Christmas Volunteers Working Holiday otherwise called the Christmas Program is all about preparing for and enjoying the Christmas holiday. So, there is no building work or property restoration and no gardening unless you really want to do so. Just getting ready for Christmas and the new year celebrations.
We need volunteers to help with the marketing of the events, then once marketed and advertised, we the volunteers prepare for the events. Christmas shopping, decorating the place for the event, the tree and the cards. Then we as a group, plus some help from local volunteers, will be responsible for holding these events.
Christmas Markets France
Marketing would not just be on the internet – no, we visit other Christmas markets and festive events in our area and distribute flyers and other advertising materials inviting local residents and at the same time making everyone aware of what is going on at La Giraudière. Then we have to decorate La Giraudière to make it into a Christmas picture.
In return for your volunteered work and your accommodation fee, you get 3 meals a day and lodgings, your own room (unless you have asked to share with a friend or partner), transfers, advice, training, group excursion and a Christmas to remember. Basically, the same as throughout the year but with the additional benefits that Christmas offers. You can read more about the Volunteers Fees.
Christmas Parties
Christmas Welcome Party. An evening of music, Christmas carols, hot wine, mince pies and whatever else we can add to make a festive evening. Locals will be invited to either participate or simply come along and enjoy.
La Giraudière will be hosting a Christmas sing along carols evening. There will be lots of planning and setting up to do, as well as helping serve mince pies and warm mulled wine to keep you and the local visitors warm on this busy day.
Christmas Markets in Angouleme, Bordeaux or Perigueux
Carol service at Chalais
Christmas Eve in France
Brossac village midnight mass followed by hot wine and midnight walk back from the church.
Celebrate Christmas Day and Christmas dinner at La Giraudière. A traditional Christmas day with presents, crackers and a traditional Christmas dinner followed by an evening of fun and games including pool, darts and cards accompanied by mince pies and creme-anglaise plus whatever we can think to add.
Invitations to those that are alone on Christmas Day would be sent and they would be encouraged to come along and help create a Christmas Day to remember. Christmas 2013 we had over 20 people for dinner – a group of all ages and up to 8 nationalities – a great success for our first ever Christmas at La Giraudière. As the years go by the word has spread and there is more each year, so come along and help create this Christmas celebration.
Some Christmas excursions and venues to be decided once you are here. In 2015, it was Perigueux and Brantom. This year who knows but you can read about 2015 at Christmas 2015 Volunteering in France.
New Year’s Celebration in France
Very popular in France is the New Year’s Eve and New Year Day celebrations. In 2015, we set off to Bordeaux and stayed the night in a hotel celebrating the new year in Bordeaux. Another alternative maybe a local new year’s eve fete yet to be announced.
You can come for one, two or three weeks – you decide. All are needed. The important thing to bring is a willingness to enjoy, a festive spirit, muck in and help out.
Normally to stay in Southwest France during the Christmas holiday with full bed and board would cost around 70 – 100 euros per day, maybe more, but La Giraudière offers you the chance to stay from as little as 22 euros per day. As a Christmas volunteer, you would be expected to give at least 21 hours of your time each week of your stay working on the project but maybe more if needed but do not worry it will be full of Christmas fun.
In 2024, there will be one Volunteer Program
26th June 2024 until 30th September 2024
The recommended volunteering period is 3 weeks but you can apply for any length of stay during the 2024 program.