The first was on Saturday. The occasion was a baptême (baptism), for a new baby boy in the family. He's the son of somebody's brother or aunt or cousin or something. Dozens and dozens of people showed up, and I gave up trying to keep track of how everyone was related.
In a lot of ways, it wasn't all that different from an American party. Caribbean music played in the background, and people milled around on the terrace and chatted and drank champagne. Someone said a few words about how happy they were to welcome a new member into their Christian family, and then a nun led everyone in a song to bless the meal: "Benisse ce repas, Seigneur Jesus." We ate salad and crudités, quiche, a pizza-type thing, mashed potatoes, and meat (chicken and beef). For dessert, we had coconut blancmange, which is like flan.
Here's a picture of everyone sitting down before the meal.
The next party was two days later, and it was to celebrate the birthday of another relative, the mother of the woman who'd had the baby. But it was a similar affair -- decorations, dinner, dessert, and singing "Joyeux Anniversaire." Fewer people showed up (we only filled up one table), but despite it being a Monday night, the party went on until almost eleven. Next Monday, I hear there's another birthday in the family. I think I could get used to this lifestyle...
