Christmas Eve in France

Christmas Eve is the day before the Christmas Day. It is indeed an important day in the Christian tradition as it signals the arrival of Christmas festivities.
And, France is no exception. In France is celebrated in a traditional manner. Celebrations on the Christmas Eve in France include Christmas Eve menus, prayers and church services, Christmas Eve tours, shopping and many more things.

French Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve in France is known as Reveillon. The Christmas Eve is being celebrated in France for over hundreds of years. Christmas Eve traditions in France include having meal with family and friends, home decorations with lights & evergreen plants and fireworks. Many French people finish off their day’s work very early on the Christmas Eve. In the afternoon and in the evening, they engage in preparing Christmas Eve menus. Different types of menus are prepared in different parts of France. People prefer to spend the day with family members and close friends. They also decorate their houses in traditional way. People go out and visit churches for special services and to offer prayers.

Christmas Eve Meal

One of the major attractions of Christmas Eve in France is Christmas meal. Homes are decorated in a traditional manner and special meals are prepared on the occasion of Christmas Eve. Christmas Eve meals in France may include the following items.

Fish, such as trout, carp or pike, roast goose, foie gras, cookies flavored with aniseed, cinnamon and almonds and cherry soup Seven meatless dishes
Crepes
A selection of regional cheeses made from cow’s, goat’s or sheep’s milk
Special regional or rare wines
Thirteen desserts consisting of 13 different types of fresh and dried fruit, nuts and traditional candy to symbolize Jesus and his 12 apostles
Roast game or fowl served after midnight

Christmas Eve Celebration by the Children

On this day, children put off their shoes by the fireplace, in anticipation that Pere Noel will come with presents. Surprisingly, next morning they find that gifts in the form of fruits, sweets, nuts and small toys have been kept hanging on a tree. The tale of the birth of Jesus is staged by different actors or puppets in the cathedral squares. In almost all the houses of France, a nativity scene is displayed. This acts as the focus for the Christmas celebration.

The Christmas tree is not very popular in France. One of the common practices in France is to prepare traditional Yule log-shaped cake. This is known as bí»che de Noí«l. This cake is a major attraction of the Christmas Eve in France. However, in the Northern France, Children receive their gifts on 6th December. December 6th is observed as the St Nicholas Day. Here the idea is that St Nicholas comes with a little donkey. St. Nicholas brings with him baskets which are packed with gift items for the children. The whole family along with the children waits for the arrival of St Nicholas on 6th December. Grandparents tell stories of the saint to the children.