French Christmas traditions: 5-step guide to the perfect French Christmas

Christmas in France is a truly spectacular affair. The streets are awash with festive spirit; shop windows glow with colourful displays, and gleaming Christmas trees tower overhead. It’s a time for celebrating family, festivity, and French Christmas traditions. But don’t just take our word for it.

We’ve put together a list of our top 5 articles about French Christmas traditions to help you celebrate the perfect French Christmas like a true local.

Click the ‘Read more...’ links to read each article and to ensure your festive season is really ‘French’.

1. French Christmas traditions: Christmas day how-to

Christmas in France is a grand event: a festivity soaked in luxury, splendour and tradition. It’s a time for indulging in rich food, late nights, and champagne.

Christmas is typically celebrated on Christmas Eve —le Réveillon— but the entire festive period is magical.

I love French Christmas traditions so much that I want to share them, so I have put together a guide for creating the perfect French Christmas at home. Joyeux Noël to all of you Francophiles! Read more.

2. French Christmas traditions: Christmas activities on a budget

If you’re spending time in France over the Christmas and New Year period not only are you very lucky, you are also spoilt for choice with fabulous things to enjoy.

During the Christmas period, France is transformed into a hub of joyous activity and festive cheer. And as they say, the best things in life are free (or sufficiently inexpensive, as the case may be).

Here are my top tips for Christmas in France, and best of all, none of them are expensive and many are free! Read more.

3. French Christmas traditions: the best festive music

Joyeux Noël my French and francophone friends, Merry Christmas! Or if you’re not into Christmas, then Hanukkah Sameach! Joyous Kwanzaa! Blessed Yule! Eid Mubarak and Shubh Diwali (retrospectively)! Or we’ll just keep it simple and say: Happy Holidays!

Don’t you just love this time of year? There’s a feeling of goodwill in the air. People are friendlier, the streets seem cleaner, and the birds sing just a little sweeter than usual.

Here are some of the festive French songs I’ll be listening to this holiday season. Read more.

4. French Christmas traditions: Frenchify your decorations

French Christmas decorations may look similar to those in the Anglophone world, but a few Gallic twists can distinguish your home for the trained Francophile eye.

Here at MyFrenchLife™, we love nothing better than a few French Christmas traditions to get us in the festive spirit!

Here are a few typical French Christmas decorations to really ‘Frenchify’ your Christmas this year. Read more.

5. French Christmas traditions: the perfect gift guide

Worrying about where to buy Christmas gifts in Paris? Never fear, My French Life™ is here! Whoever you’re buying for this Christmas, Paris has it all.

Whether you’re looking for luxurious brands, gourmet specialities, or traditional Christmas market trinkets, our top tips will have you shopping like a local in no time.

Come with us as we share some of our favourite Parisian recommendations for buying that perfect Christmas gift. Read more.

What are your favourite French Christmas traditions? Do you know of any others that we have not mentioned? Share your views in the comments box below.