Joyeux Noel

I'm convinced that the French (or, given our close proximity to Canada, maybe the Quebecois) have a stronghold on all things Christmas in this town. The Xmas Market at Columbus Circle had a dread locked, French-speaking dude selling candles or jewelry or what-not (point being that he was an alleged Frenchie); the chicks at the woolen mittens and hat stand around the corner from 'Le Hippie' all sounded like Amelie, La Femme Nikita, fill-in your own French film experience here: _______; and the tree lot up at the end of this block had a big sign out on display that read "Joyeux Noel" and that wasn't just because the tree sellers were trying to sound worldly. The diminutive woman who sold us our $25 petite tree told us to put tap water and a tsp. of sugar into the bowl-like tree stand to prolong the life of our little fir. Chiquita then made a reference to the musical, "Mary Poppins," and our fine femme amie did not get the reference. A-ha!