Christmas in France

On Christmas Eve French children are allowed to stay up late for a

special meal.

Children put their shoes under the Christmas tree so that Father Christmas

knows where to put their presents.

The tree is brightly decorated like in England, but a star is put at the top

instead of a fairy.

The meal eaten on 24th December is called Le Réveillon meaning “waking up” because you

stay awake at a time when you are usually asleep!

The meal generally includes some seafood…

Oysters

Prawns

Mussels

Cooked Meat

Pâté

Cheese

A traditional Christmas log – une bûche de Noël

A lot of wine and champagne is drunk – le vin and la champagne

On 25th December another big meal takes place around lunch time, the main course being duck, chicken, goose, guinea fowl, rabbit,

venison or turkey.

After dessert children are given “des papillotes” which are the ancestors of

the English crackers. They contain sweets.

Another big meal is organised for the 31st December to see the New

Year in.

In towns all the drivers hoot their horns at midnight.

French people do not tend to send Christmas cards, but they then have the whole month of

January to send their Happy New Year wishes.