CHRISTMAS IN FRANCE

1. Advent

The four weeks before Christmas are dedicated to preparations for

Christmas. On 1 December children open their first ‘window/door’ in
the Advent calendar. This French Christmas tradition makes kids even
more excited about upcoming Christmas events.

2. Christmas Eve

The evening of December 24th is when French families sit down

together to celebrate Christmas and enjoy festive French foods and
wines. If you’ve heard about French people eating long and slowly, this
dinner is the greatest example of this French custom. The meal can go
for up to six hours.

3. Le Réveillon

This is the name of the French Christmas Eve meal, which is a big and
long feast. The name comes from the verb réveiller, to wake up or
revive. Increasingly more families start this French Christmas
tradition on Christmas Day, when it is easier for the whole family to
gather together.

4.  Midnight Mass

A church service is held on Christmas Eve. It is actually an important

Christmas tradition in France for many people who try to attend the
mass, although more and more people prefer services on Christmas Day.
5. Traditional French Christmas food

Food is a big part of French Christmas traditions. It depends on the

region but some common French Christmas foods include:

 smoked salmon and oysters with bran bread and (real) butter
 foie gras (goose or duck liver pâté)
 goose
 capon or turkey stuffed with chestnuts
 Servings of vegetables such as green beans cooked with garlic
and butter and provincial herbs sautéed potatoes.

To finish the feast you will get the amazing looking and tasting La
bûche de Noël (yule log), a sponge cake decorated like a yule log,
traditionally made of chocolate and chestnuts.

6. Les Treize (13) desserts

This is a Provençal French Christmas tradition but worth mentioning as

it sounds so ‘challenging’ – can you imagine having 13 desserts after the
main (big) Christmas feast? In France, they are important as they
symbolize Christ and the 12 apostles at the Last Supper.
Typical desserts include fruits, nuts and sweets such as dried figs,
hazelnuts or walnuts, almonds and dried grapes or a cake called Pompe
à l’huile. As part of this Christmas tradition in France, everyone has to
taste each dessert in order to have good luck for the upcoming year.

7. French alcohol at Christmas

Mulled wine is popular in bars and in French Christmas markets,

although you won’t see it so much at French houses. During Christmas
dinner, a very good wine is required and Champagne is imperative.

8. Table decoration

It is very important for French people to have their Christmas dining

table looking extremely elegant and inviting. It is common to put three
candlesticks on the table, which represent the Trinity. An interesting
French Christmas tradition is that the French knot the ends of the
tablecloth so the Devil cannot get under the table.

9. The sapin de Noël

The Christmas tree is decorated some time before Christmas Day, so

there is plenty of time to be ready for Christmas Eve when Santa Claus
comes.

10. Shoes in front of the fireplace

French children put their shoes near the fireplace so that Père Noël
can find them and fill them with small presents or treats.

11. Les Cadeaux de Noël

Time for presents! Père Noël brings them during the night and kids
typically open their presents on the morning of Christmas Day.
12. Le Père Fouettard

Father Spanker is the partner and helper of Saint Nicolas. He decides

if each kid behaved good or bad. He is the one who does the ‘spanking’
to bad behaving children.

13. The papillotes

These are the chocolates (or candied fruits) wrapped in golden

sparking paper with fringed ends. Inside there is a little note written
on it. The papillote was created in Lyon at the end of the 18th century.

Nowadays they are a delicious French Christmas tradition, sold

massively in shops at the end of each year. They usually decorate the
Christmas table and are an essential element of Christmas traditions in
France.

14. Mistletoe

Mistletoe is popular in French Christmas traditions and used as an

important decorative item. People hang it above the door during the
Christmas season, where it is supposed to bring good luck during the
the coming year – so where is the kissing?
15. Santons de Noël

These are the nativity scenes or crèches displayed in many French

homes. There are little clay figures called santons or little saints in
the crèche, which you can buy from Christmas markets. There are
plenty of pieces available for sale so you can create a small or
huge crèche at home.

16. Crèche Vivante/ Pessebres

These are nativity scene shows that are very popular particularly in the
south west of France. They are performed at various times during the
Christmas season.

17. La fête des Rois

The 6 January is a day to celebrate the arrival of the Three Kings.

Some places in France perform a street procession of the Three Kings
for children to watch.

18. La Galette des Rois

The ‘king’s cake’ celebrates Epiphany in France. There are three

versions of this cake and the most popular consists of flaky puff
pastry layers with a center of frangipane or apple. There is also a sablé
galette which has a type of sweet crust pastry and brioche cake with
candied fruits and sugar. The cakes are usually sold in special bags with
the paper crown for the ‘king’ who finds the fève – a small figure/bean
hidden in their piece of cake.
Traditionally, it is the youngest in the family who distributes the
pieces of cake hiding below the table and shouting the name of the
person who should get each piece.

19. Chants de Noël

There are not many traditional French Christmas carols, and are usually
hymns from church instead. That is why many Christmas songs have
been taken from UK, Germany and other places. Over time, non-
religious songs have been translated from different languages into
French, for example, the French Jingle Bells is Vive le vent.

20. French Christmas Greetings

French people wish each other Joyeux Noël or Bonnes Fêtes. It is

important never to wish anyone a Bonne Année (Happy New Year)
before midnight on New Year’s Eve as this brings bad luck.

21. Christmas cards

There are typically few Christmas cards. Traditionally cards are sent
to celebrate the New Year.
22. Christmas crackers

Tom Smith invented Christmas crackers in the 19th century as an

inspiration from his visit to Paris. Apparently he saw the French ‘bon
bon’ sweets (almonds wrapped in pretty paper) and once he returned to
London he started selling them with a small motto message inside. Then
his sons added paper crowns and small gifts and they become really
popular in England. Sadly, crackers have never become part of French
Christmas traditions.

23. Festive circus

This is a popular feature of the Christmas in France and beloved by

kids!

24. Marché de Noel

Christmas markets are very popular in France, although perhaps not

exclusively a French Christmas tradition. There are a few towns and
villages in France where artisans produce, gifts and local culinary
delicacies, such as foie gras and confit de canard, are sold.

25. Christkindelsmärik

This is the most famous and oldest Christmas market in France. You
can find it in Strasbourg in Alsace with many traditional French
products to buy as gifts.

Which French Christmas traditions would you like to try? Which one is
your favourite?
At the end of the day, it is not a place, food or tradition that is
important for Christmas but fact you are with people you love and who
are important to you.