Volunteers enjoy Fete de la Saint Jean with the locals at Passirac!
Four Australians arrived at La Giraudiere to take part in a volunteers holiday in South West France. They are just part of the June 2016 intake. In all over 20 volunteers are due during the month of June and they will be from as far as UK, Ireland, Canada, USA and China.
Part of the benefits of volunteering at La Giraudiere are the numerous excursions and outings which are centered around the local life in the area. Saturday the 18th of June was no exception and the group visited the Fete de la Saint Jean with the locals at the neighbouring village of Passirac.
The evening started with aperitifs of Pineau, rouge and blanc, Pineau is a drink derived from the making of cognac and is only made in the regions of Charente in SW France. I will write more about this in a later blog post.
After an hour or so passed we were called to table “au table” was the call as the entree was ready and was now accompanied by vin rosé. After being offered a second helping the plat principle arrived consisting of huge white beans known as flaggots with some mouth wattering boiled ham on the bone.
After dessert of apple pie and cream there was dancing until the bonfire was lit and all were invited outside to dance around the roaring fire.
La Giraudiere volunteers with locals at bonfire Fete de la Saint-Jean at Passirac
The fete at Passirac is an annual event which features a meal, a bonfire for St Jean followed by dancing at the local community hall. The villages in Charente take it in turns to stage events, so the bonfire Fete de la Saint Jean night was the turn of Passirac.
