Le 10 décembre – notre cérémonie de naturalisation. Our naturalisation ceremony

On December 10 we attended the Ceremonie de Naturalisation for those of us who had recently become French citizens. Although the official part had taken place in early May, and we now have French identity cards (very important!) and passports, this was the ceremonial side.  We were welcomed into French citizenship and made aware of the honour of being French.

We live in the Département of the Dordogne, where there are around 415 000 residents.  In the last two years 334 of us have become citizens. Normally we would have gone to Perigueux, the capital of the Departement, but with various lockdowns over the last two years, no ceremonies have taken place.  And now, for the first time, they were decentralized, and we were invited to the very large lycée(high school) in Sarlat.

We were 26 at the ceremony, welcomed by la Sous-Préfete, Mme Monteil. Several speeches, a film, the Marseillaise, and the ceremonial presentation of letters from the President, etc.  No champagne, as once again there were restrictions regarding gatherings.

Here we are, being presented, along with our friend, Michel Lemasson, deputy Mayor of Carlux.

Et dans le bulletin de Carlux.  In the Carlux annual newsletter.