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FACTS

FRANCE

Capital and largest city: Paris
48°51′N 2°21′E

 

Recognised regional languages: see map below

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Official language and national language: French

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Demonym: French

 

Nationality (2010)

 

Religion (2016)

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French flag

HISTORY OF CHRISTMAS

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Christmas is Noël in French. This word probably appeared for the first time in the Gallic time (year – 58) in the Celtic language: noio (new) + hel (sun) to describe the Sun's rebirth during the winter solstice. At that time, there were celebrations called “Saturnales” dedicated to Saturne, god of fertility and sowing.

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During seven days from 17th to 24th of December, families and friends got together, shared delicious meals and offered children some figures made from bread or mud. During that special time, social barriers disappeared, slaves were free and could be served by masters, nobody worked, schools were closed and executions banned.

The Romans, during Julius Caesar's reign, celebrated the lengthening of the days: Sol Invictus (Unbeaten Sun). A bull was sacrificed on the 25th of December and offered to Mitra, god of light. Christmas did not exist for the Christian church.

 

In 354, Pope Libère established that the date of Jesus' birth was 25th of December. They wanted to abolish pagan festivals so keeping this date was also a way to evangelize people more easily. The second meaning of Noël, natalis dies, which means 'the day of birth' in Latin, came later.

 

The actual Père Noël, ''Father Christmas', was inspired by Saint Nicholas. He was born a wealthy orphan in year 270. His parents died during an epidemic. Near the beginning of the fourth century, at the age of 30, Saint Nicholas became the bishop of a region known as Myra. Around this time the Roman government began to jail all Christian bishops who refused to publicly give sacrifice to the Roman gods. Saint Nicholas was one of the few who refused. He remained in jail for ten years until the Roman Empire fell. Saint Nicholas was known for his generosity to school children by giving treats to them if they behaved well and studied.


The image of Père Noël, as we know him today, came to France from USA in 1930. Haddon Sundblom was the artist who drew an old man dressed in red and white fur costume to advertise Coca-Cola to make people buy this soda even during winter time. This image appeared in France through media and by the American soldiers during the World War II. 

CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS

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Le sapin de Noël – Christmas tree

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Originally, for Celtic people, the day of the Sun's rebirth was linked to spruce, symbol of birth. The first representation of Christmas tree appeared in Alsace (region next to Germany) in 1521. In this part of France, on 21st of December people were cutting trees which were still green and decorated them with roses and apples to remind Adam and Eve's myth. People used candies and biscuits, too.

 

During the 17th and 18th century, there were small candles on branches but then when electricity was invented they were using artificial lights which was better for safety. In 1858, a glass craftsman invented special balls to replace apples because the harvest was hard that year. 

 

Usually French people start to look for the Christmas tree during the first week of December. Most of them buy the tree, and there are sellers everywhere in the streets. Some people like the real tree for its authenticity and smell, and some choose the plastic one because there is no need to clean the pine thorns. During the weekend, parents and children decorate the tree with tinsel, elf figures and balls. Some even hang homemade biscuits that look like Finnish piparkakku. And the cherry on the cake is the shiny plastic star on the top.

Le calendrier de l´Avent – The Advent Calendar

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On 1st of December starts the Advent and all children want their Advent calendar. Each day before the 25th, they are excited to eat one chocolate from the calendar. It helps small children to realize how many days there are left before le Père Noël will come. Some creative people even craft their own advent calendars with bigger surprises. 

 

La lettre au Père Noël – The Letter to Santa Claus

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In the autumn, French children send letters of their Christmas present wishes to Père Noël. Many ads come on TV and by post, so the kids can make their wish lists. Sometimes, small kids cut pictures from magazines and stick them to the letter, and parents make efforts to write properly. The most important thing in the letter is to underline how nice the children have been and how much they deserve presents.

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Les vacances de Noël – Christmas Holidays

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At school, children make special handicrafts and prepare some performances. Holidays usually start around 22nd of December and last till 6th or 7th of January. Parents take, usually, one week of holiday so during the second week grand-parents often take care of the children. Many people go to ski resorts in Pyrenees or Alps, and others visit their relatives. There is a lot of traffic jams, and the train stations and airports are crowded in France before and after Christmas. Supermarkets are also really hectic because it seems that most of the people buy their gifts at the last moment or always forget some ingredients. In the last two weeks of December in France, you can feel a mix of stress, excitement, tiredness and wonder.

La crèche de Noël – Christmas Crib

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Some families like to make a Christmas Crib representing the Christian nativity scene by figures. They can be made from glass, porcelain, wax, and wood. The most popular ones are les santons de Provence, small hand-painted terracotta figurines produced in southeastern France. During the French Revolution when churches were forcibly closed and their large nativity scenes prohibited, small figurines were crafted in plaster molds and let to dry before firing them. Nowadays, there are also live cribs where people are wearing costumes and acting. 

 

La veille de Noël – Christmas Eve

 

On the evening of 24th, most of the families gather together. In some families, there are only the parents and children, but usually there are grand-parents, aunts, uncles, and cousins too. Everyone dresses up in fancy suits and cocktail dresses full of strass and paillettes. Families start their delicious dinner with some toasts with lumpfish's eggs, cod's eggs and smoked salmon. Some eat seafood such as oysters, crab, lobsters, and scallops, where as others prefer foie gras (goose's liver). Some eat both. They end the dinner with the traditional bûche de Noël which is a roll of light sponge cake, covered in chocolate, vanilla, or coffee butter cream, textured to resemble bark as an evocation of the ancient tradition of burning the Yule log. They drink champagne as an apéritif with the toasts or with the dessert, or with both. During the dinner, they drink white wine with seafood and red wine with meat. Usually, the dinner starts around 19.00 and lasts at least 4 hours. After the dinner, some go to midnight mass to the church close by to pray and sing Christmas canticles. Some play cards or board games while nibbling some chocolate truffles and fruits, usually clementines and litchis, and sip some digestif like Cognac (brandy), Calvados (apple), Mirabelle (little yellow plums) depending in which region they live. 

 

Le jour de Noël – Christmas Day

 

On the 25th, families all have lunch together even if they are not so hungry because of the feast they had the night before. Most of the time, the lunch consist of escargots (cooked snails filled with butter and garlic) as starters. The most popular dish is la dinde aux marrons which is a capon stuffed with chestnuts served with roasted potatoes and green beans. But some people eat other poultry like guinea fowl or prey meat, like boar or deer. They usually have a large selection of cheeses with different kind of breads, and they eat again la bûche as a dessert. In Provence, they are even more greedy because they prepare 13 desserts, to resemble the 12 apostles and Jesus Christ. The dessert consists of different nuts, dried raisins, dates and figs, oranges, grapes, exotic fruit like kiwi or pineapple, une pompe à huile (means literally oil pump, but it is sweet bread made from olive oil and orange blossom) and different kinds of nougat confections made with sugar or honey, roasted nuts (almonds, walnuts, pistachios, hazelnuts, and macadamia nuts are common), whipped egg whites, and sometimes chopped candied fruit. 

 

Sometimes children eat different foods, and they have their special table called réservée aux enfants. They can have their favorite dishes: chopped steak and French fries, and some juice or soda for drinks. They are not required to respect social obligations like adults so they eat really fast and go to play or watch cartoons (there is always old “Astérix and Obélix” movie on TV on Christmas). In some families, some have prepared shows that they perform in front of the whole family.

PRESENTS

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In France, children open their presents on the morning of 25th, because Santa Claus has visited the house during the previous night! When children wake up, they immediately run to the living room where they find beautiful wrapped gifts under the Christmas tree, and play with their toys the whole morning while adults are recovering from hangover, and dogs are tearing apart the gift wraps! Adults sometimes open their gifts on the 24th after the dinner.


Children receive easily 5 to 15 presents. Adults receive less than children but usually at least 3 or 4 presents. Hopefully, Christmas feeling does not stop when you are an adult in France! People are very generous during this time of the year.

 

Gadgets, decorative objects, clothes, toys, books, board games, and video games are the most common gifts in France. There is also many gift cards loaded with money that people can use in some special shops.
Some people prefer to give money directly (by cash or bank check). Some people buy then what they want or need, and some use it to pay their bills.

DIY (do-it-yourself) is a new trend and many French people choose to make their gifts themselves because it is cheaper and more unique. They learn how to make soaps, scrapbooks, knitted socks and even homemade delicacies.


More and more people give non-material presents such as tickets for concerts or shows. All-inclusive packages are also very popular nowadays, for example weekends in exotic places such as in a castle or a tree hut, or adventurous experiences (parachute jump, kayak trip). Gift cards for various beauty salon treatments, such as massages, are also popular gifts.
 

Everybody from a baby to grand-parent gets presents during Christmas. Some employers give presents to their employees, and some charitable organizations give gifts to people in need. Some towns and cities send gift boxes to retired people with low income. Usually they get some chocolates, candies, a bottle of wine, and local products (foie gras, biscuits, etc.).

 

When small children still believe in Père Noël (usually up until the age of 5 or 6) parents make up the story that Père Noël brings the presents during the night of 24th. But when nobody believes anymore in the legend, people give presents to each other on the night of 24th or in the morning of 25th.
 

For people who lack imagination, there are common gifts for example socks and ties for men, and perfume and decorative objects for women. Shops organize their space to help people to buy good products, and it is easy to find best-selling books and most popular gadgets. It often happens that one person receives the same present twice!

Le Père Noël

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Le Père Noël always comes when children cannot see him. Usually he comes through the chimney. Most of the people know that he comes from a snowy village in Lapland (even if most of the people do not know where it is).

SANTA'S HELPERS

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Le père Noël is living with friendly little elves and he has a flying sledge pulled by reindeer to distribute the presents to every children.

SANTA IN THE MEDIA
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Santa Claus looks like a grandfather with a long white beard, and glasses. He wears a red hat and costume with fur, white gloves, brown boots, and a large belt because he has a big belly.

WHEN TO SEE SANTA

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A bit before Christmas, you can see Santa Claus in supermarkets, schools, kindergartens, and streets. You can have your picture taken while sitting on his lap. Sometimes, you feel that there is many of him but it is just because he is really fast! Some children are scared of him and cry when they see him. It might be because of his gruff voice and his bushy beard. Some parents' working places organize a Christmas goûter before Christmas holidays. Children are invited to drink hot chocolate and eat biscuits, and they even receive a gift in advance and sometimes le Père Noël is there too.

NAUGHTY OR NICE

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It is a well-known fact that you have to be nice to receive presents from Père Noël. French parents repeat it very often to their children all year long. Though children who behave badly get dozens of gifts as well, so it might be better to say that Père Noël is a pretty tolerant and generous man.

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Père Noël often asks if someone has been nice when they meet in public places before Christmas. Some children are so afraid not to get presents that they even prepare a glass of milk (because he comes from Finland!) and little snacks to convince him of their good behavior.

LANGUAGE RELATED SPECIAL ISSUES

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French is the only official language in France and there are about 7 regional languages that children can learn in special schools but they are a minority (270 000 students). There are also many other dialects. Still, in everyday language French people use different expressions according to their original region and can make fun of each other like Finns from Oulu towards the ones from Helsinki do.

GOOD TO KNOW

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It is very important to congratulate the cook when you are invited to dinners especially during celebrations like Christmas! French people spend hours to talk, that's why meals last so long.

Tervetuloa keskustelemaan ranskalaisesta kulttuurista!

Alla olevan laatikon kautta voit jakaa tietosi ja havaintosi muille käyttäjille.

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