Some customs are different for Christmas in France, for instance:
We do not send Christmas cards but New Year wishes in January, now mostly by email.
We celebrate on Christmas eve ( le réveillon de Noël) with a big meal, here is a menu:
Des huîtres ( oysters) et du foie gras; une dinde farcie aux marrons ( turkey with chestnuts); des fromages ( cheeses) et une bûche ( a Chritmas log) avec des vins pour accompagner chaque plat (with different wines for each course).
Father Christmas ( le Père Noël) does call during the night and brings presents ( les cadeaux) which are put in the shoes that children have left in the fireplace ( la cheminée) or by the Christmas tree ( le sapin de Noël).
On Christmas day ( le jour de Noël) we are busy opening presents and visiting relatives we did not see the night before.
Boxing day does not exist and a lot of people go back to work. But New year is coming soon so more celebrations are on the way!
Joyeux Noël!!
Alliance Française de Bristol and Bath are enrolling for January so don’t forget that you can join one of our French classes, for more info…