Le 6 décembre, fêtez la Saint Nicolas ! Saint patron des petits enfants...

1. Le 6 décembre, fêtez la Saint Nicolas !Saint patron des petits enfants... Saint Nicolas Day is celebrated on the 6th of December in the east and north of France, in Belgium, Germany, Holland and Austria. Stories of Saint Nicolas date back to the 12th Century. It is believed that on the night of the 5th December he would go disguised from house to house to find out if the children had been good. For those who had been well-behaved he would leave gifts but the naughty children could expect his companion Le Père Fouettard to give them a spanking. CB 2005

2.    Nearly every French home at Christmastime displays a Nativity scene or crêche, which serves as the focus for the Christmas celebration. The crêche is often peopled with little clay figures called santons or "little saints." An extensive tradition has evolved around these little figures which are made by craftsmen in the south of France throughout the year. Throughout December the figures are sold at annual Christmas fairs in Marseille and Aix. CB 2005

3. Christmas cards are only sent to people that you will not see over the Christmas period. Most families will only send a few cards and they will hand-write any message that they put inside. CB 2005

4. The Christmas tree has never been particularly popular in France, and though the use of the Yule log has faded, the French make a traditional Yule log-shaped cake called the Bûche de Noel, which means "Christmas Log." The cake, among other food in great abundance is served at réveillon, the grand feast of the season. CB 2005

5.                        Le réveillon is a very late supper held after midnight mass on Christmas Eve. The menu for the meal varies according to regional tradition. In Alsace, goose is the main course, in Burgundy it's turkey with chestnuts, and the Parisians feast upon oysters, lobster, and pate de foie gras (often carved in the shape of a Yule log). It is traditional in Provence to cap the réveillon with thirteen desserts as seen here on the sideboard. This is an ancient custom, symbolizing Christ and the twelve apostles CB 2005

6. Christmas Day is celebrated in France with all of the family coming together. On Christmas Eve, French children put their shoes (sabots) in front of the fireplace.  French children receive gifts from Pére Noel who wears wooden shoes and carries his Christmas gifts in a basket strapped to his back. He arrives with his donkey and leaves the animal outside the house while he goes down the chimney with his gifts for children who have behaved. Generally adults wait until New Year's Day to exchange gifts. CB 2005

7. New Year is celebrated in France in the same way as we celebrate it in England. At midnight the French will often let off fireworks or sound their car horns to signal the New Year. CB 2005

8. This is the 6th of January or Twelfth Night, the night the three kings arrived in Bethlehem to welcome the new born baby Jesus. It is an important day in France and is celebrated with the eating of special cakes called ‘galettes’. These cakes come in different sizes so that when they are eaten at the end of the meal they can be divided equally among the people there. Each cake has a ‘fêve’ or small charm hidden inside it. The person who finds the charm in their piece becomes King or Queen for the day and wears the crown that comes with the cake. CB 2005