Embraced by the fragrance of freshly baked pastries and the glow of twinkling lights, Christmas in France unfolds as a harmonious blend of rich traditions and gastronomic indulgence. In France's north-east, the enchanting season commences with the eagerly awaited Saint Nicholas’ Day and reaches its zenith on the 24th of December with the opulent Réveillon dinner.
French cities come alive with captivating illuminations and festive markets, inviting locals and visitors to immerse themselves in the magic of the holiday spirit.
From the cherished tradition of crèches and Midnight Mass to regional delights like the Gros Souper in Provence, every corner of France paints a unique stroke on the canvas of Christmas celebrations. Join us on a journey through the heartwarming traditions, culinary extravagance, and festive merriment that define Christmas in France.
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Ready to experience the charm of Christmas in France? This festive season transforms France’s most iconic destinations, from Paris to picturesque villages, into dazzling winter wonderlands. Throughout the country, streets sparkle with Christmas lights, towering trees adorn town squares, and charming Christmas markets come to life in historic settings, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere. Read more…
In France, Epiphany is synonymous with the “Galette des Rois”. The French ceremoniously eat this wafer king cake a few days before and after 6 January. As soon as Christmas and New Year, with their abundance of food and bûches, are over, it is time to celebrate the Epiphany with the ‘Galette des Rois’. People Read more…
As little Christmas delicacies, chocolate mendiants are part of the Provençal tradition and the thirteen desserts. The Provençal tradition of the mendicant order The colours of their ingredients are reminiscent of the original robes of the mendicant order of friars in the Church during the Middle-Ages: the Franciscans (the Grey Friars) founded 1209 = grey (sultanas) Read more…
Leckerlis are swiss little gingerbreads which come from Basle on the border of France and are often cooked in South Alsace … one is never enough! They are part of the numerous sweet delicacies prepared around Christmas in Switzerland and in Alsace. Ingredients 600g plain flour sieved 500g caster sugar 150g candied citrus fruit cut in Read more…
A Christmas log is the traditional dessert for the French Christmas meal on the 24th of December. It is a rolled sponge / Genoese sponge in the shape of a log, most often with chocolate ganache inside or chestnut cream and icing on the outside to make it look like a log ready for the Read more…
Bredalas are little Christmas cookies whose preparation date back to the Renaissance. This is probably one of the best known Alsatian traditions. The Bredalas (the spelling changes depending on local Alsatian dialects: Bredele, Bredela…) are small cakes cooked before Christmas, during the Advent period. They can have a multitude of different shapes and tastes. You Read more…
The French chocolate truffles (truffes au chocolat) are traditionally served around the Holiday season and are a delicious little treat covered with bitter cocoa. According to the legend, it was created by a pâtissier-chocolatier from Chambéry, Savoie in December 1895. One day the chocolatier was running out of ingredients and he had the genius idea Read more…
For some people, Christmas is all about Santa, presents, Christmas trees and decorations. This is a festive season when it’s time to rejoice and gather together around a delicious dinner with turkey and chocolate. We can get extremely busy in the days before Christmas. Busy shopping the perfect gifts. Busy attending Xmas shows at school Read more…
Christmas in France is celebrated with singing songs that are called “les noëls”. Christmas Carols in France are traditionally remembering the birth of Jesus. They are sung by Christians attending the midnight catholic mass, at the protestant service, or at the occasion of the family and friends’ gathering. According to the New Testament, the first Read more…
Santa Claus in France is called “Père Noël”. Like in any place celebrating Christmas, the French Father Christmas wears a red suit and hat with white fur trim with a broad black belt around his waist. He is tall and large, with ruddy cheeks and nose, bushy eyebrows, a white beard and a moustache. His Read more…
Christmas markets in France are small villages made of wood stalls (called chalets). They are usually located in the main square or street of a town. They officially start on the first weekend of Advent, four Sundays before the 25th of December. Christmas markets in France sell decorations, local products and handcrafted items, without forgetting “vin chaud” Read more…
Saint-Nicolas is the character who distributes presents to Austrian, Belgian, Dutch, German, French and Swiss children on the 6th December. He is often portrayed as a tall thin man with a long white beard, all dressed up in silk garments, carrying a bishop’s mitre and holding a crosier. Saint Nicolas is traditionally accompanied by a Read more…
You’ve been to the Strasbourg and Colmar Christmas markets. And you’re looking for another fantastic festive market in Alsace? You’ll have to go to Mulhouse, Alsace’s second most-populated city, to the South of Alsace. The Mulhouse Christmas market is a not-to-miss event in the area. It will be celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2020. What started Read more…
The Strasbourg Christmas Market is the oldest in France and the country’s most famous festive event. Its 300 chalets are spread over several locations across the Grande Île, the historic centre of Strasbourg. You’ll find them on Place Broglie, in front of the lofty cathedral or the picturesque Petite-France district. At nightfall, the French capital Read more…
The Linzer Torte (or Tarte de Linz in French) is originally an Austrian cake often prepared for Christmas and a favourite dessert prepared in Alsace. Its name derived from the town of Linz, in the province of Upper Austria. It is therefore part of Alsace’s range of traditional cakes, alongside the Bredalas, the Basler Leckerlis and the Read more…
The Colmar Christmas Market is truly one of my favourite festive spots in Alsace. During this festive season, the town’s medieval streets and half-timbered houses are adorned with twinkling lights and charming decorations, creating en enchanting atmosphere that feels straight out of a fairy tale. Every year, the residents of Colmar meticulously decorate their windows Read more…
New Year’s Eve in France is something special. The winter chill bites hard, but the French know how to fight it. Coats and gloves help, of course. So do hearty soups and warm homes. But nothing beats a good party. After the joy of Christmas, steeped in faith, family, and feasting, comes the lively “Réveillon Read more…
Epiphany in France takes place on the 6th of January. It celebrates the date of the visit of the Magi to the infant Jesus. On that day, the three Wise Men, guided by the Star of Bethlehem, arrived from the East, bearing gifts for the divine Infant. In France, it is on 6 January that Read more…
Decorated with ornaments, glistening tinsel, blinking fairy lights and topped by a star, the French Christmas tree has become an iconic figure of Christmas. This discovery article will answer questions such as: where and when were the traditions of the Christmas tree born? what are the types of Christmas trees sold in France? what are the Read more…
According to tradition, the Christmas celebrations in Provence begin on the 4th of December on Saint Barbara’s Day and end on the 2nd of February at Candlemas. The four weeks of Advent is the perfect time to visit the town and villages adorned with festive lights, Christmas markets and Santon fairs. However, Christmas in Provence culminates Read more…
How do the French celebrate Christmas? I’m glad you asked it… for there is much to say about one of my favourite topics! Did you know that the French traditions of Christmas play an integral part in celebrating the birth of Jesus in France? Well, the festive season consists of many favourite customs such as Read more…
Advent in France is a time of waiting and preparing for Christmas. It lasts for four weeks, starting on the fourth Sunday before Christmas. ‘Advent’ derives from the Latin ‘adventus’ meaning “coming”. In Europe, November is the first month of the year when the weather is usually dark and cold. If you have children, nieces and Read more…
Each Christmas, Paris shows the world why it deserves the title of ‘City of light’. There are many sites to discover in Paris during the festive season: Notre Dame, the Champs-Elysées, the lights of the Grands Magasins in Boulevard Haussmann and many large and small Christmas markets found throughout the capital. Here is a selection of Read more…
Christmas in Alsace is genuinely magical. This region has had a large influence over Christmas celebrations in France. The Christmas market is a long-standing tradition there. The proximity of Germany gives a ‘germanic touch’ that is much appreciated in France. The setting is perfect. Old half-timbered houses richly decorated, an abundance of fairy lights, classical Read more…
In France’s north-east, there are two main not-to-miss events in December: the Strasbourg Christmas market and the Saint-Nicolas celebrations in Nancy. The former capital of the Dukes of Lorraine hosts a major event in honour of Patron Saint of Lorraine. The children of Lorraine expect Saint-Nicolas on the 6th of December. They hope he’ll bring gifts and Read more…
Kugelhopf, or kougelhopf as we say in France, is more than just a cake – it’s a little piece of history, tradition, and family life. In this article, I’ll share everything you need to know about this famous brioche. We’ll start by explaining what a kugelhopf is, its unique shape, and why it’s so loved. Read more…
Candlemas arrives at the heart of winter, when November, December, January, and February stretch endlessly in France. The cold seeps into the streets, the sky hangs low, and nature seems to hold its breath. Trees stand bare, their dark trunks stark against the grey horizon. Snow and ice, when they arrive, transform the landscape into Read more…
With its majestic façade and two bell towers, the Saint-Nicolas-de-Port Basilica in Lorraine has all the makings of a grand cathedral. And yet, the building does not carry the title of cathedral for the sole reason that the town of Saint-Nicolas-de-Port has never been the seat of a bishop. This masterpiece of Gothic architecture in Lorraine Read more…
Of all the Christmas markets of France, the one in Metz ranks as one of the most visited. You may have heard of Metz for its stunning gothic cathedral or for the Pompidou-Centre which opened a branch in the Lorraine city in 2010. On the occasion of our recent “Christmas Trip” in Alsace-Lorraine, we visited the Read more…
The Festival of Lights in Lyon (“Fête des Lumières” in French) is the most awaited public event in the Rhône-Alpes region and draws several million people onto the illuminated streets of the city. For locals and tourists alike, this celebration of light unveils the architectural treasures of the city in an unexpected way, through the illuminating Read more…
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