Palm Sunday

 Today Estelle played her oboe at mass with a small group of young musicians.  It was great!

 Meanwhile, this creative project was done by the children at "Eveil", which translates as "awakening" which is for kids who are essentially a bit young for CCD classes but to give them a little social group within the framework of CCD.  Léna helped to make this yesterday afternoon.

 The church looked so lovely today with all these enormous palm leaves!

 I think I've posted about this tradition before, but in France on Palm Sunday, the custom at the beginning of mass is that the entire parish is outside the church where the priest blesses the palms and the "buis", which is either boxtree or boxwood in English.  Also sometimes you see laurel branches or even olive branches around here.

 There's Léna lower right with green leggings and sandals.

 Here you see the children and parishioners holding up their palms and boxwood for the blessing as the priest walks around sprinkling holy water.

 Léna can be seen hiding behind the flora.  She loves her "teacher", Sophie.  You can't see Sophie but you can see her arm lovingly placed around Léna.

 It's an impressive sight, this tradition.  I am always impressed.

 Estelle, meanwhile, had a great (and musically educational) time playing in four of the different pieces - processional, hosana, offertory, and exit songs.  There were 3 violins, a cello, drums, a guitar, and a French horn (which p.s. is just a "horn" in France.  ha ha).

We had a great Palm Sunday!  After our meal, both girls headed out to different birthday parties.  One more week of school and then 2 weeks off!  Everyone is looking forward to a break.  Spring is here and Easter is almost here!  Yeah!