How to celebrate Christmas the French way

How to celebrate Christmas the French way? What are the traditions and customs that most families follow and adapt to their liking? We tell you everything!

1. The Advent Calendar!

The advent calendar is a cardboard object containing various closed boxes. It is intended to make children wait during the whole month of December and until Christmas Day. Of Germanic tradition, its conception has evolved with time. The idea is to give each new day a small present. Advent calendars today offer small figurines, or candies, but in the past it was mostly about pious pictures or fruits. In general, advent calendars now cover a large part of the month of December. Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)

2. Christmas sweets!

There are many traditional Christmas sweets around the world. In France, we particularly like chocolates and chestnuts (roasted or glazed depending on the mood). At this time of the year, we also like to leave a piece of gingerbread on the counter, or some homemade cookies…

3. The Letter to Santa!

As early as November or the beginning of December, the priority for the good children is to write their letter to Santa Claus. For those who have not been good, it will be a matter of defending their case a little… In November-December, therefore, toy catalogs or websites are carefully scrutinized in search of the rare pearl…

5. The wreath and other decorations!

The traditional Christmas wreath, whose origin goes back to the celebration of the winter solstice, is made of branches of holly intertwined in the shape of a wheel and that you hang on your front door. The idea is to show, from the beginning of December, that the spirit of Christmas has already penetrated the house and that it will offer a warm welcome to its visitors!

6. Christmas gifts!

Gifts have become increasingly important with the development of consumerism. Today, tradition dictates that gifts are placed at the foot of the tree or in a large hanging stocking, wrapped in pretty decorated paper and adorned with a small card designating its recipient. The children will open the gifts either on December 24th for Christmas Eve, or on the morning of December 25th, just before Christmas dinner.

7. Christmas carols!

If this tradition is less important in France than in other Anglo-Saxon countries, Christmas carols are still a big part of the holiday atmosphere. In France, you are most likely to hear them at Christmas markets, in large shopping malls or, more rarely, in front of your house, when a choir passes by.

8. The Christmas sweater!

This is a much more recent tradition, and to be honest, it’s not exactly unanimous. Originally, the Christmas sweater was a gift from grandmothers who took pleasure in knitting a warm and colorful garment for their children and grandchildren who, in turn, took pleasure in thanking them by wearing the sweater on Christmas Day. Many of these sweaters were beautiful in intent, and quite horrible to look at (and sometimes horrible to wear especially without long sleeves underneath…) Today, therefore, the Christmas sweater is deliberately ugly, and kitsch, and colored, and decorated with reindeer noses, elf hair and other details in relief… And more and more ready-to-wear brands are getting into it!

9. The Christmas dinnerl!

There are two Christmas meals in France, the one on Christmas Eve, the 24th in the evening, and the one on Christmas Day, the 25th at noon. This allows you to celebrate the end of year festivities with a maximum of people from your close circle. The importance of each meal is different for each household. For some, Christmas Eve will be the most important moment of the holidays, and for others, it will be the 25th at noon. Either way, there are a number of requirements for a traditional Christmas meal in France: oysters, salmon and foie gras as starters. Possibly snails as an appetizer. All washed down with a good white wine. A turkey or a capon stuffed with chestnuts for the main course, and a good bottle of red wine. Then a cheese platter and finally, the desserts, traditionally, an iced buche.

10. Christmas masses!

A secular country but traditionally marked by the Catholic religion, France continues to hear church bells ringing on Sundays and on Christmas Eve. So many people who are not usually religious like to attend midnight mass on December 24 or 25 in order to feel the spirit of Christmas, especially thanks to the liturgical songs, the choirs that often surround the parishes and the mutual aid and solidarity actions that are often associated with it.