Understanding the French Christmas Celebration requires moving beyond the chocolat chaud and the Eiffel Tower emoji. It is about the tension between the grand, luxurious feast of the North and the humble, symbolic thirteen desserts of the South. It is about the whip-carrying Père Fouettard scaring children in Alsace. It is about a crèche filled with clay bakers and fishwives in Provence.
French Christmas Celebration: Part 2 – The Feast and Beyond
Here is where France fractures into delicious civil war. Depending on where you are, the main dish changes entirely: French Christmas Celebration Part 2
: If turkey wasn't served the night before, it often appears now, traditionally stuffed with chestnuts. Luxury Ingredients : Continued indulgence in smoked salmon The Grand Finale Bûche de Noël
In France, Santa Claus is commonly called Père Noël. In many families, gifts are exchanged on Christmas Eve after the réveillon, while others wait until Christmas morning. For children, small gifts may be placed in shoes overnight (a nod to older European customs), or stockings hung by the fireplace are filled. In some regions, Saint Nicholas (Saint-Nicolas) on December 6 is also the main gift-bringer for younger children. It is about a crèche filled with clay
, a chocolate sponge cake rolled and decorated to look like a yule log. Midnight Mass (Messe de Minuit)
In France, the pinnacle of the holiday is not Christmas morning, but , a grand feast traditionally held late on Christmas Eve. Luxury Ingredients : Continued indulgence in smoked salmon
In the South of France, the most famous tradition is the Treize Desserts (Thirteen Desserts). Representing Jesus and the twelve apostles, these treats are served all at once. They include "the four beggars" (dried fruits and nuts representing religious orders), black and white nougat, fresh citrus, and the pompe à l'huile (a sweet olive oil bread). Alsace: The Capital of Christmas