How the French Celebrate Christmas

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A PowerPoint about French Christmas traditions

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How the French Celebrate Christmas: 

How the French Celebrate Christmas

A Month of Festivities: 

A Month of Festivities Strasbourg Market The Feast Day of Saint-Nicholas Fête des Lumières Christmas Eve Mass

Saint-Nicholas Day: 

Saint-Nicholas Day Feast of Saint-Nicholas: December 6th Saint-Nicholas coming to Alsace, Lorraine, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, and Brittany Children receive gifts Celebrations in Lorraine

Strasbourg Market: 

Strasbourg Market Held in cathedral since 1570 “Capital of Christmas” Christkindelmärik features fir trees, Christmas decorations, cribs, ornamental figures, culinary delights, and more

Fête des Lumières: 

Fête des Lumières In Lyon Four days around December 8 th Held since 1989 City covered in lights Attracts about 4 million spectators

Christmas Eve Mass: 

Christmas Eve Mass Midnight mass Churches are lit with candles Christmas carols Many churches have a manger Followed by le Réveillon

Le Réveillon: 

Le Réveillon Late dinner served after midnight mass Traditional dishes vary by region Burgundy: turkey and chestnuts Paris: oysters and foie gras

Le Père Noël: 

Le Père Noël Santa Clause Children put out shoes before going to bed Any shoes are acceptable now Set by fireplace or tree to collect goodies In north France, Père Noël brings small gifts on St. Nicholas Eve (December 6 th ) and again on Christmas

Le Père Fouettard: 

Le Père Fouettard “Father Spanker,” Saint Nicholas’s partner Gives bad children spankings

Le Sapin de Noël: 

Le Sapin de Noël Le sapin de Noël found in homes, streets, shops, and offices Fir tree presented as holy tree of Christmas in Strasbourg in 1605 Decorated with family a few days before Christmas Decorated with candles, lights, tinsel, and colored lights Gifts hung on branches in addition to gifts in shoes

La Crèche: 

La Crèche Shown in many French homes and churches Made of little clay figures called santons, or “little saints” Living crèches commonly found In 16 th century making of crèches became common

Christmas Carols: 

Christmas Carols First presented as part of live nativity scenes As part of performances, gave way to French Theater Douce Nuit (Silent Night) Minuit Chrétiens (similar to O Holy Night)

Other Wintertime Songs: 

Other Wintertime Songs Mon Bonhomme de Neige (Frosty the Snowman) Vive le Vent (Jingle Bells)

Christmas Treats: 

Christmas Treats La bûche de Noël (Yule log cake) Le pain calendeau (a Christmas loaf, part is given to a poor person) Galette des Rois (three kings cake)

Christmas Vocabulary: 

Christmas Vocabulary Christmas: Noël Christmas eve/day: La veille/ le jour de Noël An angel: un ange A Christmas card: une carte de Noël A Christmas present: un cadeau de Noël December: Décembre Merry Christmas: Joyeux Noël

Credits: 

Credits Markhillary , “ Galaries Lafayette Christmas Tree” November 14, 2007 via Flickr , Creative Commons Attribution Francois Schnell, “Christmas Market, Strasbourg” December 2, 2010 via Flickr , Creative Commons Attribution FaceMePLS , “The Entrance of St. Nicholas” November 17, 2007 via Flickr , Creative Commons Attribution Aurélien Catinon , “Place saint Jean” December 6, 2008 via Flickr , Creative Commons Attribution Shaferlens , “Paris Xmas tree at Notre Dame” December 11, 2010 via Flickr , Creative Commons Attribution Marsupilami92, “ARBRE DE NOEL” December 22, 209 via Flickr , Creative Commons Attribution Eusebius@Commons , “Nativity scene – adoration of the shepherds” January 3, 2010 via Flickr , Creative Commons Attribution Syvwlch , “Galette Des Rois Final” March 4, 2010 via Flickr , Creative Commons Attribution "A French Christmas." BBC . N.p ., n.d . Web. 22 Sept. 2011. Lawless, Laura K."Christmas in France." About.com . N.p ., n.d . Web. 22 Sept. 2011. Brand, Heidi. "French Christmas Markets." West European Travel . N.p ., 9 Dec. 2009. Web. 22 Sept. 2011. Lawless, Laura K. "French Christmas Terms." About.com . N.p ., n.d . Web. 22 Sept. 2011. "Christmas in France." France Diplomatie . N.p ., n.d . Web. 22 Sept. 2011. Cantera , Christine. "France in December." Why Go France . N.p ., 13 July 2011. Web. 27 Sept. 2011. Nilsson, Angela. "Saint Nicholas Day." Cultural Bridges . N.p ., 6 Dec. 2010. Web. 27 Sept. 2011. "Christmas with Tradition." Strasbourg Capital of Christmas . N.p ., n.d . Web. 22 Sept. 2011. "Histoire d'une fete ." Fete des Lumieres . N.p., n.d . Web. 22 Sept. 2011.