7 Christmas in France vs. America differences: Traditions, food & more!
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If you're curious what Christmas in France is like, this video covers 7 differences about a French Christmas. Let's get into a fun video on France vs. USA cultural differences at everyone's favorite time of the year. From food, to Santa, to when the big celebration is, I get into it in this French culture video that focuses on French Christmas facts and French Christmas traditions and how they compare to American Christmas traditions.
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Salut! I'm Diane, the American behind the living abroad lifestyle blog Oui In France. My channel's focus is "Everyday French life and beyond." I make videos on French culture topics, food, travel, language, and give you my thoughts about what it's like living in France as an American in the Loire Valley. Thanks for being here and if you enjoy this sort of thing, please share with friends and subscribe!
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One day, I'll be sitting at a French café, ordering a coffee in French and listening to people speak French while sipping my coffee. Until then, I'll keep watching your videos.
I JUST did that over Thanksgiving week. I only waited 40 years to do it.
@@kristiehunger7515 That's amazing! Which cafe did you go to and would you recommend it? I'm always looking for things in Paris that are non-touristy.
@@kristiehunger7515 The year of my 40th birthday I booked myself two trips to Europe, one of which was Paris. I was just like f-it, if not now, when? We save up for "later" without necessarily noticing when "later" has already arrived!
@@kristiehunger7515 Que 40 ans 😉magnifique excellent
@@natzvds which café ??? What a strange question ! Except if he went to a really extraordinary one, there are thousands of cafés in Paris, you don't have to go far away to find one, go in a café in the street you are on, I think it would be perfectly fine (except if may be the place is not well frequented of there is too much noise there due to cars etc...)
To be clear I am not judging in the beginning, I am really stunned by the question, but may be I missed something...
I had an exchange in Provence, and although I wasn't there for Christmas, I still incorporate Santons and the 12 Desserts into our celebration here in the US. Our exchange student (from Lyon) did spend Christmas with my family. We went over the top for him and he happily played along. We got him a GIANT stocking and on Christmas morning, my brother and I made him bang on our parent's door yelling (in his wonderful French accent) "Maman! Papa! Santa has been here! Wake up!" And my mom made us all stand at the top of the stairs until things were ready. (We were all 18-21 yo at that point!! 🤣) When she called us down, he practically pushed my brother and I to the side and we lived all the magic of Christmas through his eyes! He was in AWE! Such a special friend, still. That was a very memorable Christmas! 😁
At my home (in France, of course) we actually left a basin of water for Santa to wash his hands and food for his long night of work.
How sweet.
I don't know anyone in France who still sends holiday cards (except myself because I enjoy writing them!). I only ever see older people (75+) buying them... but then again, even birthday cards are not as big in France as in the US or the UK. My coworkers were floored when they saw me going to the post office with a stack of handwritten cards, and said things like "I used to do that when I was about 12!" :)
PS - Earlier this week I happened to see a car outfitted with loudspeakers driving down my street (I'm in Paris), it said "Joyeux Hanouka" on the side and played what I assume were songs songs associated with that holiday. I'd never seen that before!
I grew up in Sologne region (Loire Valley). We would do the reveillon on the 24th and then go to bed to open our gift on Xmas morning.
My dad worked at a large company that had a CE (comité d'entreprise) he would come home on the 22 th with a full basket containing everything for Xmas dinner so that every worker would have a proper reveillon.
The reason Santa doesn't eat cookies and milk in France is because after visiting homes in the UK is is drunk after drinking all that Sherry and Brandy and stuffed full of minced pies.
Nope as he is traveling in a westerly manner....
LOL!
I think it's more about anticipating what he will find in the UK - so he keeps his appetite.
The South Pacific then New Zealand and Australia are the first to see Xmas Day, and as Santa always flies in a Westerly direction, he'd be heading to England after France. Spoilt for choice with the amazing French Xmas foods and wine, why then would Santa Claus ever want to eat a British mince pie? 😆
also who drinks milk? (i know that some people do but it's not considered a common grown up thing)
On tradition is the decorated store fronts in Paris... Truly magical
We celebrated Christmas in France with the family of a French student that we hosted for several summers. He is now a politician in the Amiens area of France. In 2006, his family hosted us for 2 weeks and took us on their holiday in the Loire Valley region. I noticed that French Christmas was much less consumerism filled, compared with the US. In the US, we tend to go overboard with many, many presents per person in our immediate family. Our French hosts had a more modest cache of gifts. Outdoor holiday decorations and lights were also more modest than in the US, where we seem to believe that more is better. "Santa" decorations in France showed him climbing up houses on a rope, instead of on the roof with reindeer.
Yes, the Santa climbing up the house on a rope is a very common decoration here. Glad you had a nice Christmas experience in France!
homme politique 🤔🤔on vous écoute merci d'avance
@@hervedupont6955 Il s'appelle Martin Domise
I grew up in a French community in Newfoundland Canada and we always did celebrate Christmas on the eve. My dad went to midnight mass and he when he returned He woke us cause le pere noel had arrived. I’m now 62, and I still celebrate on Christmas Eve. We try really hard to wait until the 25th, but we eventually run out of patience. I believe many cultures celebrate on the eve. Happy Christmas to you Diane
Thank you and same to you!
My family is from Montreal, and Christmas Eve is the deal. Christmas Day was sort of an afterthought.
Hi Diane ! Just a little more context about les soldes : they have nothing to do with holidays in France (unlike the US where major sales are around two holidays). So the type of things bought also change. In today's times it's ofcourse almost everything. But historically, les soldes were almost exclusively only on clothes, and at a time ready-made clothes were still rare, the two collections that came in the year were in January and June / July. They were very much associated with seasons, hence common to hear "les soldes d'été" and "les soldes d'hiver". The main goal of the sales was not gifts but for people to renew their seasonal clothes and business to get rid of the previous season or previous year's collections. In my childhood at least it was still the case, les soldes were a moment for the whole family to renew our seasonal clothes. As I grew up and buy fewer clothes now, I have kind of lost that tradition but it's still common with family of young children who can change sizes every year.
Orange's covering is great because they were our historical state operator known as France Telecom. And (at least in North America) it's the best option for expats like me :)
Thanks for the reminder - I'd forgotten that. That is how it used to be when I was young in the UK a long time ago.
Just a note about Chanukah: it's not actually a major Jewish holiday. It only became major in the U.S. because somehow it seemed necessary for Jews to have an important winter holiday of their own. (I obviously don't speak for all Jews, but it kind of annoys me.)
Yep!
Exactly, in many areas of the US it's quite visible for that very reason!
The same can be said for Kwanza. Celebrating peace and wishing loved ones a happy new year is a good thing no matter your tradition. Even Festivus is starting to gather tongue-in-cheek recognition. If you dont know, Festivus was created for the Seinfeld tv show as a holiday for grumps and ill tempered people.
*Most people in France open their presents on Christmas day even though some of them do it at the eve , it depends family traditions... The same goes for leaving milk, carrots or cookies, it depends from a family to another...*
Yes, the family dynamic and traditions count for a lot. For sure!
Hi Diane! I love the way Christmas is celebrated in the US. The atmosphere seems to be more "magical" than in France (except in Strasbourg maybe).
Turkey or chapon is very common but the French Christmas meal also depends on where you live. Seafood near the coasts, escargots in Bourgogne, duck in the south-west, christmas ham in the Caribbean.... And the 13 desserts in Provence instead of "la buche".
Joyeuses fêtes ! ⛄ 🎄✨
Oh we do les 13 desserts AND la bûche in my family!
Yet any turkey to be seen on our table though. I think it is considered as the cheapest protein you can get, and it is usually quite dry. Plus our ovens cannot always accomodate a full turkey.
@@StephaneCalabrese In the US, turkey is of course the traditional meat and yes it can be very dry depending on how you prepare it. An inedibley dry, petrified turkey has been a running joke in the US for decades. But when it's prepared correctly it's moist and delicious stuffed with herbs, chopped apple and onion.
Impressionnant comment tu tapes dans le mille à chaque fois.
Actually, in the french speaking part of Belgium, they don't know who le pere Noel is. They wait for Saint Nicolas. Saint nicolas is said Sint Niclaes in dutch. The dutch exported it to the US where its name was changed into Santa Niclaes then santa Claus
As for the British, they wait for Father Christmas
Interesting, thank you!
Some families in the US (Catholic, I think) celebrate St. Nicholas day in early December, and then also have Santa Claus bring gifts on Christmas Eve. For St. Nicholas day, I knew a family with kids that would leave out their shoes overnight to find small gifts in them in the morning. Sounds a bit like some of the French tradition.
In Alsace, we celebrate Saint Nicolas the 6th of December. We eat Manalas (special brioche), spice bread and clementines. We leave a carrot for Saint nicolas'donkey next to the door. Sometimes, in my hometown, a Saint Nicolas goes from house to house to visit children and asks if they were kind during the year. Sometimes even, the Hans Trapp (a man who kidnaps children (it is only the story) if they were not kind) , comes with the Saint Nicolas).
But we also celebrate Christmas the 24 and the 25th of December.
Well I can appreciate that Christmas is not as commercialised as is in US. Its about spending time with the family, going to church which it is the most important! That is what you remember the most! Sale after Christmas and New Year is great because you can shop for next Christmas' gifts and also in mid July which is so much less stressful! I really can appreciate that! Thanks for sharing! Merry Christmas! Joyeux Noël! 🌲❄🌲
Bonsoir ami! I went to France and stayed in Paris for our Thanksgiving week! First time to Europe. And I’m in art: teach art, artist, art history…. Aaaand I need to figure out how to live there!
Two of my days were spent sitting in a cafe, watching people on the street outside, writing in my journal, and drinking more coffee than mere mortals can handle. The Starbucks at the Louvre had almost all recyclable or compostable materials: paper cup even for a Frappuccino, paper straw, bamboo or soft wood utensils, paper plate…
I spent some quality time, finally, with the Mona Lisa.
I would like to be in Paris for Christmas one year (or more).
My grandparents were Lutheran and from Germany. Santa came on Christmas Eve while we were at church. We had a snack buffet after church while we opened presents. It was in south Texas, so that meant: homemade sausage, dried sausage, chile con queso, ‘trash mix’ and other stuff.
Franco-American here. We also primarily celebrated on Christmas Eve. After visiting family and celebrating with dinner and parties, we would stay up after returning home and open our gifts. We would have a quieter celebration on Christmas Day and have family gatherings with the other side of the family.
Hanukkah is really an American Jewish thing...particularly Reformed Judaism and secular Jews. So you shouldn't be surprised that it's not really a thing in most other places in the world--not even in Israel. Purim, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur are definitely more important for more conservative and orthodox Jews. There aren't mandates on things to eat or not to eat or to do or not to do for Hanukkah like there are for the other holy days.
Too, while anti-semitism is definitely a thing in the US, the Holocaust is not that far removed from the lives of European Jews--and the Dreyfus affair was only a couple generations before. After the war there was a mass exodus of Jews from Europe for Israel or the US. For many who remained, discretion became key. (Andre Aciman's, "Call me by your name," touches on this really well, I think.) And really, this works very well in France where, theoretically, religious discretion is valued in keeping the secularism of the state.
Thank you, @macuser242, for the clarification. Thats interesting.
In Grenoble, there's always the "chandelier" to celebrate Hanukkah. Sweet memories for me. Miss Grenoble and this big "lampe à branches".
I'm French and I always hung stockings above the fireplace, and left cookies and milk (or carrots instead of cookies, for the reindeers!)
And we are really divided about the time of presents, but my family always opened them on 25th morning because the Père Noël comes on night, that's something you can see in kid books as well
Hi Diane, merry christmas to you 🎄
I’m from Burgundy (Bourgogne) in France.
One of our meal traditions for christmas is Escargots de Bourgogne (snails) and it’s delicious, my grandma prepared the snails that my grand-father went to pick in the fields. She made the butter (beurre d’escargots) herself.
Christmas Eve meal was long: escargots, oysters, foie gras, saumon fumé (smoked salmon) for appetizer.
The « plat de résistance » usually was deer stew or wild boar stew with red wine sauce + chestnuts. Then we had green salad, cheeses. After that, the « trou normand » (some lemon sorbet with strong alcool). Then the « bûche de Noël ». And to end the meal : coffee and brioche.
The meal usually started at noon and ended at 9 p.m 😁🎅
Thank you for sharing your beautiful traditions. I would love to experience a 9 hour feast that includes snails, oysters, game stew ... Do all share in preparing the dishes?
Wow, a 9-hour meal. Sounds delicious! What's your favorite part of the meal?
@@OuiInFrance the snails and the stew are my favorites 🤩
That sounds like my ideal meal!
@@PatBastian some dishes can be prepared in advance like the stew and the snails (My grandmother prepared them several months in advance and kept them in jars, and the butter was easy to make and conserve). So usually, my grand-parents were preparing the christmas eve meal, sometimes my mom and my aunts helped.
Christmas in France is next on our bucket list. Would love to spend time in Paris and in Strasbourg, sipping spiced wine while strolling through the Christmas markets.
Me too! Strasbourg and all the Alsatian towns seem magical!
You look great in red and love the Christmas shirt!
Oh thank you!
Lovely video, thanks. I love the way the supermarkets near me seem to be taken over by the most amazing seafood platters.
I've never celebrated Christmas in France, but my mom often made buche du Noel (sp?) And that was always a wonderful thing!
So nice! They are delicious!
It's ok but I'm not a huge fan of butter cream so I generally go for ones made of ice cream instead.
A home made bûche? Now that's some dedication! I am jealous!
Thanks for another great video.
As a newbie in France it is very helpful to hear all this.
I've celebrated Christmas in France twice and both times I ate at a French family's house. It was all about the food. One time I was served Escargot for Christmas because well you just have to have it once in your life.
Did you like it? The sauce is my favorite part.
@@OuiInFrance Yes. I remember the sauce being really good as well.
@@AnnaLauraBrownHealthCoach yeah it's mostly butter and garlic and it's delicious.
Yes! Christmas in Paris--which may be different from outside of Paris. I know that many regions & towns/cities have their own special Christmas celebrations. I learned the hard way that gifts are exchanged on New Year's, not as much on Christmas. After buying gifts for all of my French friends for Christmas I felt compelled to buy each of them something for New Year's. I love the very special way Christmas Eve is celebrated with a beautiful midnight mass which actually ended around midnight & started a little earlier than in the States. Then we celebrated Reveillon with some friends at a restaurant. Got home really late & went to the theater on Christmas Day. I also loved the special street decor, my favorite being the balloons with their baskets that float high above the street criss crossing back & forth between Fouchon's & La Madeleine. Neighborhood shops did more greenery & red bows, not much with electric displays of lights & neon. Place de Concorde & Les Champs Elysees had more lights & were quite beautiful. Over all, as with many other things in France, I knew it was important not to compare The US & France. I love France & \ embraced the differences. My French friends made sure I had great experiences of the holidays.
I am rather surprised by the gifts on New Year's and not on Christmas. There is a tradition called 'les étrennes' where you give some money to people who provide you with services (the postman, the firemen, the caretaker,...) but it is not between friends and family. Where are your friends from ?
Very informative with good comparisons of the differences between the two countries.
Thank you for watching!
Ten years ago we flew to Paris on the 25th, and back on the 1st. Spent a lovely week seeing the sights, and had an amazing dinner for New Year's Eve. The lights strung all over were very very pretty.
The decor is truly stunning!
We actually celebrate on both because you usually chose one day for dad's family and one for mom's family. There's often a lot of logistics to get the kids together XD.
Bc of that à lot of people actually split the presents opening between Christmas eve and Christmas day
In Canada, we have Boxing Day sales, even Boxing Week sales. Boxing Day is Dec 26, and is a full holiday along with Christmas. In some parts of the country where the stores are closed on Boxing Day, the sales will start on the 27th.
The holidays have brought lots of nice lights and other decorations to Sancerre. We have even done our yard with putting lights and ivy on our wagon wheel…not letting our neighbors out do us. I was sorry to see “Black Friday” here in France. They don’t even give it a French name…. it’s a bad import. I am missing my California medicinal herb….just say’in. Not a thing here…..yet. As always, i look forward to your videos and wish everyone here in France, the USA, and the world love and happiness!
Australia has adopted Black Friday as well, and no Thanksgiving holiday in sight as an excuse here either.
I've been living in Australia as a permanent resident for 18 years now and understand the complaints I first heard by some Aussies when I first moved here about the "Americanisation" of the country due to movies and social media.
While turkeys have become slightly less expensive, the vast majority must be sold as breasts only - our ovens are also too small to cook a large bird, though some larger stove/oven combos may be found they're quite expensive.
french can t call it "Vendredi noir" bercause the vendredi noir has been a day with terribles attentats in the past and been called " le vendredi noir", it s like never name again an huarricane with the same name of another hurricane that was deadly (like katrina)
Wow, you're being sponsored by Orange! I'm super glad for you!!!
Great sponsor! Used Orange when I was in France in August, worked great!
Great to hear!
I learned so much from your video! I love the traditions of special feast days. Typically seafood is eaten before Christmas because Christmas is a Solemnity and one does not eat meat the day before. I do not know many people who practice this tradition. With my husband’s Italian heritage and being Catholic, we try to observe this tradition with a crab dish (‘cause we live in the mid-Atlantic of the USA).
We spent Christmas (and NYE) in Paris a few years ago. Everything was beautiful.
Ooooh what a special trip that must have been. Beautiful!
I find that in Quebec most French Canadian families celebrate le reveillon and not Christmas day. We have boxing day sales on December 26th here. Started having black Friday (vendredi fou) sales here about 15 years ago
Boxing Day was import to Canada (and QC) by the British. 🙂 If I remember correctly, it was the day when the British elite would return their unwanted Christmas gifts.
@@anne12876 they would box up their leftovers and give it to their staff/servants/help
Fun!
Merci, chère madame. Ça tombe très bien pour ne pas faire de fautes de goût je vous remercie de nous éclairer les différences. J'envoie sur le champs cette vidéo à mon petit Frère à Washington. Bonnes fêtes Madame.
Best Christmas ever in 2009 with the French in Afghanistan. We all did our best to make it special and I enjoyed the French holiday traditions as I was attached to them during my tour and they made us feel French on the occasion.
Awww, that sounds really nice ;-)
About when to open the gifts it depends on the families. In mine it was always chrismas morning.
And again in my family we don't leave milk and cookies but a glass of wine (tho I think the wine was my father choice) and an apple or a carrot for the reindeer.
Christmas eve in Fr is more than an huge meal, it's a food marathon. But we love that, because we do it again the next day, and one week later for the new year. We don't stop eating during a week in reality.
First time I hear speaking about Hannukha. Don't know at all what is it.
Yep that has been my experience.
Well done as always Diane. 👏
Will we be treated to how they decorate, how the dept stores do the holiday and do children sit on Santa's lap? Or that was done prior years?
So happy to see you are doing better after losing your mom.
Hi there, I don't plan on making videos on decorations or department stores. I think visits w/Santa and photos were cancelled last year due to covid and probably this year as well. Another wave here.
I do plan on publishing a little more Christmas content if I can manage. ;-) I am doing the best I can right now. The holidays are.... hard. Not really doing better but showing up here. I don't want to let anyone down.
We celebrated Christmas Eve and ate till midnight and exchanged gifts in my Italian family
A formul you may hear around this time of the year, second half of December, is "Passez de bonnes fêtes" or "Passez de bonnes fêtes de fin d'année". It's literally means "Have nice parties" or "Have nice end-year parties". It's used to wish "Merry Christmas" and "Happy New Year" at the same time, mostly for for people you won't see until the next year.
Something like, you go on holidays on the 23 december, and come back only the 3 january, you say that to your collegue before leaving. Or in store ...
je suis française et j'adore Noel en France, particulièrement la fête de Réveillon
In my family (and in lots of family) we open the present at Christmas morning. The "père Noël" leaves them during the night... when the children are asleep. And the big celebration is at Christmas day, with the "dinde de Noël" and the "bûche de Noël". My grandmother (born 1907) didn't even cook a good diner for Christmas Eve. The only event at Christmas Eve was the Mass. I think it has gradually changed during the 20th century, because old books always refer to the Chrismas meal (Christmas day), and the presents opened in the morning.
I was shocked to see Black Friday signs popping up around my town. Also, this will be my first Christmas in france
Hope you enjoy it ;-)
Noël in France : Christmas was once a holiday celebrating simple and universal values with little pomp.The children put their shoes or clogs near the fireplace/Christmas tree to receive their Christmas gifts. When there were some, the gifts were in fact very often practical things: tools, clothes, handcrafted objects ... Christmas was certainly less sumptuous than today, but the values on which this holiday is founded, joy and sharing, were already there. And who remembers the famous orange fruit ?
When I was little, my parents left carrots for... Santa's reindeers.
awww, I love that. I think I did that as a kid too!
In my family Xmas is celebrated on Xmas eve, parents, kids, partners etc. On the 25th the celebration is with the respective in-laws . So every body is happy. But in France it is not uncommon to have gatherings of 15 to 20 people for Xmas. Of course this was before Covid.
Bonjour 👋, Diane. I celebrated 2 Christmases in France: ‘99 & ‘00. 🎄🎄 🇺🇸
I hope they were both wonderful!
I am French and when I was a child, my father made us put sugar for the reindeer and a glass of gnola to warm "le pére noêl.
And we always had a beautiful tree! only good memories.
the meal lasted for hours with an astronomical amount of food. We opened our gifts on the morning of the 25th but I don't think many families do that yet lol
I have never celebrated in France (never been to France) but I have a French penpal in Tarascon and after meeting her it was the 1st time I learned of some small figurines called Santons (I think)
Ah yes Tarascon is very famous for their santons. They are used to create a manger, which in French we call la crèche. The other big santon city being Aubagne.
We used to leave sugar cubes and carrots for Santa’s donkey in our slippers.
Aww, love that ;-)
My friend's family is a mix of French and Franco Americans, the majority of their friends are English, they celebrate on Christmas day. As for Jewish decorations etc, you don't see them in UK either, maybe London, I don't know ,but, its not mainstream like in the US.
I've spent a few Christmases in France and the food has always been on point!!! In addition to the Christmas traditions there, a few weeks later we celebrate l'épiphanie with the Gallette des Rois and maybe a small present that is left over from Christmas Eve. In the US, it doesn't seem as common of a thing to do and I've certainly not had a gallette as good as the one my step mom makes in her little village ;)
Exactly, right now it's the galette des rois time. They're everywhere. What's your favorite flavor?
We did leave cookies and milk for Père Noël when we were kids in France.
10 year anniversary coming soon! I did the same the other way: moved from Bordeaux to the Silicon Valley
Sales in the U.S. also come in January. The "Black Friday" sales are mostly a lie. The price reductions are often relative to fake markups made just weeks before, or for cheaper versions (e.g. factory QC rejects) of items that can't be sold at regular price.
The English, and thus the Commonwealth, have one more holiday: Boxing Day, the 26th. As a Canadian , I cannot imagine Christmas without Boxing Day too. Happy Holidays from the West Coast of Canada.
At first glance, I thought your shirt said "Joyeuses frites" :)
🤣🤣🤣
lol now I want that shirt
@@ilhuicatlamatini I know, right? I think I need to trademark that in both English ("Merry French Fries") and French...
Haha! I live in the US, but Christmas Eve was the big event for my family when we got together and had dinner and exchanged gifts. That night just be because my parents are divorced though, so when I was a kid, my mom went all out on Christmas Eve and then I’d see my dad on Christmas Day.
I was in Paris toward the end of November and was mesmerized by the decorations along the Champs Elysees. I was surprised by all the American Christmas songs though. Is it common for the French to listen to American Christmas music or do they just do that for the tourists?
Good question! Diane I’d like to know about the Christmas music as well!
Though I will say that my French friend didn’t know any of my American Xmas carols and I of course knew none of his French ones lol. But he doesn’t live in Paris, so maybe that’s why? I’ll have to ask him too, next time we speak lol.
American Christmas music playing throughout Nîmes and Béziers the last couple of weeks at least. Maybe because most other Christmas music is sacred/religious and not so suitable someone might think for shopping? Dunno. Just a thought aThough there is wonderful secular and folk music, I didn’t notice it.
I would not say opening presents on Christmas Eve is the norm. Always been next morning in my familly, for example (gets kids to get up early!) and I feel like it was the case mostly in my region. I think there is likely some most common time (eve vs. next day) in various regions. Of course, as you said, individual family traditions can go one way or the other.
Note that the sockings thing was the traditional way done some time ago (my parents' generation still had them), with an orange in the sock and maybe a little add'l present (yes, not exactly the pouring of gifts of today). I gather we turned to shoes because presents became too many and too heavy for the socks... even if I think French still have a long way to go to equal the US in the gifts givning (and as a French, I don't think we need to go in this direction, frankly).
When I lived in the US, my biggest surprise (I could use chock, even) was the Christmas decoration and lights all over (private) houses. This pouring of what is a family/private thing, even if common at the level of the entire country, into the face of everybody was a strange experience when first encountered. Christmas is really a familly event, not a neibourghood competition (my feeling seeing all of this). Probably goes along with the general sense of privacy and need to 'show' that is different in other areas as well
Finally, about hanouka. Christmas is so closely related to the Christian faith in France history than I doubt any French would even think of Hanouka in connection with Christmas. These are two totally disconnected even. So, the way it is expressed is simply is own way, and indeed, it is not something I would expect to be visible. Christmas is anyway more and more about celebration, gifts, etc. and quite disconnected from the religion aspect -- many people celebrate christmas without a hint of religion in it -- while hanouka is a purely religious matter and therefore a purely private matter (France strong secular approach: religion is free, but private). Because Christmas got beyond religion, it is (very) visible. If it had remain purely a religious matter, then it would also not be as visible (but that is of course impossible to really conceive since such a commerical venue nowdays)
"while hanouka is a purely religious matter" Non! I'm an American secular Jew. There are many of us. My family celebrated "hanouka" (Chanukah) for the cultural aspect. And for us kids, well, I cannot tell a lie, it was for the presents. I believe that for Jews in the U.S., Chanukah was basically considered a minor holiday, but it became more major probably because it occurred close to Christmas.
@@jackienaiditch7965 Right, I should have been clearer and completed by "in France", at least that is how I perceive it, being French, raised there with the only visibility to this celebration through a religious prism since only presented - very occasionally - in conjunction with the jewish faith (again: in France). I would not make the same qualification religious/not religious about how it is lived in the US as I have not been raised there
In UK we call him Father Christmas too.
Your videos are a pleasure and full of real information. I get so irritated when I view vids where people haven't done their research or even bothered to learn correct pronunciations. Their output seems totally narcissistic as they have nothing to offer. You not only have a grasp of your subject, but deliver what you say cogently and with verve.
"La crèche and les santons" are quite important in many french families because lots of French people have catholics origines...You will also see Crèches in all churches as well...But French is a laïc country since 1905, meaning you can believe in what you want, but do not have to put it on public places...
My family has a German background, so when I was growing up it was mostly about Christmas Eve, which was when people got together for parties, had a meal and opened presents. That didn‘t stop us from having another big meal on Christmas Day, of course.
My very first year in Europe, I went to Paris at Christmas with a friend from the dorm where I was living. I was Catholic at the time and wanted to go to Midnight Mass at Notre Dame. We got there well before midnight, but the line was outside the door. We just got in the line, and as there was a constant coming and going of people, we slowly moved into the church. (I blamed a bunch of American tourists who just wanted to say they had been to Midnight Mass at Notre Dame, but were neither Catholic nor really interested in the service itself!). By the time Communion was handed out, I was standing in front of the high altar! After Mass, we went to a restaurant for our Christmas meal.
As others mentionned, in eastern and northern parts of France, like where I was born and grew up, we celebrate Santa Claus (Saint Nicolas) but on the 6th of December, not on Xmas day - food associated with this are ginger breds. This is really separate from Noël and also involves le Père Fouettard, an evil guy who will flail (sic) kids who've committed evil acts during the year !
Le Père Fouettard sounds a bit like the Krampas, which my mother-in-law from Austria told us about.
@@jackienaiditch7965 Yes, it's the same roots. Depending on the local version and era, le Père Fouettard wouldn't whip children but bring them "gifts" of coal (which doesn't sounds too bad : coal was a precious ressource back in the day) or kidnap them.
In Alsace, there is a different tradition, a more germanic one. Beginning of december, Saint Nicolas brings gifts to good children and the bogeyman (Père Fouettard) a lump of coal to naughty children.
Chanukah is a minor Jewish holiday. Only in the US is it celebrated as Christmas Lite. It’s a family centered holiday, and doesn’t hold the weight of Passover, Yom Kippur, Rosh Hashanah or Sukkot.
We call him Father Christmas in England too
Joyeux Noel!
Hello Diane! Can you tell me what chapon is, please? 👍👌🇨🇵❤️❤️
Hi, it's a capon. "A capon is a cockerel that has been castrated or neutered, either physically or chemically, to improve the quality of its flesh for food, and, in some countries like Spain, fattened by forced feeding." Wikipedia
I will be too. My roots are there
Thank you for a great informative video. Similar yet different to other EU countries.
🎄❤👍
You’re welcome 😊
I always thought Black Friday was counterproductive. We spend a day being thankful for what we have and the next several weeks trying to kill each other over stuff to buy.
What about Christmas Caroles?
Chants de Noël? At least in my family, we never sing Christmas Carols. Some more religious families may sing Carols.
Great great content as ever!
Just one thing, I am not sure about turkey for a Christmas dinner. I don't think turkey is considered as a fine enough poultry for any celebration. But I may be wrong. Fellow French people, please chime in!
Si, si, Turkey, and more specifically turkey with chestnuts, is still a traditional Christmas dish.
Turkey with chestnuts is/was the traditional Xmas dish. However, as turkey has become a more ordinary, everyday meat (at least in the form of fillets), many French people now think it's just not special enough for the holidays, and have turned to other treats, such as "chapon" (a fat castrated chicken), goose, or seafood. I'll admit I'm one of them.
"Noel" is also a literary way to say Noël in english ;)
J'ai 54 ans et quand j'étais petit on laissait du lait et des biscuits pour le père Noël et du blé tendre que ma mère faisait pousser dans une tasse pour les Rennes. J'ai continué à faire ça avec mon fils et je pense qu'il en fera de même. J'ai des amis chez qui c'était également le cas. Idem pour les cadeaux, ils ont toujours été ouverts le lendemain. matin après le passage du Père Noël dans la nuit. Ne prenez pas votre expérience personnelle comme une vérité absolue.
Please make a video How do you lose your French accent ! 😊 I m getting tired to have to repeat myself 😊
In my family Christmas is celebrated more on 25th of December, at lunch, we have a réveillon for Christmas Eve but it's not as important, and gifts are definitely in the morning, never on Christmas Eve. I was surprised by what you say in your video.
In deeper tradition Pere Noel wore a green cloak, but these days it's the red Coca Cola dress
Well maybe because hanouka is a religious evening for Jews not a festive holiday like Christmas. People used to go to churches not the malls for Christmas, it was about jesus not gifts. It was also a family gathering so of course the dinner have to be luxurious and welcoming which remained as a tradition. To be honest those last generations Christmas is an escape, so alps resort , the Northern cities r popular, but many also nowadays just chose to go to spain/Italy where u can party all the night.
Hannouka chez nous c'est dead 😢
I thought there were 2 turkeys in USA : for Thanksgivin', and also for Christmas, like our French Christmas turkey...Ah, euh, and there's also another American Christmas tradition which is not so fréquente in France : in US, EVERYONE loves Christmas, pas forcément in France.
Maybe I’m wrong but we have to remember that jewish people have gone through hell in Europe during WW2. The trauma may have encouraged them to be discreet. Again this is just a theory so I’d be interested to have a french jewish person vive their input on the subject
I would love to hear about that too.
Profound idea!
As a French I don't really think it's about that. That's more the perception of religion in France. The Jewish French were historically even more radical on laïcité (secularism) than the Catholics. By the 50s, even Christmas had pretty much died down to a private religious ceremony, not really celebrated in the public space. The Christmas we know today in France has kept some historical traditions but is a major American exportation (you can check INA footages of the "firsts" US style Holidays in France) and most Catholics initially opposed it (google Santa Claus burnings in France). As society evolved towards mass consumerism, those oppositions kind of died down. The Jewish of France however, still oppose a marketisation / mainstream commercialisation of their faith and want to keep it private. (you will often hear people criticize on how Christmas has become "une fête commerciale" in France and most jewish dont want that). There's also demographics. Jewish are less than 5% of the French population. By comparision Atheists are +40% (and do celebrate the commercial side of Christmas) and Muslims are close to 20%. It's by the way common these lastest years to have a mainstream commercialisation of Ramadan, more than Hanukah in France. That's because firstly, France still has massive cultural influence on its former colonies ans vice versa, and secondly, French Muslims are now 2nd and 3rd generation, even 4th and have grown more into a middle class that consumerize their holidays, as opposite to being very poor immigrants who just kept the religious and food traditions in the previous generations.
The US also has major ties with Israël, which is not as strong in France. And little cultural connection to Muslim countries (unless you count war or oil contracts).
I wager money on the reason why Hanukkah isn't widely celebrated or accepted is because of WW2, pure & simple. My grandmother, who was a dual citizen of both ( French ) Canada & USA gather Christmas Eve to celebrate.
Do you American guys at least know where Sant-Claus come from? From Sint-Niklaas in Dutch which means Saint-Nicolas in French - celebrated Dec 6 ! ;-) And NO we don't all open presents on Xmas eve !
The reason why you don’t see Hanukkah celebrations in France is because the Jews are terrified of the less than friendly Muslims in France. Case In Point-a synagogue here in the United States was taken hostage by one of those people who follow the religion of peace. And the rabbi at that synagogue tried to reach out to the Islamic community there. And you wonder why there are no Hanukkah celebrations in France??
They probably determine the size of the Jewish community by totaling the members of all the synagouges. (Much the same way the number of Christian’s is determined by the baptismal records of the Churches.
In France, religion was something huge but since 1905 and the official separation of churches and the State, French people don't follow the religions traditions. It's still vivid in some parts and mostly among the older people but more and more, those ancient religious holidays are getting laicised. Christmas is still a huge celebration day but fewer and fewer people are going to church. Now it's more a celebration day for families. Not a surprise after all. It's a christian holiday but most of the traditions ( the Christmas tree, the log ) are Scandinavian paganism traditions. And le Père Noel is a kind of mix between the really christian Saint Nicolas coming from the Netherlands and Odin, the former Scandinavian Asgard's God. I guess he got the large beard and the belt size from him... It's then not a surprise to see muslims and jews celebrating too that day with all the things like the tree and the log. That's why Jewish Hannuka day is not a thing here, except for Jews of course. Most of the time they celebrate both. And the kids are the winners...
J'ai compris tout ce que vous dites mais je suis incapable de m'exprimer (correctement) en anglais.
Le réveillon du 25 décembre trouve son origine dans le catholicisme. Autrefois, les gens veillaient jusqu'à la messe de minuit. Le 24 était un jour de jeûne et d'abstinence, (pas de viande, d'oeufs, de produits laitiers) C'est pour ça qu'on retrouve du homard et des huîtres sur la table du réveillon. Par contre, une fois de retour de la messe, les plus riches faisaient un souper où ils pouvaient consommer de la viande. Le catholicisme est en perte de vitesse partout mais l'habitude du repas festif est restée et s'est propagée en France, haut lieu de la gastronomie.
La bûche de Noël en dessert fait référence à une vieille coutume qui consistait à laisser une vraie bûche de bois se consumer dans l'âtre toute la nuit de Noël. Il y avait un rituel de bénédiction autour de cette bûche que tout le monde a oublié aujourd'hui. Comme l'habitude de se chauffer par d'autres moyens surtout dans les villes s'est imposée, un pâtissier a eu l'idée de donner la forme d'une bûche à un dessert qui a eu beaucoup de succès. La bûche, aujourd'hui est un incontournable des fêtes de Noël.
Concernant Hanouka, la communauté juive est très discrète et réservée sur le sol européen. Ils ont tendance à rester entre eux. C'est malheureusement une conséquence de siècles de persécutions qui ont connu leur paroxysme avec la Shoah. On m'a dit que sur le sol américain, les Juifs étaient plus "relax" et moins sur leur quant-à-soi.
I would add the "Marchés de Noël" as a big tradition in a lot of place in France.
Also, maybe it's because you're from the US, but really, you don't see why Jewish people are discreet about their religion in France? Hints, its got two 'W' and it's the second one... there was so much horror with WW2 and the holocaust, that the part of the Jewish community that didn't go to Israel after the war kind of played it discreet, there was a big problem of "collaboration" with the nazi regime in France during the war, and a lot of people that did collaborate, just stayed in France after (some were punished, but lots just kept discreet), it kinds of make a weird neighborhood after that and some times makes for some frightening family stories... You also have in France a big Muslim community that, without making too much generalization, has a tendency to not be on the best term with the Jewish community, which again, emphasize on the being discreet part.
Dans l'est de la France, on célèbre SAINT NICOLAS, ailleurs, c'est le PERE NOEL. C'est une fête religieuse chrétienne au départ mais c'est aussi une fête tout court et les autres communautés y participent souvent, mais sans étalage de leurs convictions. Ca ne se fait pas en France. La religion est une affaire privée.
In the east of France, we celebrate SAINT NICOLAS, elsewhere, it is FATHER CHRISTMAS. It is a Christian religious feast at the beginning but it is also a feast itself and the other communities often participate, but without flaunting their convictions. It is not done in France. Religion is a private matter.
Au départ, c'était une fête païenne que les chrétiens ont adopté solstice d'hiver. Noël veut dire naissance.
Sorry to contradcit, but we do have Santa Claus in certain regions of France : especially in Alsace and Lorraine. He's called SAINT NICOLAS, dating back to the Middle Age traditions, and distributes candies to children from town hall balconies or from some pageant device. 4th December 2021: huge uproar and boos, and people even "voting with their feet" by leaving the place. Fancy : Saint-Nicolas , from the balcony of the Town Hall of Nancy, Lorraine, after usual good words and best Christmas wishes, asked the kids to "wear a mask, or might be responsible for the epidemic, and bla and bla and bla... Apparently more or less obliged by the Mayor standing next ot him at shotgun distance....("le revolver sur la tempe" as we say ). All social medias have been buzzing since and Facebook, Twitter and the like and all the tv channels are reporting outraged opinions , in short : no politics for Santa Claus ! By the way, even in Alsace and Lorraine, le Père Noël will be back on the 25th December.
Je suis belge et chez nous, traditionnellement, c'est St Nicolas qui apporte les jouets aux enfants. Et c'est un personnage différent du Père Noël. Notre St Nicolas a toujours ses attributs épiscopaux : mitre, chape, crosse, etc.
Dans mon enfance, (années 60-70) je ne recevais jamais de cadeaux (à part des nouvelles pantoufles ! ) à Noël. A cette époque, Noël était considérée comme une fête religieuse, uniquement. les jouets et les friandises, c'était le 6 décembre.
Mes parents me disaient : St Nicolas, c'est pour la Belgique et le Père Noël, c'est pour la France.
Pas de cadeaux sous le sapin, pour personne. J'ai été très étonnée quand à la Noël de mes dix ou onze ans, j'ai trouvé une BD accrochée au sapin, un petit cadeau de maman.
Les adultes se faisaient des cadeaux, ou plutôt UN cadeau, le premier de l'an : les étrennes. Ce jour-là, mes grands-parents versaient une somme sur le carnet d'épargne de leurs petites-filles.
Aujourd'hui, tout a changé et le monde de la consommation a pris le dessus et les enfants belges reçoivent des cadeaux à deux occasions.
Je suis toujours heurtée quand, dans un téléfilm américain pour enfants on voit un Père Noël en danger et que Noël va être annulé parce que personne n'aura de cadeau. Pour moi, Noël ce n'est pas ça et ça n'a jamais été ça.
Concernant le réveillon dans la tradition familiale, on ne faisait pas de souper pour la veille de Noël, mais on dégustait de délicieux zakouskis tout au long de la soirée ou les truffes au chocolat de notre grand-mère.
Aujourd'hui, je passe cette veillée avec une amie d'enfance, nous échangeons des cadeaux puis nous soupons ensemble mais des plats légers, faciles à digérer.
Une tradition qui n'est pas passée de mode, c'est le cougnou, une sorte de brioche en vague forme d'enfant emmailloté avec du sucre perlé et des raisins secs. On le mange le matin de Noël ou les autres matins de cette période.