French Christmas Eve, known as Le Réveillon, is a lavish, multi-course feast featuring luxury appetizers like foie gras, oysters, smoked salmon, and caviar, often with seafood platters taking center stage. The main course typically involves roasted poultry (turkey, capon, or guinea fowl) with chestnuts, while dessert is the iconic log-shaped Bûche de Noël (Yule Log cake), all accompanied by fine wines and champagne.
In France, Christmas often begins with oysters or smoked salmon, followed by roasted capon or duck, and finishes with a Bûche de Noël. Each course is meant to be savored slowly, surrounded by laughter and candlelight.
A réveillon (French: [ʁevɛjɔ̃]) is a long dinner held on Christmas Eve or New Year's Eve. Its name descends from the word réveil (meaning "waking"), because participation involves staying awake until morning, as the meal finishes.
Many people in France put up a Christmas tree, visit a special church service, eat an elaborate meal, and open gifts on Christmas Eve. Other activities include walking in the park, participating in city life, and sharing a meal with family and close friends.
For Christmas Eve, we traditionally do egg lemon soup, roast leg of lamb, roast potatoes under the leg of lamb, a chopped salad, and for dessert Christmas cookies (including baklava and a type of Greek cookie that is more commonly made for Easter).
Ham, Scalloped potatoes and Fondue
The main Christmas meal is eaten on Christmas Eve and popular foods include a Christmas ham and scalloped potatoes with melted cheese and milk baked in.
Every region (or even every town!) has its own customs, but if there's one tradition that everyone in Italy can agree on, it's not eating meat on Christmas Eve. December 24 is the time for fish or cheese dishes to shine.
December 31st - New Year's Eve is called la Saint-Sylvestre and is celebrated with a feast by most people, called le Réveillon de Saint-Sylvestre unsurprisingly (31 December is his saint's day).
In France there isn't a 'correct' time to open presents, instead it's whenever fits the schedule. It's usally on Christmas Eve that families exchange and open their gifts to each other, but it's on Christmas morning that children wake-up to open presents left by Father Christmas (Père Noël).
The tradition has its name - it's called Le Réveillon - and basically it's a long dinner followed by staying up all night for the arrival of Père Noël: Father Christmas - French Santa Claus.
Le Réveillon
Families gather late into the evening to enjoy an elegant meal that can last for hours. Traditional dishes often include foie gras, fresh oysters and seafood, roast turkey with chestnuts, and a selection of fine cheeses, all accompanied by wine and champagne.
Although the rich and extravagant Buche de Noel was not probably added to the custom until late in the 19th century. We would like you to enjoy some of this at home, so we are sharing our recipe for Orliettes, best served hot out of the fryer, sprinkled with a little powdered sugar.
French children eagerly await Le Père Noël, or Father Christmas, who brings gifts for them to open. He usually delivers the presents for Christmas morning, but some families also open gifts on Christmas Eve.
Champagne, the star of the holiday season in France!
As every year, the end of the year is a crucial period for champagne sales. It must be said that this bubbly drink is inseparable from Christmas and New Year's Eve. In France, it can be found on almost every table, as it is synonymous with festivity and joy.
Bûche de Noël: A Sweet Finale
No French Christmas table is complete without la bûche de Noël. Shaped like a Yule log, this iconic dessert dates back to the 19th century, inspired by the ancient tradition of burning a ceremonial log to bring good fortune.
Aside from a proper hello and goodbye, other pleasantries are expected in France. Leave them out and you will likely come across as rude. These include using please and thank you, and politely addressing people in shops or restaurants e.g. referring to waiters and waitresses as Madame or Monsieur.
You never know, you might have a few already in common...
Education, family life, and a strong relationship within a household are what make French culture the way it is today.
The "5 to 7 rule" in France, or le cinq à sept, traditionally refers to a secret, after-work rendezvous (5 PM to 7 PM) with a lover for an illicit sexual encounter before returning home to family, but it's also used more broadly for discreet romantic meetings or even just a casual happy hour, though its meaning varies by region, with Québec using it more for social gatherings than affairs.
For the ultimate summer party in France, visit over July 14: Bastille Day, the country's big national day. This summer holiday is celebrated with gusto, with all-night parties, picnics, and fireworks. And the fun permeates the country, from tiny towns to Paris.
January is the middle of winter in France, ushering in some of the year's coldest temperatures. Paris averages around 3–8ºC (37–46ºF), while southern regions tend to be slightly warmer.
🎄 Czech Christmas tradition 23 Taking Out Luck Christmas Eve is full of unfathomable magic. That is why it is not recommended to sweep or even take out the trash from the house on this day. According to an old tradition, this can mean that you are also taking out luck from your home.
The countries that consume the least amount of meat annually on a per-capita basis are, as measured in pounds-per-person:
Many Italians don't eat meat on Christmas Eve and instead turn to fish. This practice has its roots in Catholicism, which prohibits the consumption of meat before religious holidays. A seafood meal is often eaten with family before heading to mass.