Have you spent Christmas in France?

Question

How was it? Do you recommend it?

Answer 1

I have, just because my family lives there and I love being home for the holidays. I don't really recommend it because there isn't much to do as everything is closed on Dec 25th but it is definitely worth seeing the Champs Elysees all lit up and the Eiffel Tower sparkle at night time :)

One thing to do as well is to stop by the department stores and watch the toy parades in their windows!

Answer 2

To really soak in the spirit of Christmas in France, I recommend you spend it with a local family. Christmas is a family affair in France, as many religious holidays are across the world.

It's a wonderful time, and not just in Paris :) Different regions of France celebrate Xmas in their own different ways. In Provence, where I have lived many years, little Santons come out to decorate the mantel and traditional Xmas eve "souper" dinner is shared with family. Villages and towns hold festivities and then Xmas eve is spent with family at home with plenty of good cheer and good food.

If you do not know anyone in France, New Year's might be more fun. While Christmas in France is most often spent at home with family, the New Year is for friends and celebrating outside.

Have a wonderful time, whenever you go!

-AzurAlive

Answer 3

Yes i spend every christmas here with my in laws(my wife is french)

its alot more traditional than the UK.

we always have our gifts around the tree and we open them christmas eve.

the food is fantastic and the wine flows freely.

wonderful experience

Answer 4

Christmas is much more low key in France than in UK and is still considered essentially a religious celebration. Even people who rarely go to church often make the effort on that day and go to midnight mass, which is a long standing tradition. There are some nativity scenes in each church and the further south you go the lovelier they are, as they include all sorts of characters which we do not see in UK. There are lovely traditional French Christmas carols sung at those services.

The Christmas trees are generally put up in houses on Christmas Eve and many families bring out the traditional crib which is accompanied by an array of characters (the santons made in Provence) which range from the three kings' retinue to the shepherds, the mayor, the poacher, the dairy maid, etc... Other than that, there are none of the gaudy decorations in dubious taste which often clutter British homes at that time.

It is very much a family affair and a really wonderful time  for children who get several presents, which they open after midnight rather than in the morning. There are presents exchanged between adults but in general this is extremely moderate and limited to simple things.

Some families have an evening meal (le réveillon) before or after going to church, but most have the traditional fare at lunch time, on the 25th. The food served is nice, without being too heavy. There usually is some kind of shell fish or salmon starter, turkey served with sprouts, petits pois, baby carrots and roast potatoes. Then a selection of cheese is followed by a very light cake draped in chocolate called "La buche de Noel". Generally the family stays gathered around the table chatting happily for hours and the kids play in the background with their new toys. There is really not much to do, unless you live in a big town and go and look at the shop windows as everything is closed and there is no public transport. There is no Boxing Day on the 26th, and it is a normal working day.

Various regions sell specialities at that time, such as "boudin blanc" which is a white saucage with bits of truffle, or cakes known as "Craquelins" which are sweet vol- au- vents, or special brioches, which are shaped like a baby.

The tree and the crib are taken down at the end of January.

New Year is the time when there are parties with friends, or you go out for a meal followed by dancing. People at home stay up to see the New Year in, and usually open a bottle of Champagne. Neighbours will come out in the street and exchange good wishes with each other at midnight.There is another feast for New Year's lunch with  roast meat. Needless to say the wine flows generously! On that occasion kids get money gifts called "les étrennes" from relatives or friends.

In some regions, the 6th January, Epiphany, is celebrated too. A special cake called "Galette des Rois" is served hidden under a cloth. The person who draws the slice that has a tiny china figure (it used to be a large dried bean in the olden days) becomes king or queen and can request others to do preposterous things that make every one laugh.

I like Christmas in France because it is far less commercial than in UK, and it has not gone over the top as yet. It is the time of the year where you see family whom you never see otherwise.

If you are a teenager, it might seem rather flat. New Year is good fun, and people let  their hair down, plays silly games, sing silly songs, do party turns and dance rather dated dances to music that seems really sentimental or old hat, but who cares...

If you are in a region where there is snow, it is a bonus.

Answer 5

Yes, it was cold and snowy and everything was closed.  I barely found a hotel that would let me stay for the night.  :'(

Needless to say, it was not a joyeux noel.

Answer 6

depends where you go and what you want. If it's peace - then head into the alps for a quiet romantic snowy Christmas! Perfect!  If you want entertatinment then perhaps not.

Answer 7

Only if you are in a family.

Note a couple of important differences with the UK (I don't know about the USA):

"Christmas dinner" is late at night on Christmas Eve. It is very heavy. They go for everything expensive, just because it is expensive.

If you ever ask a French person how their Christmas went, they will tell you what was on the menu! That is the most important feature. I always find going to bed shortly after eating so much late at night a bit heavy on the stomach.

Presents are distributed at midnght. The kids are spun a story about father christmas kreeping in on the wind in the next room at midnight while we were all eating.

After that, the 25th is a bit of an anticlimax as people are digesting. While in the UK streets are deserted at lunch time on the 25th, in France they are crowded. More like Boxing day in the UK.

Answer 8

Definately! You have to do Reveillon when you feast at midnight on Christmas Eve.

Answer 9

Hiya,

Yes I've spent a lots of Christmas in France (I am French).

It is very nice !! You should try it one day.

Cheerio.