*** holiday attire: Christmas Noël in France








Seasonal Holliday Attire: Christmas in France

Christmas France
Figure 1.--This French postcard does not look like a Christmas card to us, but the label at the top says St. Nicolas. I'm not sure whybecause St. Nicolas is noit pictured. It looks to us like an ordinary card with just the the label added. The child does not look to be carrying Christmas greens, but rather summer flowers. A French reader dates it to 1936.

Christmas of course is the most important holiday celebration for children. The French Christmas in the 21st century is an interesting mix of tradition and modern innovations. French children traditionally with great hope and anticipation put their shoes by the hearth. Nearly every French home at Christmastime displays a Nativity scene or crèche, which serves as the focus for the Christmas celebration. Although the use of the Yule log has faded, the French make a traditional Yule log-shaped cake called the buche de Noël, which means "Christmas Log." The cake, among other food in great abundance is served at the grand feast of the season, which is called le rveillon . French children traditionally received gifts from Père Noel who travels with his stern disciplinarian companion Père Fouettard, but today Père Fouettard has almost disappeared.

Date

Christmas in France is celebrated December 25 (25 décembre).

Shoes

French children traditionally with great hope and anticipation put their shoes, formerly boots were more common, by the hearth (fire place). This is similar to the tradition in several other European countries. Rather like English and American children hanging their stockings by the fire place.

Crèche

Nearly every French home at Christmastime displays a Nativity scene or crèche, which serves as the focus for the Christmas celebration. The crèche 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. In addition to the usual Holy Family, shepherds, and Magi, the craftsmen also produce figures in the form of local dignitaries and characters.

Christmas Trees ( Les sapins de Noël )

We had thought that the Christmas tree until recently has never been particularly popular in France, perhaps to Germanic for Gallic tastes. This has changed. A French reader tells us that, "The tree of Noël is now almost compulsory throughout France." A French reader tells us that, "The tree of Noël is now almost compulsory throughout France. A huge number of these Christmas trees (firs) are sold every year. At home each year my wife decorates a beautiful tree for all of us to enjoy as part of this joyous season." A French reader tells us that it was not just Germany that had a tradition of Christmas trees. He writes, "Decorating a " Sapin de Nöel " is a strong tradition here in France. All the families, the shops, the institutions here have their tree of Noël. It is always a fir. This was true in past times as well as today.

Foods

Although the use of the Yule log has faded, the French make a traditional Yule log-shaped cake called the buche de Noël, which means "Christmas Log." The cake, among other food in great abundance is served at the grand feast of the season, which is called le rveillon. Le rveillon is a very late supper held after midnight mass on Christmas Eve. The menu for the meal varies according to regional culinary tradition. In Alsace, goose is the main course; in Brittany, buckwheat cakes with sour cream; in Burgundy it is turkey with chestnuts, and the Parisians feast upon oysters and pate de foie gras.

St. Nicholas/Père Noel

French children traditionally received gifts from Père Noël who travels with his stern disciplinarian companion Père Fouettard. It is Père Fouettard who reminds kindly reminds kindly Père Noel of just how each child has behaved during the past year. This tradition apperars to be fading. A French reader tells us, "For a long time we speak very rarely of the " Père Fouettard " because , the children for Christmas are just considered as king." A French reader expalins about " Père Fouettard " : Père Fouettard was the opposite Père Noël. The children were afraid of him! In past years, it could be said to the disobedient child that for Noël, Père Fouettard will come instead of Père Noël. My parents never said that to us. And now my grandchild doesn't know about Père Fouettard. If we used this term (which sounds bad in French ) he could make out that it was not good for him. Actually this Christmas may be the last year he will still believe in pare Noël, so it is going to be a very special Christmas for us."

Midnight Mass

As in Germany and Austria, many French people go to a midnight mass on Christmas eve.

Gifts

In some parts of France Père Noël brings small gifts on St. Nicholas Eve (December 6) and visits again on Christmas. After Père Noël has past through each home, the children discover near their little shoes their toys and other gifts. In other places it is "le petit Jesus" who brings the gifts. Generally adults wait until New Year's Day to exchange gifts.

Christmas Fashions

French fashion magazines commonly won December issues which children's fashions seen suitable for Christmas. One example is Mode pratique in December 1947.

School Pagents

we note som Christmas recitals or school Christmas pagents. School pagents were very common in Amerucan and English schools. I'm not sure how common Christmas pagents were in French schools. We do not a Christmas pagent at a French school in Senegal during 1960.






HBC






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Created: December 27, 1998
Spell checked: December 10, 2002
Last updated: December 24, 2003