReplyDeleteAt least for Mothers' Day we favour the white ones. Autumn is when they are in season so perhaps that's why they were chosen.
DeleteBrown flowers look like dead flowers so perhaps that's apt ??
I so agree with you
ReplyDeleteWhen we first moved to France - 16 years ago now, we were invited to our neigbours house for an apero. Me being the skinflint that I am, thought I would buy a big plant that was not too expensive and as it was around this time of year, the Chrysanthemums were everywhere. So I got a nice large one.
When we arrived, I handed over my plant which was very hurriedly put out of sight. I thought it was very rude, but did not say anything. - well I couldn't speak good enough french to even think about it!!
Next day when I went into work and said what had happened, my French colleagues explained the significance of the Chrysanthemum at this time of year.
Sue
PS. when you did your post on smoked ham hocks, where did you get them from, I thought I saw the leclerc logo, is that right?
Yes, Leclerc have them both smoked and not. I don't know if this a new thing, but I've not noticed them before. For the price, there's not a lot of meat on them!
DeleteIf one shoved the chrysanthemum plant into a hollowed out pumpkin it could make a rather more interesting feature on the grave -- as well as meld the night before into the day after ...
ReplyDeleteOr even the Pumpkin without the Chrysanthemum.
DeleteIt's odd they write All Saints as one word even odder that they they think those flowers attractive. I dislike them so much I can't write their name.
ReplyDeleteI needed a sick-bag handy as I wrote the C word. Orrible things.
DeleteOh dear Cro ...... that sounds a barrel of laughs ...... I think that I would stay in on November 1st !
ReplyDeleteI dislike those ' C ' flowers too and, I can't stand it when people call them ' mum's ' !!!! XXXX
Oh dear, I'd never heard them called THAT!
Deleteare they the ones that smell like cat wee?
ReplyDeleteYup; and worse!
DeleteYes, mums the word here. I have never heard of them being a grave flower, but since they are hearty and last a long while, I can understand why they are used. I also have never seen brown ones, as white, orange and pink seem to be the most popular ones here.
ReplyDeleteOkay, so mums DO smell a teensy bit disgusting, but I think some of them are quite lovely. When we lived up north, mums offered rare splashes of bright cheerful color against a drab landscape. And I associated them with fall, rosy cheeks, football, and homecoming queens. But they also weren't brown. ugh. Nothing against the color overall, but it isn't a very appealing color in a flower.
ReplyDeleteNow don't hold back Cro...tell us how you really feel......
ReplyDeleteI hate them too Cro. I thought chrysanths had more or less died out. Here folk used to grow those absolutely enormous single blooms which had to be staked. My heart used to sink when folk brought me a bunch, because what on earth can you do with them. And they smell like dying autumn too. Bunting sounds a much better idea to me too.
ReplyDeleteI like the yellow and the white ones....they are much more cheerful than the bronze ones.. I think we use them because they can stand a little frost.
ReplyDeleteYes, across the Pond we call them mums here, but then we rarely call our mothers "Mum," and more often say, "Mom."
ReplyDeleteI don't mind the chrysanthemums and never noticed their scent. Then again, I never brought any indoors. One flower's scent that gets right up my nose, as it were, is the lily. Pretty to look at, but i do NOT like their smell. Lily of the valley is delightful; lily is not.