Saint-Michel and the flamboyant Carignan

Posted on | November 19, 2005

For a long time, I believed that the spring equinox fell on 21 September.

Today, now that I am more in tune with the seasons and climate, I know that because of the idiosyncracies of the Gregorian calendar this date is variable (you too can improve yourself thanks to the internet and shine in society by going to look here emoticon ).

Around Tuesday, I was chatting pleasantly with my neighbours who every evening have a little conversation at the close of the day on a bench in front of our house. We recalled the harvests of past times: buckets in wood, the carts, horses and the evening washing at the fountain - for there was no running water. It is clear that the memories are sweeter than the work today…

In the middle of this picturesque meeting of reminiscences we came to talk about this famous equinox. For the vignerons of before the war, they told me, the changing of the season was that of Saint-michel, or 29 September. I returned very thoughtful. ‘but yes, of course! It is more than a week after the equinox that the weather really changes here: the vegetation appears to finish its cycle, the air gets cooler, one brings out one’s covers and the first migrating birds appear in the sky. It is also the time when the Carignan become excited and blaze up in incredible explosions of colours with infinite shades. Tomorrow we finish the Carignan at the Mas Llnasson and at the same time if all goes well, the harvest. I will try and take some photos. While waiting, something on account…