“Paris celebrates the summer solstice with raves, music and the hot air balloon.”

🎵✨🎈 Fête de la Musique, Paris

Every June 21st, Paris celebrates the longest day of the year, the summer solstice, with a full day of music, dancing and a little bit of romantic absurdity.

In front of the Comédie-Française, I saw a young guy in a Miami jersey dancing a French square dance with an elegant old lady, who may not know each other, but are so in tune with each other that they look like they've been partners for years.

Stores and restaurants set up stereos and DJ booths in front of their entrances, with clerks playing and customers swaying.

I also ran into a Japanese quartet where a woman walked past the musicians and the audience without a care in the world, a little funny and very “Parisian”.

In the evening, Yann and I went to a pre-booked open-air concert in the garden of the Louvre, which was crowded but not chaotic, and the atmosphere was particularly good. Because we arrived early, we were in the front of the crowd, and at one point we were caught on live French TV, which was a fun experience.

At the blue hour, the return of the Olympic flame hot air balloon slowly ascending, orange light flame like the echo of the sunset, a little bit fly away from the earth.

We withdrew from the crowd and sat on the grass not far from the stage to continue listening to the songs. I leaned on his shoulder and watched the hot air balloon floating quietly over the Tuileries Garden, like a literary movie without lines.

Walking down the street late at night, there were groups of revelers every few meters along the curb.

There were those who swayed with particular looseness and ease, those who boldly improvised their dance moves, and those who gathered at a single command to embrace and sing and cheer.

I didn't join in, but I was happy just to observe them.

Later, on my way home, I wondered why Parisians use the longest day of the year for singing, dancing and ballooning.

It's probably to remind us that the longest days shouldn't just be about working longer, but about stretching out the joy a little bit too, just enough to dance a dance, listen to a song, and kiss someone.

And, of course, after that dance, the streets are really full of trash. Maybe, romance never comes clean, but thankfully, it's still worth it.


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