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 the United States and other countries.

Père Noël, the French Father Christmas

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 also include walking in a park, participating in city life and sharing a meal with family and close friends.

Père Noël
Main article: Père Noël

Père Noël (French pronunciation: ​[pɛʁ nɔ.ɛl]), "Father Christmas", sometimes called Papa Noël ("Father Christmas"), is a legendary gift-bringer at Christmas in France and other 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
Spritz: cookies traditionally prepared for Christmas in eastern France.

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

Traditional French Christmas food includes a lot of meats (Ham, Turkey, Chicken and Beef) with sides like mashed potatoes, beans, salad, peas and carrots. Soup and bread is also very popular. Deserts include Yule log cake, cupcakes, muffins and other cakes along with small sweet and chocolate candies.

Decoration and decore
Enlighted house models at the foot of the tall Christmas tree in Strasbourg, France
Christmas tree in Paris
Town Hall of Levallois-Perret lit up with christmas lights

Decorating for Christmas is very common in France. Many households, public spaces, and businesses are decorated with lights and Christmas trees. Advent 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 elaborately 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. 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 stockings, the use 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.

See also

Notes
  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. "Classic French Christmas dishes and deserts". The Sprue.
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