How to enjoy Christmas the French way

To the delight of many Brits and Americans who move to France, the endless razzle-dazzle and commerciality seen back home hasn’t yet permeated every aspect of the festivities here. That isn’t to say French people don’t usually have a big celebration and plenty of amazing food, however, Christmas in France tends to be a more relaxed affair. French people value quality time more than overwhelming festive excess. After years of panic gift buying and 5am Christmas food shops back in the UK, we think they do it the right way!

What are the main French Christmas traditions?

As in the UK and the US, for some the religious significance has taken a back seat. For many French people the joy comes from the family reunions and celebrations. Some do still attend traditional midnight services (la Messe de Minuit), but less and less with every decade. In France, it’s Christmas Eve (le Réveillon) that is the height of the festivities - even more so than Christmas Day itself (le jour de Noël). 

There isn’t a ‘correct’ time to open presents in France, it’s whenever it fits your schedule! Christmas Eve is usually when families exchange and open their gifts to each other, but Christmas morning is when French children wake-up to open presents left by Father Christmas (Père Noël) in fireside slippers, not stockings!

What do people eat at Christmas in France?

It’s on Christmas Eve that most French families will be tucking into their main Christmas meal. It could be turkey, but in South West France it’s equally likely to be capon, fruits-de-mer, or an excellent cut of local beef! Dessert is often la bûche de Noël (Christmas log). Mince pies and stodgy Christmas pudding are yet to gain momentum here, but our French neighbours told us they liked our homemade ones.

In recent years, more and more French families have moved their main Christmas meal to Christmas Day. However, traditions are really important in France, so they haven't given up the festive meal on Christmas Eve - instead people simply now have a fancy meal on both days!

How do people decorate their homes at Christmas in France?

French homes generally have a Christmas tree (un sapin de Noël) decorated with sweets and fruit, and sometimes an impressive crib (une crèche). Other than this, French houses are quite light on Christmas decorations. Some of us are grateful for this, whilst other expats can’t help bringing the boxes of plastic santas, tinsel and fake snow to France with them.

External Christmas lights are a relatively recent arrival to France, but you do see more with every year that passes. The rule of twelfth night isn’t closely observed here. In France, the locals generally have a laissez-faire attitude about when people should take-down the decorations. Many leave them up well into the New Year. Some villages simply unplug their Christmas lights ready to plug them in the next December!

What music will people be listening to at Christmas in France?

Seasonal music is less pervasive (though alarmingly we have heard Slade's 'Merry Christmas Everybody' booming at more than one Christmas market in the last few years). In France, people generally tend to favour traditional music over the Christmas period, although you will hear imported songs and translated versions like ‘Adeste Fidelis’ (‘O Come All Ye Faithful’), ‘Mon Beau Sapin’ (from ‘O Tannenbaum’) and ‘Vive Le Vent’ to the tune of ‘Jingle Bells’. ‘Petit Papa Noël’ is a French childrens’ classic.

Christmas markets in France

If you want to soak up the festive atmosphere, France is great for Christmas markets. Often they offer the perfect opportunity to discover local specialities, local business owners and even meet your neighbours!

What about Boxing day and New Year’s Eve?

Boxing Day (Saint Etienne) is a normal working day in France (except in the Alsace region). Having enjoyed the festivities, French people get back to normality relatively quickly. There is no nursing of hangovers in front of The Railway Children or The Great Escape. In fact, television does not seem to exercise the same pull as it does in the UK and US, and life rapidly returns to normality. On New Year’s Eve the focus is much more on gastronomy than anything else. In France the final festive celebration of the season is Epiphany (6th January) with the traditional ‘galette des rois’ (cake of the kings) in which there is a hidden china figurine for the lucky diner!

Like the sound of a relaxing Christmas in France? Our team can help you find the perfect French home to spend it in. See all our French properties for sale here.