Christmas in France
christmas france major annual celebration country christian world christmas celebrated public holiday france december concurring alongside country public life christmas day generally quiet post office bank store restaurant cafés business closed many people france put christmas tree visit special church service eat elaborate meal open gift christmas eve activity include walking park participating city life sharing meal family close friend père noël french pronunciation pɛʁ nɔɛl father christmas sometimes called papa noël father christmas legendary giftbringer christmas france frenchspeaking area identified father christmas santa claus englishspeaking territory according tradition christmas eve child leave shoe fireplace filled carrot treat père noëls donkey gui french mistletoe go bed père noël take offering child good leaf present place present traditionally small enough fit shoe candy money small toy typical french christmas food include truffle rabbit terrine roasted capon garlic soup salad pea green bean carrot potato small chocolate sweet candy traditional french christmas food includes lot meat ham turkey chicken beef side like mashed potato bean salad pea carrot soup bread also popular dessert include yule log cake cupcake muffin cake along small sweet chocolate candy decorating christmas common france many household public space business decorated light christmas tree advent wreath couronnes de lavent also common made fir pine tree branch first sunday advent advent wreath topped four candle symbolizing four sunday leading christmas candle lit sunday christmas tree either decorated simple homely traditional décor instead putting ornamental christmas decoration tree often red ribbon used decorating tree glass plastic ornament resemble apple traditionally hung christmas tree france also used decorating tree small white candle also used use mistletoe considered bring good luck every household france hang mistletoe door christmas kept till new year belief kiss midnight luck favor youll filled happiness prosperity coming year popular decoration include shoe instead stocking use candle popular typically set table christmas meal set window sill many french household especially christian one nativity scene also known crèche kept living room elaborate simple depending individual preference christmas tradition