French Christmas Celebration Part 2 2021

The "awakening" feast held after midnight mass on Christmas Eve. Dec 24–25 How the French Celebrate Christmas: A Festive Guide

A French dinner would be incomplete without the cheese plate. Served with bread after the main course, a classic holiday platter might feature Brie de Meaux, Camembert, Comté, and a creamy Roquefort. This course is typically enjoyed with the remainder of the red wine. French Christmas Celebration Part 2

While the rest of France returns to work or light shopping on December 26th, the northeastern region of and the department of Moselle enjoy a public holiday known as Saint-Étienne (Saint Stephen's Day). The "awakening" feast held after midnight mass on

At midnight, the French exchange kisses on the cheek ( la bise ) and wish each other a prosperous year with the phrase "Bonne Année!" Interestingly, while Anglo-American cultures associate mistletoe ( le gui ) with Christmas romance, the French specifically hang mistletoe during the New Year as a symbol of good luck and vitality for the months ahead. New Year's Day Greeting Cards This course is typically enjoyed with the remainder

Children wake up to find their shoes (or stockings) filled with small gifts and candies from . In eastern France, the tradition of sabots (wooden clogs) left by the fireplace persists.

Réveillon is as much about social ritual as it is about food: conversation, toasts, and the exchange of small gifts may occur, and many families treat it as their main annual gathering.

Delicacies unique to the region, including nougat blanc (soft white nougat with pistachios), nougat noir (hard black nougat with caramelized honey), and calissons d'Aix (marzipan-like candies flavored with candied melon).