Christmas In France - Joyeux Noel!

Christmas is celebrated on December 25th in France, but other Christmas celebrations take place throughout the month. In some areas Christmas begins on December 6th, which is la fete de Saint Nicolas. In Lyon, December 8th, la fete de lumieres, is a day to pay homage to the virgin Mary by placing candles in window sills. Also, like Italians, some French celebrate Epiphany...but they celebrate this day on January 1st. (Around the world pick a day and call it Christmas...)

Christmas Eve, the actual Eve of Christmas being December 24th, families traditionally attend la Messe de Minuit, a Catholic midnight mass. After mass there is a large feast known as le Reveillon. Food served might be goose, oysters, turkey, or chicken. It varies by region.

Children put shoes in front of the fireplace that will be filled with gifts from Pere Noel. They will also wake to find that the Christmas tree (sapin de noel in French) has been covered with small toys, fruit, and candy. Naughty children might get a visit from Pere Fouettard, who dishes out spankings instead of toys.

The French too put much emphasis on nativity scenes and reenactments. Plays and puppet shows are used to teach the lessons of Christianity and the meaning behind Christmas. There may also be mistletoe and a yule log, which is burned from Christmas Even until the new year. Or eaten. Sometimes a real yule log is replaced by a cake that resembled a log.

So, Joyeux Noel everyone!