It's no surprise that the day after Thanksgiving is the busiest shopping day in the United States. The French spread their Christmas shopping out over a period of weeks, but get a head start on holiday decorations. Giant Christmas tree ornaments and glittery stars and twinkling lights adorn Les Passages in Boulogne-Billancourt.
A deer is part of the group of animated forest creatures with moving heads, currently on on exhibit at Les Passages. Despite the display's obvious popularity with children, security guards told parents they couldn't take photos of the exhibit, or of their children admiring the exhibit! Bah, humbug! I took these photos before the guard noticed and told me to stop.
Children try to pet the deer, as he turns his head.
A doe tends to her spotted fawn.
Grey rabbits lean forward and kiss, while in the background, baby bunnies frolic.
A red fox takes care of two young cubs.
A family of rabbits in this woodland scene.
Some children attempted to feed this red squirrel, much to the security guard's annoyance.
A Christmas elf or garden gnome helps look after the forest creatures. Gnomes are popular in France, particularly following the 2001 film Le Fabuleux destin d'Amélie Poulain, better known as Amelie in the US and the UK.
How weird that the display, certainly intended for children, should be guarded by such a Scrooge!
Posted by: tut-tut | 25 November 2007 at 21:15
Ha! We have had "Christmas" in our stores here, starting in October. LOL. Eh. I hate it. LOL
:)
Posted by: Amber | 25 November 2007 at 03:51
The jolly season starts well! Some of those animals look so real. xoxo
Posted by: Colette | 24 November 2007 at 21:42
Tara now this is what the Christmas spirit is all about!! I love the natural setting of these decorations...certainly one can't help but have a feeling of ~PEACE~ while viewing this wonderful nature scape!! Great job! Magnifique!!! hugs and so happy you posted this!! xo aNNa
Posted by: naturegirl | 24 November 2007 at 20:35
How cute! I thought that deer was real for a minute, until I read your captions! LOL! Good for you on snapping the photos for us while the guard was looking away! LOL!
Posted by: melissa @ the inspired room | 24 November 2007 at 19:10
Oh Tara, how adorable..all of it! And yes, the roads and malls were crowded yesterday! Stores were opening this year at 4am!!! People are crazy!! After all my years spent in retail there is no way you would catch me anywhere near a store yesterday!!! No full-contact shopping for me. They are now coining the Monday after Thanksgiving...Cyber Monday! Lots of on-line shopping that day. Go figure...
Posted by: My Melange | 24 November 2007 at 19:00
The fox family is my favourite! Beautiful display.
xo
Gillian
Posted by: Gillian | 24 November 2007 at 14:06
Christmas decorations went up this week in Aveyron too...before Thanksgiving, not that that would have any relevance. It seems earlier than it used to be, though.
Posted by: Betty C. | 24 November 2007 at 10:36
I really don't get what the reason is for not allowing photos in shopping malls. I think it's ridiculous. Especially not allowing parents to take photos of their children.
Posted by: Catherine | 24 November 2007 at 10:24
Sweet photos, Tara! BTW I just mentioned you in one of the (many!) posts I wrote today. I've decided I'm sugared up from too much pie. K.
Posted by: Karen DeGroot Carter | 24 November 2007 at 03:16
I love the forest creatures and their little guardian gnome. How sweet that the children wanted to pet and feed the animals. I hope the guard finds his sense of humor soon, or I fear he's going to have a very grumpy season indeed.
Thank you for sharing the fun! ~ xOxO
Posted by: tinker | 23 November 2007 at 21:28
I'm always so glad and delighted when you get your photos snapped before you are told to "stop"!! Ha!!!
Christmas decor has been up here in the malls since before Halloween...I think they started on October 30th!! rush, rush, rush......
Posted by: cherie | 23 November 2007 at 17:18
One of our local shopping centers did an animated Christmas forest a few years ago, and it was delightful (like these photos!) It was the only good reason to go into those stores during this hectic time :) Thanks goodness for internet shopping!
Posted by: Becca | 23 November 2007 at 15:13
Very cute, but what's with the grumpy guard? He gets coal in his stocking for sure.
Rose
xo
Posted by: Rose Dewy Knickers | 23 November 2007 at 14:48
Oh Tara, you made me laugh so hard! How many pictures did you take before the guards noticed? I admire your secret shooting skills!
Vienna's been gearing up for Christmas season for some weeks now. In honor of Thanksgiving I refrained to post about it. ;-)
Since we are going to celebrate tomorrow, today is my "prep for the 18 pound turkey day". So posting will have to wait until Sunday at the earliest. If I have recuperated by then, that is.
Enjoy your weekend!
Posted by: Maria Anna Merisi | 23 November 2007 at 13:42
thank you for sharing your french christmas ... nevertheless for me american christmas decoration are the best !!!
Posted by: Mélanie | 23 November 2007 at 13:12
Oh so beautiful and lovely is all that you share.
I am so proud to call you my friend.
With much love and many blessings
Love Jeanne ^j^
Posted by: Jeanne | 23 November 2007 at 11:57