Dreaming of a French Christmas

It’s time to shout it from the light-strung rooftops: Joyeux Noël! Christmas is upon us, and we know our readers are keen to know exactly how they can mimic the French esprit de Noël in their own homes.

Like in America, some of the major Christmas traditions in France originated from strong religious foundations. Some French families attend la Messe de minuit (midnight Mass) on Christmas Eve (la Veille de Noël), returning home afterwards for a decadent feast, le Réveillon. Réveillon, a term stemming from the word réveil, or awakening, usually comes with an expertly-cooked turkey or goose. The official Notre Dame site has an English list of Christmas Eve services.

La Veille de Noël is also the time for French children to place their shoes near the fireplace so that Père Noël can fill them with gifts. After the shoes are in position and bellies are stuffed from dinner and slices of the bûche de Noël (Yule log—recipe here), some families in France place candles outside the house to honor the Virgin Mary, should she happen to pass through the neighborhood.

The city of Lyon lit up the town earlier this month with their own humble candles and eye-popping lights, and the salons of French homes are bursting with cheery decorations. Although the Christmas tree, or sapin, is more of an American tradition, it is becoming relatively common in France, especially in public displays.

However, the real gem that the French pull out of the closet for Christmas is la crèche—the nativity scene. Families purchase handcrafted miniatures from local fairs or markets, to display in their homes for the season. Making santons, or little saints, which sometimes feature in the scenes as well, is considered a very specialized craft.

If you want to be die-hard French for this Christmas season, keep the party going until January: on the 6^th of next month is the French celebration of Epiphanie, or la Fête des Rois (literally, holiday of the Magi), known in English as Epiphany or Twelfth Night. In a highlight of this holiday, the French tirent les rois de galette (eat Twelfth Night cake—recipe here). The galette des Rois is a round cake baked with a figurine, charm or bean inside. Whoever receives the special slice with the figurine inside is king or queen for the day!

Finally, don’t forget the ultimate Christmas garnish for your home: le gui (mistletoe) serves the same purpose in France as it does in America! Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from France Today.