What are some fun facts about Christmas in France?
What are some fun facts about Christmas in France?
10 Facts about Christmas in France
- The traditional Christmas meal eaten on Christmas Eve can last up to 6 hours.
- Some French people enjoy 13 desserts after their main meal.
- The Eve of St.
- Saint Nicholas has a helper who decides who’s been naughty and nice.
- Many families go to the circus around Christmas.
Where is Christmas celebrated in France?
Marchés de Noel They’re found all over the country from Paris to Nice and Provence to Normandy. The biggest Christmas market is held in Strasbourg in the Alsace region and the very first French Christmas market actually originated in Alsace in 1570.
How does France celebrate Christmas?
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 swimming in a park, participating in city life and sharing a meal with family and close friends.
What happens on Christmas Day in France?
Christmas is celebrated as a public holiday in France on December 25, concurring alongside the United States and other countries. Public life on Christmas Day is generally quiet. Many people in France put up a Christmas tree, visit a special church service, eat an elaborate meal and open gifts on Christmas Eve.
What are the best French traditions of Christmas?
Decorating the tree: one of the best French traditions of Christmas! © French Moments. In France, the Christmas tree first appeared in Alsace in 1521 and is called “sapin de noël” or “arbre de noël”. The tree, covered in red apples and lights, symbolised the venue of Christ: ‘the light that illuminates the world’.
Do they decorate Christmas trees in France?
While some French homes have Christmas trees, the main focal point of Christmas decoration in France has always been the crèche, or nativity scene. Even now, in many Cathedral squares, the story of Christ’s birth will be re-enacted in both static and live nativity scenes.
What are the Christmas markets like in France?
Marché de Noel Christmas markets are very popular in France, although perhaps not exclusively a French Christmas tradition. There are a few towns and villages in France where artisans produce, gifts and local culinary delicacies, such as foie gras and confit de canard, are sold.
What happens at midnight on Christmas Eve in France?
On Christmas’ Eve, the midnight mass is part of the French traditions of Christmas. However not everyone will be joining the church on that night. The religious service usually starts either at the stroke of midnight or a few hours before in all the cathedrals and parish churches all over France.
