How the French Celebrate Christmas

Whether you are traveling through Europe during the holidays or want to get closer to your French roots, learning how the French celebrate Christmas can increase your cultural knowledge.

A Yule log is a traditional French holiday dessert.

For some families in the Northern and Northeast regions, Christmas comes early. Father Christmas, known as Le Pere Noel, may bring gifts and sweets on December 6, the feast of St. Nicolas.

Much of the country honors the traditional Christmas Eve and Christmas Day celebrations. The first customs were introduced to France by Romans, with the first celebration in 496 when Clovis and his warriors were baptized. Following this celebration, the holiday was chosen for many other important events.

The first official Christmas tree was placed in Strasbourg in 1605 and decorated with artificial roses, apples, sugar, and painted hosts. Families today usually put up and decorate their own trees several days before Christmas.

For many, attending a midnight mass and then gathering at another person’s home for a feast called Le Reveillon is customary. The mass may include puppets and plays to recreate the story of Jesus’ birth.

Before going to bed on Christmas Eve, children will place out shoes in the hopes that Le Pere Noel (Santa) will bring candies, chocolates, and small gifts for them. Sabots, or wooden shoes worn by peasants, used to be the shoe left out, but today, any shoe will do.

Adults in the family can open their Christmas gifts on Christmas Day, but it is primarily seen as a children’s holiday. The adults often wait to exchange gifts and celebrate on New Year’s Eve.

The French are known for the world-renowned pastries and culinary skills. Holiday celebrations features several traditional dishes, along with main courses. The courses served at Le Reveillon will vary from region to region, but are often comprised of poultry, seafood, fruit, cakes, and wine.

The Catholic Church originally mandated that no meat was to be eaten on Christmas Eve. Therefore, families must serve a meatless supper. Thirteen desserts are served during this supper, representing the 12 apostles and Jesus at the Last Supper. The desserts often featured in season fruits and nuts. While more than 13 desserts can be served, it is considered good luck to eat 13 and stop at that number.

Families often varied the desserts based upon what was available at the time, and their tastes. The desserts often included:

• Pompe à l'huile
• Green melon
• Quince paste
• Raisins
• Dates
• Oranges
• Dried figs
• Hazelnuts
• Almonds
• Candied fruit
• Little cookies
• Buche de Noel, also known as the Yule log
• Nougats

The Yule log, also known as the Buche de Noel, is a traditional cake served at the end of many Christmas feasts. In South France, Yule logs would be burned from Christmas Eve to New Year’s Day. Keeping the log burning this amount of time was considered good luck and would bring an abundant harvest in the coming year.

Yule logs are traditionally made from chocolate, rolled with a butter cream or whipped cream filling, then covered in a chocolate icing. Variations often include nuts, such as hazelnuts or pralines. Decorations include candied berries and leaves, or sugar mushrooms.

The cake known as Three Kings Cake, has a bean hidden inside it. Whoever finds the bean in their slice is considered King or Queen for a day. It is to honor the magi, or Three Kings, who go in search of Jesus.

As mentioned, people in France do not usually put up their Christmas trees until several days before Christmas.

French citizens may often have a Nativity scene in their home called a crèche. The crèche features not only the family of Mary, Joseph, and Baby Jesus, but also the Three Wise Men, shepherds, and other French figures, such as local dignitaries or characters. Some crèches feature between 20 and 40 people. The crèches are done in clay and can be found in large marketplaces before the holiday season.

Many shops and retailers have extensive Christmas displays in their windows. Families often take trips to see the animated figures in the windows of Parisian street shops.

LoveToKnow would love to hear your experiences with how the French celebrate Christmas. Add a comment about your own French traditions or what you experienced while traveling through the country during the holiday season.

• Last Minute Christmas Presents
• Christmas Lawn Decorations
• What Are the Top Christmas Presents
• Good Christmas Present Idea
• Christmas Shopping Trivia

• Free Christmas Comedy Skits and Plays
• Christmas Songs to Listen to Online
• Christmas Music Online
• Free Christmas Skits
• Christmas Pajamas

• Santa
• History of Christmas Stockings
• Candy Canes
• Christmas Break
• Canadian Christmas Traditions