French Christmas Links - Christmas in France

In France, Christmas is a time for family and for generosity, marked by family reunions, gifts and candy for children, gifts for the poor, Midnight Mass, and le Réveillon. The celebration of Christmas varies in France by region. 

Celebrate the run up to Christmas with this online French Advent calendar.

Whether writing a letter to Santa or just celebrating Christmas, this French Christmas vocabulary will come in handy.

You might know the log-shaped cake, but what do you know about the real bûche de Noël?

The Christmas season lasts nearly 2 months in Provence, during the period called "Calendale."

Photos taken at Christmastime in Menton, Hyères, and Strasbourg.

Nativity scenes offer an interesting look at the traditional Provençal way of life.

Lyon's Fête des lumières (light festival) is one of the most famous events during the French Christmas season. Learn about how it all got started.

Typical Christmas Eve feast in Provence.

On 4 December, the traditional Provençal Christmas season begins with the planting of blé de la Sainte Barbe.

No holds barred in Christmas celebrations for French kids.

Traditional offering of Provençal shepherds.

One of Provence's traditional Christmas desserts.

Strasbourg's Christmas market is the oldest, most famous, and one of the largest in France.

As Christmas approaches, so do tip-seekers with calendars.

In the run-up to Christmas, it can be especially difficult to keep on track with your French studies. Instead of fighting it, why not incorporate Christmas into the classroom? One fun and easy way to do this is to write a letter to Santa in French.

What does the idiomatic French expression Noël malin mean and how is it used?

How's your French Christmas vocabulary? Test yourself with this little quiz.

This crossword puzzle provides fill-in-the-blank clues related to French Christmas words.

See if you can spell out some Christmas cheer!

Have some Christmas fun with a word search puzzle featuring French Christmas and New Year's words and phrases.

Hopefully both useful and fun, "12 Days of French" is (rather loosely) based on the song "12 Days of Christmas" and includes practical gift suggestions for French lovers on any gift-giving occasion: Christmas, Chanukah, birthdays....

When it's time to start shopping for the perfect gifts for parents, kids, siblings, aunts & uncles, grandparents, and second cousins once-removed, take a look at this Holiday Gift Guide, with suggested French gifts for kids; beginning, intermediate, and advanced students; translators; and teachers.