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2019 a vu exploser une Noëlmania irrépressible, qui envahit tout le territoire, toutes les couches de la société, tous les âges. 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Nous avions le réveillon du jour de l'an, bien sûr, avec ses cotillons et ses guirlandes. Nous fêtions joyeusement et amoureusement la Saint-Valentin au rythme de ses cœurs et roses rouges. Nous n'avions pas hésité à adopter Halloween, ses citrouilles, ses araignées et ses sorcières. On s'essayait même timidement, pourquoi pas, au Norouz iranien, nouvel an persan, et au holi coloré indien qui célèbre le début du printemps. Mais en vrai, on n'avait jamais pensé au gros monsieur en rouge qui, à bord de son traineau, et dans les conduits de cheminée, fait rêver les enfants sages. Le père Noël, on ne sait trop pourquoi, faisait partie d'une imagerie à nous étrangère, et n'excitait guère, jusque-là du moins, nos goûts festifs. Jusqu'à cette année, en tout cas. Qui pourrait expliquer comment, et pourquoi, 2019 a vu exploser une Noëlmania irrépressible, qui envahit tout le territoire, toutes les couches de la société, tous les âges? Tout le monde a voulu, cette année-là qui restera probablement dans les archives des phénomènes incompréhensibles, célébrer le père Noël. On a vu partout des arbres illuminés, des paquets enrubannés, des décorations rouges et vertes, des poulets farcis à défaut de dindes, et des bûches de tout bois. Dans les grandes surfaces, on vendait des sapins, et nos compatriotes voilées étaient, mais ne le dites pas, les plus enthousiastes à les accaparer. On a même vu un père Noël enfourcher un chameau en guise de renne. Les marchés de Noël ont envahi tous les espaces accessibles, et même le très traditionnel Saf Saf a abandonné son thé à la menthe habituel pour se mettre au goût du jour sous l'œil étonné de la chamelle qui en a eu le vertige du coup. Dans les restaurants qui, en général, affûtaient leurs instruments pour le jour de l'an, on a élaboré des menus spécifiques et gastronomiques, et on affichait complet. Dans les pâtisseries, on a inventé des biscuits de Noël inédits, et l'on a retrouvé les moules oubliés des bonshommes en chocolat. Alors, au-delà de l'anecdote, et sans bouder notre plaisir, comment expliquer cet engouement ? Par une vaste opération commerciale ? Peut- être, mais cela n'explique pas tout. Par le goût de la fête chevillé au corps des Tunisiens ? Par le désir vital d'oublier la morosité ambiante ? Par un réflexe de survie, souvent signalé quand on s'attend à des lendemains qui ne chanteront pas ? A vous de trouver la réponse.
