For the second year, a 100% wool Christmas tree has been designed by the inhabitants of Juvignac, near Montpellier (Hérault). Illuminated since Friday, December 4, it sits in front of the town hall. A great initiative to create social links during these end of year celebrations.
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Containment increases uncertainties. At the town hall of Juvignac, a town of 11,000 inhabitants west of Montpellier, optimism was not necessarily in order for what is becoming a tradition: the woolen Christmas tree during the end of year celebrations. year. “It was a mixture of a political wish and administrative teams to forge links between the inhabitants”, explains Justine Blo, assistant for local democracy and citizen participation.
After a successful first edition in 2019, the Juvignacois elected officials were not sure what to expect in 2020, the coronavirus epidemic requires. And yet, everything exceeded their expectations: a 6-meter-high woolen tree, illuminated since Friday, December 4, has emerged on the forecourt of the town hall. Obviously, Justine Blo was in heaven.
“We are happy with the result. We were afraid it would not work with confinement. It allowed isolated people to do an activity.”
The Juvignacoises.
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More squares than expected
Launched mid-October, the operation mobilized around sixty inhabitants of the municipality, mainly women. An increase compared to last year. With people of all ages: children with their parents, “thirty-something, forty-something”.
Evelyne Ricard was one of the great architects of this project. After a 15-day internship in 2019 as a receptionist at the town hall of Juvignac, where she has lived for four years, she agrees to lend a hand. In 2020, the 61-year-old lady even becomes in charge of this project. “I was given carte blanche, I did it my way. Even if I followed the route, I mounted the tree as I wanted”, confides the one who has crocheted since childhood under the guidance of her mother, a knitter.
Evelyne even studied sewing. “It’s not something difficult for me”, she smiles. She was by far the most productive of the adventure with 53 squares. Evelyne Ricard and Justine Blo were among the 4-5 people who sewed for a week square by square “on the ground, to have a beautiful tree”, words from the sixty-year-old.
In 2019, it was knitting. This time it was crochet. “There are more beautiful details”, says Justine Blo who finds it “more colorful” than the first.
The crocheters of the Christmas tree in Juvignac wool.
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More squares than expected
Also, this event allowed Juvignacois to meet, to childminders from Juvignac and adjoining municipalities like Grabels, to exchange. “In front of the square, people stop, take pictures …”
More woolen squares – 400 – were made than needed – 333 – to build the tree. They made it possible to decorate the interior of the town hall with rugs for example. Nothing is lost, everything is transformed.
Eveline Ricard is already working on the 2021 edition Christmas tree. “I am making a model of it.” She like many other Juvignacois are already eager to leave for a third edition. Without Covid-19, this time.
Wool squares, in Juvignac.
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