I am in Paris now and there are people selling bunches of small daffodils in the street.

I bought a bunch for three euros. I assume Kerouac will tell me I paid too much, but I am wondering if there is a particular significance today.

They were either Dutch or stolen from the Jura meadows.

Daffs coming up in Yorkshire now.

I'll see what they're going for in my neighborhood. Probably stolen from the parks and gardens of the city, or along the périphérique.

I bought mine outside the Voltaire metro, but I saw people along the bus route too. I did not notice this the past few days, just wondering why today.

Daffodil Days is some kind of fundraising thing here in the States, I believe for cancer research. I remember people selling them for a few days in March when I was in college. Your daffodils may be related. Or perhaps the Cancer Society Daffodil Days fundraising is based on an older tradition?

We saw people selling them on Sunday in the Blvd Raspail market.

No, in France it is just people trying to make some money.

LOl, Nikki, i saw them too but they are such a familiar sight here in Cornwall that I didn't give them a 2nd thought, knowing that i could pick my own when I got home. the first ones go on sale here in December when the ones of the Scillies come into bloom.

In fact the daffodils are part of a cancer awareness campaign organised by the Institut Curie
http://www.francesoir.fr/actualite/s...le-194804.html

Well, they are certainly not succeeding then, because I have never seen a single one of these people with a collection tin for that. Perhaps they only work in the provinces?

However, I have seen many gypsies, refugees and homeless people in Paris selling them to try to survive.

Herself was offered a large bunch last week for €2. She likes daffodils, took out her purse and found that she was a little short of €2 in coin. So she offered perhaps €1.70. No deal.

We considered making up a bunch when we walked the Promenade Plantée, but remembered that we are law-abiding people.

I was no more aware of cancer after purchasing my bouquet than before, so if the folks I have seen are participating in this campaign, they are keeping it secret. I am more inclined to think it is what Kerouac said.