by Sandra Sheridan

Created on: November 22, 2009

How Yule is Celebrated in France

St. Nicholas arrives in northeastern France on December 6 to officially begin preparations for the Christmas season. Very similar to western traditions, boutiques and department stores, city halls and churches display their holiday spirits with evergreen garlands, festive ribbons and thousands of twinkling lights. Along the Champs Elysee in Paris, white lights drape from the large trees that line the avenue leading to the Arch de Triomphe, and the Hotel de Ville (city hall) hosts the traditional ice skating rink in the great square in front of the spectacular hall. Traditional Christmas celebrations center on family reunions and religious ceremonies, gifts for the poor and Le Reveillon.

Christmas Decorations

Families carefully decorate their homes with lighted candles, holly garlands and Mistletoe above the door to bring good fortune. The sapin de Noel - the Christmas tree - is a relative newcomer to France, introduced in 1837 and decorated with apples, ribbons and flowers. The crche is a revered tradition, with the nativity scenes of Provence filled with charming clay santon figures made in the south of France from molds that have passed through generations of craftsmen.

Joyeux Nol - Christmas Traditions

As in the United States, Christmas traditions vary from region to region. Pere Noel (Father Christmas) fills the children's' shoes that they have placed in front of the fireplace, and he hangs small toys, candy and fruit on the tree. In Normandy and Brittany, children receive gifts on St. Nicholas' Day instead of Christmas Day, and New Year's Day is the occasion when adults share presents. Even French lawmakers have contributed to Noel traditions, as they passed a law in 1962 assuring that all letters written to Santa would receive a postcard in response.

Midnight mass is important to many French families, when the most famous French carol - "Oh, Holy Night" - is sung by congregations throughout France at the stroke of midnight. Mass is followed by Le Reveillon (to awaken or revive) - a huge celebratory feast that symbolizes a renewed sense of the meaning of Christ's birth. Whether at home or in a local restaurant, the festive menu may include roasted turkey, goose, regional chicken dishes and other delicacies, followed by champagne and chocolate. In Provence, they serve thirteen desserts that symbolize Christ and the twelve apostles. At the end of the celebration, traditionalists leave a candle burning in case the Virgin

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