The traditional Christmas church service is held on Christmas Eve in France. It's known as the Midnight Mass and it usually begins at midnight or a few hours before. People come together in cathedrals and churches across the country to pray and sing carols (known as Chants de Noël).
Many people in France put up a Christmas tree, visit a special church service, eat an elaborate meal and open gifts on Christmas Eve. Other activities include walking in the park, participating in city life and sharing a meal with family and close friends.
France is traditionally a Catholic country, and while many Catholics (and Christians in general) in France today aren't strictly religious, Christmas and other Christian holidays continue to be major celebrations.
Christmas Eve is not a public holiday so many businesses and organizations are open. However, many organizations close early to allow their staff to spend the late afternoon and evening with family members.
Le Réveillon De Noël – christmas Eve
In France, they celebrate Le Réveillon… on the 24th December with family or close acquaintances in the form of a large meal. In Catholic traditions, there may also be a midnight mass. However, the meal is very important and is a rather festive occasion.
Public holidays in France, when most things are closed
Many tourist attractions remain open during Spring and Summer public holidays. On Christmas, New Year's Day, 1st May and 14th July, virtually all shops are closed.
Santa Claus is called Père Noël in French or Father Christmas.
Well, in North and North-Eastern France, children receive their presents much earlier in December on the 6th, which is St Nicholas' Day. There is an old folklore story told in France about three little children who get lost and captured by a wicked butcher, Père Fouettard.
Santa Claus, as in other cultures and languages, there are many ways to call Santa Claus in French, like, “Père Noël”, “Papa Noël”, “Saint Nicolas”. The most commonly used “Père Noël”.
Dishes might include roast turkey with chestnuts or roast goose, oysters, foie gras, lobster, venison and cheeses. For dessert, a chocolate sponge cake log called a bûche de Noël is normally eaten. Another celebration, in some parts of France, is that 13 different desserts are eaten!
Just like turkey is to Thanksgiving, a French Christmas main dish is almost always a large roasted “dinde” (turkey). A French Christmas turkey is traditionally made with a chestnut stuffing, and served with roasted potatoes, chestnuts and sometimes cooked apples around it.
Traditionally French children place their shoes in front of the fireplace hoping that Father Christmas or as he is called in France – Père Noël (or sometimes called Papa Noël) will fill them with gifts. Sweets, fruit, nuts and small toys are hung on the tree overnight.
Many Christians in France honor the life of St Stephen on St Stephen's Day by attending special church services. Many people have a day off work in France's Alsace-Moselle region. They often spend the day with family members and close friends. It falls on December 26 each year.
The Festival of Lights (French: Fête des lumières) in Lyon, France, is a popular event that originally aimed at expressing gratitude toward Mary, mother of Jesus around December 8 of each year.
? Santa Claus emoji
It is commonly used to refer to Santa Claus specifically, or Christmas and the Christmas holiday season.
Santa Claus is 'Père Noël' in France, and on Christmas Eve, he travels around the world handing out presents.
The presence of hymns for the feast in the Georgian Iadgari demonstrates that it was celebrated in Jerusalem by the 6th century at the latest. The first recorded Christmas celebration was in Rome on December 25, AD 336. In the 3rd century, the date of the nativity was the subject of great interest.
Winter holidays last two weeks and are distributed in France depending on zones between the second week of February and the first week of March.
Christmas in Paris is magical, with festive luxury hotels, twinkling lights, and beautiful holiday markets.
Often presents are opened on the evening of 24 December, after the Christmas Réveillon dinner or after the midnight mass.