Christmas in France

Christmas in France is a major annual celebration, as in most countries of the Christian world. Christmas is celebrated as a public holiday in France on December 25, concurring alongside other countries.

Public life on Christmas Day is generally quiet. Post offices, banks, stores, restaurants,

cafés

and other businesses are closed. Many people in France put up a Christmas tree, visit a special church service, eat an elaborate meal and open gifts on Christmas Eve. Other activities include walking in the park, participating in city life and sharing a meal with family and close friends.

Père Noël

Père Noël (French pronunciation:

French-speaking areas, identified with the Father Christmas or Santa Claus of English-speaking territories. According to tradition, on Christmas Eve children leave their shoes by the fireplace filled with carrots and treats for Père Noël's donkey, Gui (French for "Mistletoe") before they go to bed. Père Noël takes the offerings and, if the child has been good, leaves presents in their place. Presents are traditionally small enough to fit in the shoes; candy, money, or small toys.^[1]

Music

Carols

Carol	Composer /Lyricist	Year published	Notes
"Il est né, le divin enfant"	Traditional French	c. 1875
"Les Anges dans nos campagnes"			Translated into English as "Angels We Have Heard on High"
"Minuit, Chrétiens" (Cantique de Noël)	lyrics: Placide Cappeau, music: Adolphe Adam	1843 (lyrics), 1847 (music)	Translated into English as "O Holy Night"
"Noël nouvelet"		15th century^[2]	Translated into English as "Sing We Now of Christmas"
"Patapan" ("Guillô, pran ton tamborin!")	Burgundian traditional		Title translation: Willy, take your tambourine
"Petit Papa Noël"	lyrics: Raymond Vincy; music: Henri Martinet	1946
"C'est Noël"	lyrics: Jean Manse; music: Henri Betti	1956	Song written for the movie Honoré de Marseille with Fernandel
"Quelle est cette odeur agréable?"			Translated into English as "Whence Is That Goodly Fragrance Flowing?"
"Un flambeau, Jeannette, Isabelle"		1553	Translated into English as "Bring a Torch, Jeanette, Isabella"
"La Marche Des Rois Mages"		13th century traditional	Translated into English as "March of the Kings"
"Entre le bœuf et l'âne gris"		13th or 16th century	Title translation: "Between the ox and the grey donkey"
"Çà, bergers, assemblons-nous"		music 15th/16th century; published 1701 with words by Simon-Joseph Pellegrin	Title translation: "Here, shepherds, let us gather". Adapted from "Où s'en vont ces gais bergers".
"Venez divin Messie"		music 16th century; published 18th century with words by Simon-Joseph Pellegrin	Translated in English as "O Come, Divine Messiah".
"D'où viens-tu, bergère?"			Title translation "Where are you coming from, shepherdess?"
"Dans cette étable"		words 19th century	Title translation: "In this stable". It is sung to the same music as "Es ist ein Ros entsprungen"

Food

Some typical French Christmas foods include:^[3]^[4]

Truffles
Rabbit terrine
Roasted capon
Garlic soup
Salad, peas, green beans, carrots and potatoes
Small chocolate and sweet candies

Traditional French Christmas food includes a lot of meats (

carrots. Soup and bread is also very popular. Desserts include Yule log

cake, cupcakes, muffins and other cakes along with small sweet and chocolate candies.

Decoration and decore

Strasbourg, France

Town Hall of Levallois-Perret lit up with christmas lights

Decorating for Christmas is very common in France. Christmas markets usually begin in late November or early December and last until Christmas, spreading across various regions of France. The Christmas market in

wreaths (Couronnes de l'Avent) are also common, they are made up of fir and pine tree branches for the first Sunday of Advent

. The Advent wreath is topped by four candles, symbolizing the four Sundays leading up to Christmas. Each candle is lit on each of the Sundays before Christmas.

Trees can either be decorated or can have a simple homely and traditional décor. Instead of putting up ornamental Christmas decorations on the trees, often red ribbons are used for decorating the trees. Glass or plastic ornaments that resemble the apples that were traditionally hung from Christmas trees in France are also used for decorating the trees. Small white

candles are also used. The use of the mistletoe considered to bring good luck and every household in France hangs mistletoe on the doors during Christmas.Some French people decorate their Christmas trees (Sapin de Noël) and set up a Nativity scene (Crèche) with small clay figurines or wooden figures to recreate the scene of Jesus' birth.^[6]

It is kept till New Year and there is a belief that if you kiss it at midnight, luck will favor you and you'll be filled with happiness and prosperity in the coming year.

Some other popular decorations include shoes instead of

candles are very popular and are typically set on tables during Christmas meals or set on window sills. Many French households, especially Christian ones, have nativity scenes

. Also known as the crèche, it is kept in the living room and can be elaborate or simple, depending on individual preference.

Notes

^ Christmas in France: Le Père Noël - Santa Claus, France Diplomatie website
^ "Noel Nouvelet - French Noel". www.hymnsandcarolsofchristmas.com. Retrieved 15 November 2017.
^ "Ten dishes that make up a French Christmas feast".
^ "10 Classic French Christmas Recipes". The Sprue.
^ "2024 年杜乐丽宫圣诞集市：日期、时间和活动". www.sortiraparis.com (in Chinese). Retrieved 2024-12-20.
^ "法国人揭秘：我们怎么过圣诞？". www.sohu.com. Retrieved 2024-12-20.

External links

[1] Christmas in France: Le Père Noël - Santa Claus, France Diplomatie website

[2] "Noel Nouvelet - French Noel". www.hymnsandcarolsofchristmas.com. Retrieved 15 November 2017.

[3] "Ten dishes that make up a French Christmas feast".

[4] "10 Classic French Christmas Recipes". The Sprue.

[5] "2024 年杜乐丽宫圣诞集市：日期、时间和活动". www.sortiraparis.com (in Chinese). Retrieved 2024-12-20.

[6] "法国人揭秘：我们怎么过圣诞？". www.sohu.com. Retrieved 2024-12-20.

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