The special place of ‘Oysters’ in the Holiday Festivities in Brittany

In an earlier phase of my life, while I lived in Brittany, France, oysters occupied a special place in the Christmas and New Year celebrations.
Most common were the Oysters of Oleron, brought fresh by the producers in their Bourriches
.
The usual serving was a dozen per person which was quite a bit of work for the volunteer who took up the task of opening them.
The traditional wine pairing would be a Muscadet de Sevre et Maine ‘sur lie’.