In what one might generously describe as an enthusiastic attempt to generate RSVPs, the quaint French commune of Théoule-sur-Mer recently made headlines by mistakenly sending a birthday party invitation not just around the block but across the entire nation. The mix-up, triggered by a rather optimistic approach to email lists, has turned what was meant to be a cozy community celebration into what local officials are now calling an “unintentional cultural event.”
The email, originally intended for just 300 select recipients, instead made its digital way to over 10 million inboxes, including those of government departments, major media outlets and presumably at least three people who thought it was a phishing attempt involving cake. The town’s deputy mayor, Martine Berthet, expressed regret for the national-scale snafu but reassured anyone planning to attend that the event still includes crepes, music and a firm reminder that Théoule-sur-Mer does not have the infrastructure to simultaneously entertain the entire population of France.
As news of the slip-up spread faster than butter on a hot croissant, social media lit up with reactions ranging from amused confusion to people genuinely trying to form cross-country road trip carpools in the name of free entertainment and vague civic curiosity. The commune’s official website briefly crashed under the sudden interest, the digital equivalent of fainting from surprise.
The mayor assured residents that no additional invitations are forthcoming and that the town is reviewing its youth intern email policies with the kind of seriousness usually reserved for missile launches and baguette pricing disputes. Notably, a polite request has been issued: if you were not planning to be in Théoule-sur-Mer before reading the email, perhaps take this as a sign from the universe to stay exactly where you are.
Their town may have gone viral, but their party snacks most certainly did not.