It is difficult to imagine a more family holiday in France than Christmas. Preparation for this day begins no later than a month in advance! The French prepare gifts, carefully think over the menu, and buy products. Today we propose to talk about how New Year and Christmas are celebrated in France. We will tell you about the most interesting traditions and symbols of this holiday.

History of Christmas

The first mention of this winter celebration has come down to our times from 354 AD. It was then that a note appeared in the "Chronograph" that December 25 is the day of the celebration of Christmas.

Before that, the winter solstice was especially celebrated here (this day was also called the “day of the Invincible”). The main symbol of the holiday was the Sun, which from December 8-9 went towards spring. In the period from December 17 to 24, the time came for a holiday called Saturnalia. This holiday was the main sign that the new year is coming, and the length of the days is increasing. Accordingly, Saturn conquers winter. In honor of this celebration, people arranged feasts and carnivals, and money was distributed to the poor.

The history of Christmas in France begins with baptism. It was Orthodoxy that played a significant role in changing traditions: Christians denied paganism, and instead of the day of Saturn, they celebrated the Nativity of Jesus Christ.

Christmas is now

Today, the celebration of Christmas in France begins on December 6 - on the day of St. Nicholas, and it lasts until January 6. This time can be safely called the most joyful and warm period of the year for both children and adults. Tourists visiting the country at this particular time have a unique opportunity not only to feel the atmosphere of the holiday, but also to see all the most intimate of the life of the French. Waiting for guests and incredibly sincere hospitality.

Just imagine: the streets are decorated with bright snowflakes made of light bulbs, festive fir trees are not only in the apartments of the French and in the squares, but even in courtyards and porches, and there are shoes by the fireplaces and hearths so that Santa Claus can leave gifts. This is what Christmas looks like in France!

Holiday symbols

Of course, the main symbol of Christmas is a decorated fir tree. By the way, the tradition of decorating fir trees with glass toys appeared in France. According to local legends, the festive tree was usually decorated with fresh fruit. But one year turned out to be lean, and therefore the fruits replaced the glass balls. The holiday was saved by glassblowers.

Christmas scenes

Another integral symbol of Christmas in France is the "Christmas manger". The traditional scene looks like this: a baby is lying in a cradle, surrounded by parents, a donkey and an ox, shepherds and wise men, and ordinary people are crowding nearby. People play an important role in the Christmas production. In Provence, it is customary to depict a fish seller and a fisherman, a herald, a spinner and a woman with a jug in a manger.

But the most interesting "Christmas manger" - "live" - ​​can be seen during the celebration of Christmas in France in churches and cathedrals. Such performances are accompanied by church hymns.

Santons

Another symbol of the main winter holiday is santons. So in France they call small figurines of saints. They appeared after the revolution, when midnight masses were banned, and most of the churches were simply closed. Believers were forced to stay in private homes. Then they began to make miniature figurines of saints. At first they were made from wood, cardboard, wax and even bread. Later, craftsmen began to create figurines from clay.

There are three types of santons:

• small - from 1 to 3 centimeters;
• traditional - the size of which is from five to eight centimeters;
• large - from 18 to 20 cm.

Even today, craftsmen from Provence make real santons for Christmas in France. A mass of red clay is placed in a special plaster mold. After the base needs to be "humanized" - to make hair, clothes. But this is not enough. Each figure must certainly have a character and a social position.

per noel

French Christmas is unimaginable without Santa Claus. Here it is called Père Noël. This character in a warm red coat appeared in France only after the Second World War. Figurines of this character began to appear in souvenir shops along with St. Nicholas and Jesus Christ. The clergy were concerned that believers began to revere the good-natured plump gentleman, despite the fact that he is so far from religion. In the early 50s. of the last century, churchmen staged the burning of Per Noel. However, interest in this hero did not fade away.

By the way, before Père Noël appeared, St. Nicholas congratulated the French on Christmas. The first mention of it dates back to 1093. It is generally accepted that St. Nicholas descends to earth once a year - on the night of December 5-6, to give obedient children his gifts.

Christmas traditions

Every country has certain Christmas traditions. And France has its own!

The main tradition is the burning of a Christmas log. This custom originated in the Middle Ages. Even today logs are made by the whole family. Bouche de Noel is usually made from fresh wood - oak or cherry. It is solemnly brought into the house, poured with warm wine and oil. Usually this role goes to the head of the family. After that, the children take out chips from last year's log and burn a new one.

It is worth saying that some French have replaced the burning process with baking a cake in the form of a piece of wood. The tradition has been preserved, but the approach to it is completely new.

How is Christmas celebrated in France?

A few days before the holiday, evening concerts begin in almost all cathedrals. Of course, the main Christmas service takes place in Notre Dame Cathedral. Mass festivities also begin: garlands are lit on the Champs Elysees, festive fairs work.

It is customary here to hang flowers or sprigs of mistletoe above the front door - this will bring good luck. It is considered obligatory in France to visit the Christmas mass on December 25, followed by a reveillon - a cozy and sincere family dinner.

Holiday menu

All holidays in this country begin or end with excellent treats. Christmas is no exception. And how to celebrate Christmas in France without seven obligatory dishes?!

On the table there must be soup with garlic and sage, fried fish, snails, spinach, olives, cauliflower. A feast is not complete without goose liver. Long before the gala dinner, farmers begin to fatten pigs, geese and turkeys, and make sausages.

An obligatory procedure is the exchange of postcards with warm words and wishes of a Merry Christmas and a merry New Year.

French New Year

If in Russia the main holiday of the year is the New Year, then in France Christmas is more important. It is customary to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ in the family circle, but on New Year's Eve you can go to visit friends. Mass festivities on New Year's Eve cannot be met, but you can admire the fireworks. And on this night they kiss under the mistletoe and make wishes.

Difficulties.net starts publishing thematic materials about life in France. Selection number one - gastronomic. You will learn about traditional dishes that are prepared in many French families, as well as recipes and secrets of their preparation, adapted to Russian conditions. (Recipes are at the bottom of the article).

Let's start with the festive table, which is made in France for one of the most important holidays of the year - Catholic Christmas. Christmas is considered a family holiday, which is desirable to celebrate with your family (as in Russia - the New Year), and not only a narrow composition (wife / husband / children). At Christmas, it is customary to gather, for example, with their parents, where all children and grandchildren come.

The Christmas table in France is always abundance. If during a regular dinner (even with guests) there can be only one dish as an appetizer, or not at all, then at Christmas there are a lot of snacks.

Traditional snacks- these are delicacies: duck or goose foie gras, oysters and snails, smoked fish.

Classic delivery option foie gras in French - with a special loaf of black or gray bread, with fig jam and with special coarse salt.

oysters(number 3 or 5 are the most popular) usually served with lemon, this is a classic. But there is another option, little known in Russia - baked in the oven with cheese. Not everyone likes this unconventional way of cooking what is usually eaten raw, but, in fairness, the taste of warm oysters with melted cheese is also quite interesting.

snails- Another traditional dish of French cuisine, it is usually eaten in the cold season, and why not at Christmas and New Year? Usually, housewives buy snails already stuffed with a special seasoning (chopped parsley, garlic, olive oil) in a supermarket or on the market, so all that remains is to put them in the oven.

Main dishes

One of the traditional Christmas dishes in France is big turkey(do not forget that, as a rule, a large family gathers!), stuffed with chestnuts.

Or as an option - baked in a stove duck breast. The hostess must have experience so that the duck breast is neither raw nor overcooked, which will make it dry. Ideally, the breast should give off pink juice, not blood, and be covered with a delicious crust on the outside. It's really not easy - to catch the right moment with the breast.

Next, after the main courses in French cuisine, there are cheeses, which are served before dessert and are a separate dish, not a dessert, as is sometimes mistakenly considered in Russia. On the festive table there may be a so-called "cheese plate", consisting of several pieces of different types of cheese, or maybe not. Still, cheeses almost always accompany a meal in the family, and it is not necessary to serve them during the holiday.

Next come Dessert. The French are very fond of brioche- a traditional sweet rich bun, the recipe of which comes from Normandy (approximately the 16th century). Due to the fact that the preparation of classic brioche (in French, this is a feminine dish) is quite time-consuming and the recipe is not simple, today many people prefer to buy brioche in bakeries and pastry shops. Although older women still keep their own brioche recipe.

Brioche is good, but far from the only dessert served at the festive French table. These are usually various homemade cakes, with Christmas symbols (all the cakes in the photo, for example, were made by a 16-year-old girl). Something airy, bright, with many details and elements that ideally should not be cloying in taste. Do not forget, since there are a lot of dishes on the French table, they simply must be light - so that guests can withstand many hours of sitting at the table.

Another popular French dish is strawberry mousse(recipe below). It has an amazing taste, but quality ingredients and strict adherence to the recipe are essential.

Simpler thing - traditional apple cake(in our opinion it is a pie). It can be with or without caramel. In the photo - a cake according to a simple recipe that even a schoolboy can cook.

There may be other sweets on the table, for example, dried fruits or glazed nuts.

Cooking French dishes yourself:

Might be interesting:

Elena Kurylenko, photo by Olga Popova

Christmas in France is celebrated on December 25th. For most of the country's inhabitants, this event went beyond the religious framework and became the main family holiday. On this day, close relatives gather in the same house at the solemn table and have fun.

Traditions and rituals

In France, Christmas is preceded by the Catholic fast Advent. It begins on the fourth Sunday before the holiday and continues until December 24th. During this period, the French are engaged in charity: they make donations to public organizations, give clothes and gifts to the poor.

The main symbol of Lent is the Advent wreath. It consists of live or artificial branches of needles and four candles. On the Sundays of Advent, it is customary to light one of the candles on the wreath, one more each time.

Children are looking forward to Christmas. Parents give them an advent calendar, which consists of 24 pockets. Every day from December 1 to December 24, children open one pocket and take out a small sweet gift in the form of sweets or chocolate figurines. This is how they count down the remaining days until Christmas.

On December 24, Christmas Eve, families attend Christmas Mass. In some French provinces, there is a tradition to arrange mysteries or pastorals (theatrical performances) on biblical subjects, which are accompanied by the singing of choirs. In the evening, it's time for a gala dinner - Reveillon (Le Reveillon). The whole family gathers at the table and exchanges bright Christmas cards. After dinner, the French light a candle on the windowsill.

Christmas decorations

The main symbol of Christmas in France is the fir tree. The inhabitants of the country decorate it with tinsel, garlands, glass balls, toys, as well as sweets, nuts and apples. In many families, the old tradition of decorating the Christmas tree with red ribbons and white candles has been preserved. The French love to decorate their homes with the poinsettia flower, whose red bracts symbolize the Star of Bethlehem. They place huge paper snowflakes on the windowpanes.

Figures of Santa Claus (Per Noel) are hung from the balconies and windows, climbing the stairs with a bag of gifts. A Christmas tree wreath is hung on the front door. From antiquity came the tradition of placing evergreen sprigs of mistletoe over the front door. The French believe that this plant helps protect the house from evil spirits and brings good luck.

In houses, temples and city squares, there is a custom to install decorative compositions that reproduce the scene of the birth of Jesus Christ. They use a figurine of a baby in a manger surrounded by Mary, Joseph, the Magi, animals and angels. In France, santons are common - clay figurines of saints, which are manually made by Provencal craftsmen.

On the main squares of cities and villages, elegant Christmas trees are set up and Christmas markets unfold. The central streets, shops, restaurants and hotels flash with bright illumination.

Festive table

The French Christmas menu consists of sumptuous dishes and gourmet delicacies. The central place on the festive table is occupied by baked stuffed poultry. In different regions of the country, goose, turkey, chicken or rooster are used. Favorite snacks of the French - liver pate, foie gras, oysters, ham, snails, olives, celery in anchovy oil. Baked cod, spinach, soup with garlic and sage are considered traditional dishes.

The main Christmas dessert is a pie with chocolate and chestnuts in the form of a log La Bouche de Noel. It is carried around the table, divided among all family members and eaten. The origin of the pie goes back to antiquity, when on Christmas Eve a Christmas log was burned in the hearth, which symbolized fertility and prosperity.

Traditional desserts are the Christmas loaf Le Pen Kalendo and kunyu - glazed cakes in the form of a child. The main drink of the festive table is champagne.

Present

The French present each other at Christmas with cards, books, board or active games, intangible surprises as gifts.

Children receive gifts from Per Noel. This character rides a donkey with a basket of gifts. He puts toys and sweets in shoes that children leave near the fireplace or Christmas tree. Per Noel's assistant is Per Fuetar, who distributes rods to naughty guys.

Cities and resorts

During the winter holidays, the cities of France turn into a fairy tale.

Paris will surprise its guests with the splendor of Christmas and New Year decorations. On the square in front of the Notre Dame Cathedral, the main Christmas tree is set up, near which entertainment events are organized for adults and children. Large-scale Christmas markets are held at Saint-Lazare, Moonparnasse, North, Lyon and East stations. On them you can buy handmade souvenirs, gifts, decorations and decorations for houses, feast on roasted chestnuts, gingerbread, mulled wine, hot chocolate.

Christmas holidays in the capital of France can be diversified by sightseeing. Romantics will not be able to miss the opportunity to see with their own eyes the main symbol of Paris - the Eiffel Tower. On the ground floor of the tower there is a restaurant where you can enjoy a sumptuous meal and impressive panoramas of the city. Other famous sights of Paris - Arc de Triomphe, Louvre, Champs Elysees, Notre Dame Cathedral, Versailles, Pont Alexandre III, Moulin Rouge cabaret, Sainte Chapelle, Musée d'Orsay. Children will be delighted to visit Disneyland Paris, which has parks and attractions for all tastes.

Aix-en-Provence is the most beautiful city in France. Vacationers can feel the atmosphere of Provence in the cozy narrow streets of the old city, surrounded by old houses. The city is famous for the Provencal market, which is part of the culture. Here you can buy souvenirs, fabrics, famous Provencal cosmetics and products from local farms. From December 17 to 24, the city hosts the 13 Desserts festival. On it you can enjoy traditional pastries and sweets, take part in gastronomic master classes.

Fans of outdoor activities will love the ski resorts of France. The most popular winter tourism regions are Aquitaine, Midi Pyrenees, Languedoc-Roussillon, Provence, Rhone-Alpes. The resort of Chamonix is ​​located in the area of ​​the Mont Blanc mountain range. It will delight travelers with a developed infrastructure, professional sports schools, well-equipped pistes of various types of difficulty and picturesque landscapes.

Christmas markets in Strasbourg, charming illuminations on the Champs-Elysées, exquisite glass balls and old Christmas nativity scenes - the celebration of Christmas in France stretches for a whole month and is associated with many symbols and traditions.

A few days before the main family holiday, we analyze key French words and expressions that will help you talk about how Christmas is celebrated in France.

As soon as you find yourself in France before the Christmas holidays, you will immerse yourself in a special magical atmosphere: houses, shop windows and trees are decorated with garlands ( des guirlandes electriques), Christmas markets appear on the streets ( un marché de Noel) with wooden houses ( leschalets), gingerbread ( le pain d'épice), mulled wine ( du vin chaud) and decorations ( des decorations de Noël,desornaments).

The very name of the Christmas holiday Noel is used without an article, but it is a masculine noun, so we want Joyeuxnoë l! - Merry Christmas! Recently, a more politically correct version of congratulations has gained popularity. Joyeuses fêtes!- Happy Holidays!

It's interesting that noë l is also a male name, popular in the mid-1950s but now quite old-fashioned. His female version is Noelle.

Leré veillondenoë l- This is a Christmas dinner for which the whole family gathers on the evening of December 24th. L'Avent- the name of the period associated with the Catholic tradition, according to which, 4 Sundays before Christmas, Christians must prepare mentally and spiritually for the big holiday. The symbols of this period are a large wreath with a candle in its center ( lacuronne avec une bougie), as well as le calendarier de l'Avent- a Christmas calendar for children, in which each day of the month before Christmas is assigned a number, and under this number there is a candy or a small toy. According to the old Catholic tradition, the Christmas tree ( lesapin de noel) can be set and dressed up only on Christmas Eve, on Christmas Eve ( la veille de Noel), and you need to remove it 12 days later, on the feast of the Epiphany ( l’É piphanie). Of course, today this tradition is not observed, and decorations appear on the Christmas tree in advance:

une boule- ball

une etoile- star

une bougie- candle

un ange- angel

une guirlande- garland

une guirlande electric/lumineuse- electric garland

une curonne- wreath

un sucre d'orge- literally "barley sugar", an analogue of the American candycane, striped candy cane

un bonhomme en pain d'epice- gingerbread Man

un bonhomme de neige- snowman

un flocon de neige- snowflake

une chandelle- icicle

un renne- deer

une pomme de pin- Pine cone

de la neige artificielle- artificial snow

Unlike American children who find Christmas gifts in stockings over the fireplace, French children look for their gifts in boots placed in front of the fireplace - as in the Christmas song "Petit Papa Noël":

PetitePapa Noel
Quand tu descendras du ciel
Avec des jouets par milliers
N'oublie pas mon petit soulier

Little Per Noel
When you come down from heaven
With many toys
Don't forget my little shoe

In the north-east of France, it is not Pere Noel who brings gifts to children ( lePè renoë l, literally "Father-Christmas", "Christmas Papa"), and St. Nicholas ( Saint Nicholas). He is often accompanied by a frightening character with rods - le Pere Fouettard: while Per Noel distributes gifts ( uncadeau) children who behaved well ( être sage), he punishes delinquent children with rods, who receive only a piece of coal as a gift. A few more mandatory attributes of the legend of the Christmas wizard:

traineau- sled

un elf- elf

une cheminee- fireplace and chimney

descendre dans la cheminee- go down the chimney

écrire une lettre au Père Noël- write a letter to Per Noel

lalistdesenfantssages- list of children who behaved well

A typical French symbol for Christmas is the nativity scene ( la creche), which is often inherited in the family. In Provence, ceramic figurines of religious characters and city dwellers have been created for three centuries ( unsanton) for Provencal nativity scenes. According to tradition, at Christmas the youngest member of the family puts the figurine of the baby Jesus in the manger.

What other phrases will come in handy during preparations for Christmas?

decorator la maison- decorate the house

passengerNoël en family- spend Christmas with your family

faire des cadeaux- give gifts

ouvrirdescadeaux- open, unwrap gifts

se regaler- feast, feast

se rejouir- rejoice, have fun

s'embrasser sous le gui- kiss under the mistletoe

New Year's Eve in France is called laSaint- Sylvestre(December 31 in Europe celebrate St. Sylvester's Day) or leré veillonduNovelAn(from the French verb reveiller- wake up, awaken). If Christmas is always celebrated with the family, then the New Year is the main reason to meet friends, have a costume party ( unesoiree deguisee) with confetti ( des confetti) and serpentine ( des cotillons), launch fireworks ( des feux d'artifice) and discuss the promises made to ourselves for the coming year ( lesbonnes resolutions de la nouvelle année/pourle Nouvel An), eg:

• Je vais arrêter de fumer- I will stop smoking
• J'ai l'intention de perdre du poids/de maigrir de plusieurs kilos- I intend to lose weight / lose a few pounds
• Je vais faire un regime- I'm going on a diet
• Je vais manger plus sainement/plus equilibre- I will eat healthier/balanced food
• JeDois Essayerdefaireplusdesports- I should try to do more sports
• Je veux passer plus de temps avec ma famille- I want to spend more time with my family
• Il faut que j'économise de l'argent pour les vacances- I need to save money before the holidays
• Jevoudraisfaireunvoyage- I would like to travel
• J'ai l'intention d'etudier quelque chose de nouveau- I'm going to learn something new
• Jevaisfaireplusattention à masanté - I will pay more attention to my health
• Je vais ne plus me mettre en colère pour une broutille- I will no longer be angry over trifles
• Je vais ne plus remettre à demain ce que je peux faire immédiatement I will no longer put off until tomorrow what I can do immediately
• Je dois lire au moins un livre par mois- I have to read at least one book a month
• Je dois arrêter de faire des résolutions en début d'année que je ne pourrais pas tenir I have to stop making promises to myself at the beginning of the year that I can't keep

In conclusion, let's try to talk about how Christmas is celebrated in France, in French:

Noël est une fête importante en France. C "est une fête religieuse bien sûr, puisque traditionnellement la France est un pays catholique, mais c" est aussi une fête familiale: le 25 décembre est un jour férié quand tout est fermé.

(Christmas is an important holiday in France. Of course, it's a religious holiday, as traditionally France is a Catholic country, but it's also a family holiday: December 25th is a public holiday when everything is closed.)

Comme dans le reste du monde, les Français se réunissent en famille autour du sapin de Noël, et souvent d "une petite crèche, et les enfants attendent que le Père Noël soit passé pour ouvrir les cadeaux le 25 au matin.

(Like people all over the world, the French gather in the family circle around the Christmas tree, and often also a small nativity scene, and the children wait for Pere Noel to come so they can unwrap the presents on the morning of December 25th.)

Il y a beaucoup de traditions de Noël en France, qui sont plus ou moins respectées selon les régions et les préférences personnelles. La Provence en particulier a beaucoup de traditions comme les treize desserts et le gros souper. En Alsace, beaucoup de maisons sont richement décorées pour Noël, et il y a beaucoup de marchés de Noël.

(There are many Christmas traditions in France, which are observed depending on the region and personal preferences. Provence has especially many traditions, such as thirteen desserts and a big Christmas dinner. In Alsace, many houses are richly decorated for Christmas, and there are many Christmas markets.)

Here is how a French woman talks about the Christmas holidays in her family:

Ma belle-mère a toujours un joli sapin avec des guirlandes de Noël, des boules et des autres décorations de Noël. Il y a une belle couronne en sapin sur la porte, et l'année dernière, mon beau-père avait même accroché une guirlande lumineuse clignotante autour de la maison! Nous faisons un Réveillon plus simple le 24 au soir: on fait plutôt un gros apéritif dînatoire, avec des toasts de foie-gras et de saumon fumé et du champagne, et nous ouvrons les cadeaux ce soir-là. Ce n'est pas très traditionnel, mais plus pratique avec les enfants. Le 25, on fait un gros repas de Noël. Là, on cuisine quelque chose de plus traditionnel: une dinde ou un jambon. Et bien sûr, en dessert, on déguste une traditionnelle bûche de Noël.

(My mother-in-law's house always has a beautiful fir tree with garlands, balls and other decorations. There is a beautiful wreath on the door, and last year my father-in-law decorated the whole house with a glowing, blinking garland! On the evening of December 24, we have a simple Christmas dinner: we have more of a table with appetizers, with slices of bread with foie gras and smoked salmon and champagne, and we open the gifts that same evening.It's not quite traditional, but it's easier when there are children in the house.On the 25th we have a big Christmas dinner.For him, we prepare something more traditional: turkey or ham, and of course dessert, we try the traditional Christmas log.)

Joyeux Noël et joyeuses fêtes de fin d'année!

Christmas

Christmas remains one of the most beloved holidays in France, regardless of religion. Undoubtedly, most of all, children love Christmas, who find their gifts under a decorated Christmas tree.

History of Christmas in France.

The history of Christmas begins with a note in the Chronograph in 354. In this ancient calendar, it was first said that Christmas was celebrated on December 25th.

The Roman cult especially solemnly celebrated the winter solstice (December 8-9), this holiday was called the day of the “Invincible” (the invincible Sun, which from that time goes to spring). December 17-24 was a holiday called Saturnalia. This holiday announced that the new year was coming, the days were getting longer, and Saturn had finally conquered winter. People feasted, arranged a carnival, gave money to poor citizens.

Christians, denying paganism, replaced this holiday with the feast of the Nativity of Jesus Christ.

Symbols of French Christmas

Spruce (sapin de noel)

Spruce, being a symbol of eternal life, was an invariable symbol of the Saturnalia holiday. However, the tradition of decorating a Christmas tree did not come to France immediately, this tradition came from Germany, first spreading to Alsace, and then to Lorraine.

Nowadays, Christmas trees are a whole industry. It is impossible to imagine a single French city without eating in the central square. In every house there is a spruce decorated with festive balls and sparkling garlands.

The tradition of decorating spruces with balls appeared recently, because before that spruce was decorated with fruits, most often apples. However, in 1858 there was a very poor harvest of apples, and then the glassblowers of Lorraine created glass balls to replace apples.

Christmas scenes

An integral tradition of the celebration of Catholic Christmas is the "Christmas manger" (nativity scene), which depicts the scene of the birth of Christ.

For a long time, Christmas mangers were installed only in churches, until aristocratic families began to install them in their homes, and then the rich bourgeois adopted this custom. In the 19th century, miniature figurines of saints began to be produced in whole series. It became more and more popular to have them in the house, and today such a figurine can be found in almost every family, they are not necessarily acquired in connection with religion.
The nursery scene is as follows: the baby in the cradle is surrounded by parents, the legendary ox and donkey, shepherds, wise men, ordinary people in 19th century costumes crowd around. In this production, folk characters play an important role, especially in Provence, where they portray an enthusiastic fisherman, a fish seller, a woman with an earthen jar, a spinner with a spindle, a herald with a drum ...
During the month leading up to Christmas, there are numerous fairs where figurines of saints are sold. Such fairs are held in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region, for example, in the city of Marseille since 1803, in Arles, in Aix-en-Provence, in Auban, in Chamtercier, Sisteron, Carpentras, in Draguignan, in Moins Sartoux, and also in the Langdok-Roussillon region, in the city of Garon near Nimes or in Wandargyur.

On the church porches of Provence, on the territory of the ancient county of Nice, “live” scenes of the birth of Christ and pastorals are played out. The scenes are played out in churches and are accompanied by church singing.

Pere Noel

An integral character of the celebration of Christmas is Pere Noel (Father Frost). This good-natured plump gentleman, dressed in a warm red coat, has no definite age. Santa Claus came to France only after the Second World War. With the arrival of American troops, figurines of Père Noel began to appear in souvenir shops along with figurines of St. Nicholas, Jesus Christ, as well as regional characters that he replaced, such as Pere Chalende in Savoy, Olentzara in the Basque country or Auntie Arie (Tante Arie) in Franche-Comte.
Long before the advent of Père Noël, another character, also a bearded old man, was beloved by children - St. Nicholas, the patron saint of the region of Lorraine. The first mention of Saint-Nicolas-de-Port (Saint-Nicolas-de-Port) dates back to 1093. Then he conquered the Moselle valley, the Rhine valley, and during the 13th century became known throughout Germany. Since those ancient times, every year he descends to earth on the night of December 5-6 and brings gifts to obedient children who sing for him the song "Saint Nicholas, my patron, give us pasta, mirabelle berries for girls, and beat the boys." This custom has not been lost, and, for example, in Lorraine or Alsace, this character, designed to educate mischief-makers, appears in the form of Pere Fouettard and Hans Trapp, respectively. Some receive treats from them, namely, spiced bread in the form of a saint, while others receive a few blows with a cane. During the week leading up to the feast of St. Nicholas, all the houses in Alsace are filled with the smell of bredele (“bredele”) - traditional pies - and hot spiced wine.

In order to carefully prepare for the celebration of St. Nicholas Day and Christmas, special fairs have been organized in eastern France for a very long time. One of the first such fairs was Christkindelsmarik in Strasbourg. During this frosty period, everyone warms up by drinking hot wine or chocolate with traditional delicacies: bredels - small puff pastries, manala ("manala") - sweet figurines, spiced bread or sprenzherl ("springerle") - aniseed cake. Large fir trees, decorated with bright garlands of sparkling lanterns, music, scenery create an atmosphere of magic. People go to boutiques or special tents built of wood for the pre-holiday trade, and buy Christmas tree decorations and gifts, putting them in shoes. Here you will not find standardized products produced in whole series, because each object is the result of manual labor and the imagination of local craftsmen. Such fairs take place from the end of November until Christmas in the cities of Alsace: Strasbourg, Hagenau, Celeste, Colmar, Muluz, and on weekends in Kaysberg, Riquewihr, Munster (Kaysersberg, Riquewihr, Munster) ...
In the last ten years, these markets have become very popular - they are visited by thousands and thousands of people in Alsace, Lorraine, Metz, Nancy. More and more this tradition comes to other regions of France: markets are held, for example, in Montbéliard, in Besançon, in Laval, in Angers or Evreux and in Paris itself.

Christmas log

Until recently, in France, a very important custom was the burning of a Christmas log. Upon returning from the midnight festive mass, the head of the family said a prayer, sprinkled the log with sacred water or wine, and kindled a fire. Sometimes they used the entire trunk of those trees that burn the slowest. This custom was widespread in all regions of France. It was believed that charred Christmas logs protect against lightning, help cows calve, and the ashes scattered across the fields preserve the future wheat harvest. Stored under the bed, burnt logs were considered a trap for fleas and bedbugs.

Nowadays, this ritual has completely disappeared, and the Christmas log now consists of dough and cream and is a favorite holiday dessert of the French. Sweet log does not carry any protective functions.

Christmas markets, events in France