As New Year's Eve is fast approaching we thought we should take a look at how it is celebrated in France and see if we can point out some differences to where you live?

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). The feast includes special items like champagne and perhaps controvertially foie gras, the accompanying party can range from an intimate dinner with friends to lavish public events most often called une soirée dansante (a dance ball).

Kissing under the mistletoe

At midnight, everyone kisses under the mistletoe and offers their best wishes for the new year. Kissing under the mistletoe? I hear you ask? well, interestingly, kissing under the mistletoe is a New Year's Eve / Day custom in France rather than a Christmas custom as in the UK and other countries. Note that the kissing may be on the lips or on the cheek, depending on the relationship between the two people so if you are not sure then start with the cheek and the French person will take the lead from there!

The end of the holiday season is Epiphany, on 6 January, although I have seen Christmas decoratyion still 'up' and illuminated at night almost as long as up to Easter!, Epiphany in France includes a traditional cake called la galette des rois but if you bite into one becareful as you may break a tooth on the cadeaux often found inside these cakes, but don't worry it means good luck!

Saint Sylvestre was Pope from 314 to 335 A.D., during the time of the rule of Constantine the Great. Although there is no actual link between Saint Sylvestre and the new year, it just that 31 December is his feast or Saint's day. La Saint-Sylvestre is feminine because it's short for la fête de Saint-Sylvestre.

New Year’s Traditions in France

Celebrating the New Year is a little different in France than it is in the UK or the US.

Cards.

I hope you were not offended if you got less Christmas cards this year, if it was your first year in france? the French people don’t send Christmas cards! they send New Year’s greeting cards instead, so they is hope yet. So if you are sending cards to people in France, you don’t have to rush, just catch the post for the week inbetween Chritmas and New Year.

People in France continue to wish each other la bonne année throughout the month of January! No interaction is complete in France in the month of January without starting your conversation with Meilleurs voeux (Best wishes).

Etrennes.

It is also common practice in France to give gifts of money to people who serve you on a regular basis, any tips to Cle France staff will be accepted merrily (LOL). The local firemen are the most proactive in my experience and they will knock on your door with the 'excuse' of selling you a calendar, even the garbage man in towns and cities (les éboueurs) may knock on your door. It’s the equivalent of their 13th month, and the French tend to be quite generous so if you want a good service you may have to dig deep.

Le Réveillon.

As you know by now the Christmas Eve dinner is known as le réveillon and so is New Year’s Eve dinner! so easy to remeber even after a galss or two! To distinguish the two, the celebration on the 31st is called la Saint-Sylvestre, or le réveillon de la Saint-Sylvestre. The festive meal is similar to the one shared at Christmas – goose or turkey, oysters, foie gras, Boudin blanc – with the addition of copious amounts of champagne, bien sûr, and dancing and partying long into the night is normal and to be expected.

Metros and public transportation in the large cities are free for the evening to discourage drivers from taking to the road in their cars after indulging which is a very effective policy.

Midnight.

At the stroke of midnight on New Year’s Eve, expect to receive kisses on both cheeks and a hearty bonne année! Fireworks at private parties have been surpressed in the past years due to the dangers, but this is not the case for the local communes who often have a spectacular display and a party for all the villagers.

On New Year’s Day – le jour de l’an.

Parades fill the streets which you can watch in person, if you don’t mind the cold, or on TV from the comfort of your own home, friends house and even in the local sports bar, in fact anywhere where there is a TV it will be tuned to the local 'big town' celebrations!

The most famous New Year parade takes place in Paris every year. Thousands of performers from all over the world take part in the show with wonderful songs, dances and other cultural activities. The parade goes through the many districts and streets of Paris. Generally, it starts on 31st December and passes through Chantilly to reach Trocardero, under the Eiffer Tower on January 1st.

What about New Years Resolutions?

Le Jour de l'An is the day when people share their resolutions among near and dear friends, you may not get such a warm reply if you ask a neighbour what their resolution is, these are really kept between very close family members. Cards and gifts are exchanged on New Years Day, which reflect the mood and the spirit of the celebration.

This is the perfect time for family members and friends to be with each other. They dine together, have fun and form great memories. I have seen that the chef in the family will prepare heart or log shaped desserts, usually made from ice cream (don't worry these are also widely available in supermarkets across France).

People are highly excited and welcome the fresh year in whole-heartedly in France so all you need to do is join in, not that different to the UK or the US afterall, just jump in and have a good time seems to be the order of the day.

Bonne Année ! from Sharon, David, Simon, Alex and all the team at Cle France.

Blog submitted by: David at The French Property Network - Cle France.

Le réveillon de la Saint-Sylvestre (New Year’s Eve)

The new year (le nouvel an) is fast approaching.

In France, as elsewhere, New Year’s Eve (called le réveillon du jour de l’an) is typically celebrated with friends. It’s common to celebrate the new year with champagne and fireworks.

But did you know that, unlike in English, New Year’s Eve also has a different name? In French, New Year’s Eve is also known as le réveillon de la Saint-Sylvestre.

But who was Saint Sylvester?

Saint Sylvester was pope (pape) from 314 to 335 AD. Not much is known about his life, although the church grew in power during his tenure, erecting such monuments as Santa Croce in Jerusalem and the old Saint Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City. Most of our common knowledge about Saint Sylvester is through unverified (and potentially fictional) stories about his relationship with the Emperor Constantine. One fictitious story stated that, upon administering blessed water, Sylvester cured Constantine of leprosy. Supposedly, it was Sylvester’s miracle that influenced Constantine to convert to Christianity.

The Feast of Saint Sylvester is celebrated around the world on December 31, because this was the day he died in 335. Today, many countries around the world—and not just France—refer to New Year’s Eve as Silvester, or a similar name in tribute of the ancient pope. For example, in Germany, Christian households traditionally celebrate Saint Sylvester’s Day by melting Silvesterblei (Silvester lead) in a spoon and dropping it into cold water, then divining the year ahead based on the shape of the cooled metal. In Switzerland, men dress as Silvesterklaus and ring large bells to welcome in the new year.

In France, la Saint Sylvestre is celebrated with friends, good food, champagne, and firecrackers or noisemakers. But there is one more tradition that is often reserved for this special day: le baiser sous le gui (kissing under the mistletoe). Unlike in some Anglophone cultures, where kissing under the mistletoe is a Christmas tradition, this ancient ritual is reserved for la Saint-Sylvestre in France.

Bonne année!

Blog submitted by: Alex at The French Property Network - Cle France.

Christmas Eve in France is a holiday in and of itself. Traditionally, it was celebrated with la Messe de Minuit (midnight mass) for many families, even those who are non-pratiquant (non-practicing). With attendance rates lowering, it’s becoming less and less common as a whole for the French to attend this mass, but you can still find them all over France.

Malgré son nom (despite its name), most of the masses take place between 6 and 10pm. Some people prefer to stay at home and watch the Pope’s Midnight Mass on France 2, and some even listen to local masses on the radio.

The Midnight Mass is followed by a large feast called le Réveillon (you might recognise la racine du mot [the root of the word]: comes from the same family as réveiller [to wake up / to revive]). Why this name? It’s to se réveiller (to wake yourself up) after such a late-night activity!

Ce festin (this feast) can be enjoyed at home or in a café or restaurant (some stay open all night for this). Even with all the food, depending on the region you’re in, the main dish may change. You might eat le poulet (chicken), les escargots (snails), la dinde farcie aux marrons (chestnut-stuffed turkey), le saumon fumé (smoked salmon), l’oie (goose), le boudin blanc (white pudding), ou même les huîtres (or even oysters). Naturally, all of this is washed down with le vin (wine) or/and le champagne (champagne).

So we decided to ask 3 people (two French and one Canadian French — le Réveillion exists there, too!) what their families do for Christmas Eve. Read their answers below (there are English translations but try reading the original French answers at the bottom of each post) and see how these families celebrate.

Can you see any similarities or differences?

Que fait votre famille pour le Réveillion de Noel?

Juliette, 24. Lille, France - 

My family has never really been into celebrating Christmas Eve. For us, the party is on the 25th only, at a family member’s house. Thus, unless we were invited somewhere precisely to celebrate Christmas Eve, we would just stay at home.

When I was younger, I would spend the evening in my pajamas with my sister and my dad in front of the Christmas specials on TV, while my mom would prepare dinner and something 'special' like drinks (non-alcoholic champagne for children) and a small appetizer (toasts with salmon or fish eggs), or a Christmas party specialty (foie gras, smoked salmon, scallop). But since we had to be ready to host or leave early to go somewhere else the following day, that was it, especially since we must couldn’t eat too much, or we’d be sick for the big day!

However, in the past few years, the deal has changed: my sister is dating a Bulgarian guy, and because my parents don’t do anything, she often invites me over for a Bulgarian Christmas Eve: 12 home-made vegetarian courses (this is so that we can survive the 50 pounds or so of meat that would come the next day). We also open our presents at midnight.

Now, for Christmas Day, we stay very traditional when we host the party: appetizer, foie gras or salmon, turkey, chestnuts, salad, French chesse platter, and buche de Noel (the infamous French Christmas cake).

En Francias...

Ma famille n’a jamais été très 'réveillon de Noel'. Pour nous, la fête se fait le 25 décembre, chez un membre de la famille. Du coup, à moins d’être invités quelque part précisément pour le réveillon, on reste à la maison tranquillement.

Quand j’étais petite, je passais la soirée avec ma sœur et mon père, en pyjamas, à regarder les programmes de Noel et ma mère préparait quelque chose de 'spécial', comme un mini apéritif (champomy pour les enfants), avec des toasts au saumon ou aux œufs de Lymp, ou une entrée de fete (saumon fumé, foie gras, coquille Saint Jacques…) Mais comme il fallait etre pret à recevoir le lendemain ou prêt à partir tot pour aller chez la famille, c’était tout, d’autant plus qu’il ne fallait surtout pas avoir trop mangé et être malade !

Cependant, depuis quelques année, le programme a changé : ma sœur a maintenant un petit-ami bulgare, et puisque mes parents ne font rien, elle m’invite souvent pour un réveillon 100% Bulgare : 12 plats végétariens fait maison (histoire de survivre à la demi tonne de viande qui viendra lors du repas du 25). On ouvre également les cadeaux à minuit.

Maintenant, le jour de Noel, nous restons très traditionnels quand nous recevons : apéro, foie gras ou saumon, dinde, marrons, salade, fromage, et buche !

Olivier, 18. Montréal, Canada - 

For Christmas, we generally celebrate the way our ancestors have since the French colonies. On the 24th, while some go hunting for the perfect Christmas tree, others prepare a typical French-Canadian Christmas  dinner which includes :

– a stuffed turkey

– meatball stew

– ham

– pie

– baked beans

– potatoes

– cranberry sauce

– the French log cake

After supper, everyone plays games while listening to traditional music until midnight comes when everyone wishes a merry Christmas to their loved ones. For those who can’t wait, they’re allowed to open one gift from under the tree.

En Francias...

Chez nous, pour Noel, on perpétue certaines traditions qui datent de plusieurs générations, depuis le temps des grandes veillées des colons.

Le 24, alors qu’on va chercher un sapin pour décorer le salon, une ou plusieurs personnes s’occupe(nt) de préparer le souper du réveillon pour le restant de la famille qui ressemble à :

-une dinde farcie

-du ragout de boulettes

-du jambon

-une tourtière

-des fèves au lard

-des patates

-des atacas

-une buche de Noël

Après le souper, on passe la 'veillée' ensemble à jouer à des jeux en écoutant de la musique de Noel ou de la musique traditionnelle jusqu’à minuit et tout le monde se souhaite joyeux Noel. Pour ceux qui ne peuvent attendre, ils peuvent ouvrir un cadeau sous le sapin.

Karine, 24. Cavaillon, France - 

The day before Christmas, that is to say December 24th, my family and I spend the most precious time of year together. It’s a warm time that we always choose to spend together, and we reserve the following days for the rest of my family, like my grandfather, for example. I know my friends do the same thing. However, what they don’t do is a tradition we invented! For weeks, my family and I carefully kept glass yogurt jars that we would wash out before putting candle in them that we’d light with a piece of spaghetti so we wouldn’t burn ourselves. When my sister and I were young, our parents told us that these little improvised lanterns that we’d place in the windows were used to help Santa Claus not get lost, and, of course, to not forget to come to us.

Now we continue this tradition with the yogurt jars because it’s our little bit of Christmas Magic. I prefer Christmas Eve. We eat all our favorite foods, and indisputably, the foie gras is in the spotlight! Right when we raise our glasses, my mom takes a picture of the family, and we toast in front of the nativity scene. My father puts on Christmas CDs, and we play with our dog. Even though we’re adults now, the gifts have to wait until the morning after Santa Claus has come. I cherish with all my heart these precious moments with my family because that’s the spirit of Christmas!

En Francias...

La veille de Noel, c’est-à-dire le 24 Décembre, ma famille et moi passons ensemble le moment le plus précieux de l’année. C’est un moment chaleureux que nous décidons de toujours passer ensemble, et nous réservons les jours qui suivent pour le reste de ma famille comme mon grand père par exemple. Je sais que mes amis font la même chose. En revanche, ce qu’ils ne font pas c’est notre tradition que nous avons inventé! Pendant des semaines ma famille et moi gardons précieusement des pots de yaourt en verre que nous avons au préalable nettoyé et où on installe une bougie que nous allumons à l’aide d’un spaghetti afin de ne pas nous bruler. Quand ma sœur et moi étions petites, nos parents nous disaient que ces petits photophores improvisés que nous plaçons aux fenêtres servaient à aider le Père Noël à ne pas se perdre, et bien sûr à ne pas oublier de venir chez nous.

Maintenant, nous perpétuons cette tradition des pots de yaourt, car c’est un peu notre magie de Noel à nous. Le réveillon est le moment que je préfère. Nous mangeons toutes les choses que nous préférons, et incontestablement; le foie gras est à l’honneur! Au moment de lever nos verres, ma mère prend une photo de famille, puis nous trinquons devant la crèche. Mon père met des CD de Noël, nous jouons avec notre chien. Meme si nous sommes grandes maintenant, les cadeaux attendront demain matin, le temps que le Père Noel passe. Je chérie de tout mon coeur ces instants précieux avec ma famille, car c’est aussi ça l’esprit de Noël.

What does your family do for Christmas Eve?

Does your family celebrate Christmas Eve? How so?

Any similarities between your family’s celebrations and Olivier’s, Juliette’s, or Karine’s?

Blog submitted by: Alex at The French Property Network - Cle France.

This blog was originally posted on The French Language Blog pages.

C’est Noel!

Well, not quite. Ce n’est pas encore Noel. But it will be soon enough. And it’s the perfect time to enjoy some Christmas music… en français.

Last week, we shared with you le chanson “Au Royaume du Bonhomme Hiver” (Walking in a Winter Wonderland).

There’s another holiday classic is often played on French airwaves during this season: “C’est Noel” (It’s Christmas). This is a French original and doesn’t have an equivalent in English. Written in 1956 by famous composer Henri Betti for the film Honoré de Marseille, it was performed by the actor and singer Fernandel. Supposedly, Betti wrote the song for the first Christmas he celebrated with his daughter.

The song switches between a modern Christmas celebration and a retelling of the nativity.

Here are the lyrics:

Un beau soir d’hiver près d’un grand sapin, 

Naquit dans une humble étable, 

L’enfant Jésus cet enfant divin, 

Et depuis pour les bambins. 

C’est Noel, sous un ciel de lumière. 

Les enfants, sagement à genou, 

Ce soir là, font tout bas leur prière. 

Doux Jésus, entends tu? Réponds nous!

Et Jésus descendu sur la terre 

Plein d’amour en ce jour solennel 

Fait surgir de partout 

A plaisir des joujoux 

Ce mystère c’est Noel

Cette belle nuit que le monde attend 

Nous rappelle notre enfance 

Par des souvenirs de Noel d’antan 

Et depuis cet heureux temps 

C’est Noel sous un ciel d’espérance 

Les bergers messagers du seigneur 

Vont chantant célébrant la naissance 

De celui qui conduit au bonheur

Vocabulary:

les bambins–toddlers/little kids

les bergers–the shepherds

conduire (conduit)–to drive/to lead

d’espérance–of hope

notre enfance–our childhood

une humble étable–a humble stable

des joujoux–toys (informal)

ce jour solennel–this solemn day

la naissance–the birth

sagement–wisely

sapin–fir tree (referring to a Christmas tree).

Blog submitted by: Alex at The French Property Network - Cle France.

This blog was originally posted on The French Language Blog pages.

My Beautiful Fir Tree – O Christmas Tree In French

L’esprit des fêtes (the holiday spirit) is stronger than ever with Noël just around the corner. This festive time of the year is the perfect moment to add un chant de Noël français (a French Christmas carol) to your holiday playlist!

Les chants de Noël are a big part of the ambiance of the holiday season.

Les chansons (the songs) complete the scene of les chausettes de Noël (Christmas stockings) resting above la cheminée (the fireplace) with a pile of cadeaux (gifts, presents) waiting under the wonderful sapin de Noël (Christmas tree).

Le sapin de Noël is lucky enough to have its own chant de Noël:

Mon beau sapin - O Christmas Tree (literally: My Beautiful Fir Tree)

La chanson, like le calendrier d’Avent, is a holiday tradition that came from Germany. Mon beau sapin was originally called O Tannenbaum en allemand (in German) and translates to O Fir Tree. Ses origines (its origins) go back as far as 1550, but it’s the more modern version written by Ernst Anshütz in 1824 that became known all over the world.

Interestingly, la chanson did not specifically refer to Noël at first, but slowly became associated with the holiday with the rise in popularity of les sapins de Noël. By the 20th century it was a standard chant de Noël like Au Royaume du Bonhomme Hiver and was translated into many languages, including anglais et français (English and French).

In between opening presents and walks around les marchés de Noël, take a moment to learn ce chant de Noël français!

Voici Mon beau sapin avec les paroles et une traduction : 

Mon beau sapin, roi des forêts

Que j’aime ta verdure

Quand par l’hiver, bois et guérets

Sont dépouillés de leurs attraits

Mon beau sapin, roi des forêts

Tu gardes ta parure

My beautiful fir tree, king of the forests

How I love your greenness

When in winter, woods and fallow lands

Are stripped of their charm

My beautiful fir tree, king of the forests

You keep your decorations

Toi que Noël planta chez nous

Au saint Anniversaire

Joli sapin, comme ils sont doux,

Et tes bonbons, et tes joujoux

Toi que Noël planta chez nous

Tu répands la lumière.

You who put Christmas in our home

The holy birthday

Lovely pine, how pleasant they are

And your sweets, and your toys

You who put Christmas in our home

You spread the light.

Mon beau sapin, tes verts sommets

Et leur fidèle ombrage

De la foi qui ne ment jamais

De la constance et de la paix.

Mon beau sapin tes verts sommets

M’offrent la douce image.

And their faithful shade

Faith that never lies

Loyalty and peace

My beautiful fir tree, your green peaks

Give me that pleasant image.

Wishing You a Merry Christmas.

Blog submitted by: David at The French Property Network - Cle France.

This blog was originally posted on The French Language Blog pages.