Main Star Christmas in France

I have chosen France to research how they celebrate Christmas.

I have found facts about what they do around Christmas time.

Firstly I’ll tell you about the French decorations.

Traditionally French Christmas trees were decorated with apples, paper, flowers and ribbons. They became popular in more regions of France in the late 1830’s.

Another traditional item used in French homes is the Mistletoe. It is usually meant to hang in front of your door but some people put it beside their fire. People say it brings you good fortune if you hang it in front of your door.

Now we are going to go onto something more tastier - French Christmas Food. A traditional French Christmas will usually include: smoked salmon and oysters with bran bread and (real) butter, foie gras (goose or duck liver pate), goose, capon or turkey stuffed with chestnuts and served with vegetables like green beans cooked with garlic and butter and provincial herbs sautéed potatoes.  The Christmas feast ends with “La bûche de Noël” (Yule log) – a sponge cake decorated like a yule log, traditionally made of chocolate and chestnuts.

On Christmas Eve small children from France put their shoes in front of the fireplace in the hopes that Père Noël Father Christmas will fill them with gifts. If the household is made of older children, there is no need to wait until December 25th to unwrap the gifts! Usually, the kids will start unwrapping at 12 am sharp on Christmas Eve.

If you were wondering what the weather is like I can give you a clue it is very white and very cold.