White Night

The Diner en Blanc has a couple of similarities with unicorns: they are both white and they are both very illusive. Unicorns however, sadly don't exist and the White Dinner in Paris is very much a  reality. 

It's not very clear why this event happens or even who is behind the organisation of such a spectacle, It is clear however that nothing can stop a 5,000 strong crowd of Parisians all dressed in white.   

For the last twenty seven years this special occasion has been taking place at different, notable locations around Paris; the Champs de Mars, the Pont d'Alexandre and even the Place des Vosges. The destination is revealed on a need to know basis and in keeping with tradition, there are a couple of rules for attendees to follow. The most crucial being to wear white. 

Once the crowd arrive at their chosen venue, it's a case of quickly bagging a spot, making sure one table is aligned with another and laying out every kind of picnic delicacy on white table cloths, of course.  

This all seems to happen in a matter of minutes and soon corks are being popped from bottles of champagne and the sound of clinking cutlery indicates dinner time. The diners feast on anything from staple chunks of baguette and camembert, to a take-away platter of sushi, all washed down with many a glass of bubbles. 

Despite there being no definite purpose to this evening, there is an obvious emphasis on sharing and enjoyment, both of which are deep-rooted in the French culture. It also seems like a gesture of affection; the people celebrating their city whilst demonstrating just how beautiful Paris can be. 

Just like the unicorn though, the scene of the crowd in white is a fleeting and somewhat mysterious sight. But rest assured that it will be back again next year.