French Christmas Traditions

Christmas festivities are very much in the heart of French culture. How we celebrate Christmas varies slightly, depending on the region and individual families. Anyhow, ‘Noël’ is most awaited by ‘les petits et les grands’ every year and probably most dreaded by parents because of the long to do lists to make it a memorable family event! I’m sure a lot of you can relate to that. ;)

So… when does the rush to Christmas start? Well, commercially as soon as Halloween is over, Christmas chocolates take over the aisles in the shops and swiftly after, the toys, the trees, the garlands, the decorative reindeers… By the end of November, towns have hung the Christmas lights and ‘Père Noël’ makes an appearance every week-end at the Christmas markets!

Advent calendars – ‘les calendriers de l’Avent’

French children open advent calendars, like in many other countries, during the month of December leading up to Christmas. When I was a child, we didn’t have the advent calendars, I wonder if it was something for more ‘religious’ families or they just weren’t commercialised as much?

Postcards from ‘Père Noël’

Letters from French kids to Father Christmas always receive a response! Since 1962, France has had a law that stipulates any letter to Santa must be responded to, in the form of a postcard. The law ensures that each child receives a reply to his/her letter to Santa, making thousands of happy children each year! The postmen are happy to get into the Christmas spirit and deliver Santa’s replies.

Shoes by the Fire

In other countries, the tradition varies slightly with stockings, nibbles and drinks for Father Christmas, but French children leave their shoes or slippers by the fireplace or under the Christmas tree, in the hope that Father Christmas will fill them with presents. It is not in the national culture to leave milk and biscuits for Father Christmas (we didn’t!) but I know that in some families or parts of France, it is a part of the tradition.

Le Réveillon de Noël

In France, Christmas Eve dinner is the most important celebration time. Families gather for a very special meal and, depending on the family, children either go to bed before midnight and open their presents on Christmas morning or children wait until midnight, hide so Santa doesn’t see them and then open their presents. My Dad used to pretend to say goodbye to Santa at the door when we would come back to the room! Whatever the option, all children are just super excited and don’t get much sleep!

Christmas day

More food, more drinks, more presents! Often, Christmas lunch is celebrated at a different home, at the grand-parents or in-laws. It is very much of a surprise to the British people when they are told that there is no such thing as Boxing Day! French people are back to work on the 26th, tired and probably hangover.

Christmas food specials

Dishes might include roast turkey with chestnuts or roast goose, oysters, foie gras, lobster, venison and cheeses. For dessert, a chocolate sponge cake log called a ‘bûche de Noël’ is normally eaten. In some parts of France, they celebrate by eating 13 different desserts! In the South of France, traditions are still very local! On Christmas Eve, most restaurants offer a single set ‘Menu de Noël’ and you have to make sure that you book well in advance!

‘La fêtes des Rois & La Galette des Rois’

January 6th – we call this Kings’ Day, Three Kings’ Day or Epiphany. In France, there is a tradition in which French families buy a ‘Galette des Rois’, a special tart and a small porcelain object called a ‘fève’. The ‘fève’ is hidden inside and the person who finds it in their portion is proclaimed the King (or Queen) for the day, wears a pretend crown and can choose his King or Queen. The ‘no cheating’ to get the ‘fève’ is a very serious business and people have all sorts of strategies to make sure that no one cheats! These are very often collector items.

Religious celebration?

It still is for many people and there is a ‘Messe de minuit’ on Christmas Eve, which is not necessarily at midnight by the way. In some places there are even processions in which Jesus is carried to the ‘Crèche’. Theoretically, baby Jesus shouldn’t be laid in the crèche before midnight, on Christmas Eve.

The nativity scene

In French this is known as the ‘Crèche’ and French families who have a nativity scene often really go to town with this and include all kinds of figures not just Baby Jesus, Mary and Joseph.

Image courtesy of Jametlene Reskp via Unsplash

La Chandeleur

This is the 2nd February when nativity scenes are displayed until. This is 40 days after Christmas Day. We celebrate the return of longer days by walking with torches, then by placing candles in our homes, and finally… by eating pancakes. Crepes are eaten primarily due to their round shape and light colour which symbolises the sun, and the return of light.

I’m sure there is more to say about Christmas festivities in ‘France metropole’ and even much more to say about the Christmas traditions in France ‘Outre-Mer’ but this article gives you a good glimpse at what a French Christmas looks like. ;)

Thanks for reading!

Christelle – Director of Alpine French School

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