What do French eat for Christmas?
In France, Christmas dinner might feature a variety of foods including oysters, foie gras, roast meats like duck or turkey, and a range of cheeses. Dessert often includes a traditional Yule log cake called “Bûche de Noël.”
- No 1 Foie Gras.
- No 2 Caviar.
- No 3 Escargot.
- No 4 Oysters.
- No 5 Scallops.
- No 6 Des Oeufs de Caille.
- No 7 A Christmas Fowl as the Main Dish.
- No 8 Cheese Platter.
A French Christmas is usually a feast of rich dishes like foie gras, poultry, gratins, cheese, and chocolate. So in the midst of all this decadence, a fresh and lighter recipe is always welcome like this winter salad, which combines bitter endives, sweet pear, and tangy blue cheese.
Families usually kick things off by opening a bottle of fine Champagne, like the Champagne Paul Michel. Others may choose to begin with a traditional method French Crémant from the Loire, Limoux or Burgundy and bring out the Champagne later in the meal.
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.
- Oysters. (Les Huîtres) ...
- Smoked salmon. (saumon fumé) ...
- Caviar. It isn't just fish that dominates the entrées at Le Réveillon — fish eggs, or caviar, often make an appearance too. ...
- Foie gras. ...
- Snails (Escargot) ...
- Roast bird. ...
- Gratin Dauphinois. ...
- Haricots.
ROAST TURKEY WITH CHESTNUT STUFFING
One of the most popular remains the traditional turkey with a chestnut stuffing. Chestnuts are everywhere in France at Christmas, so it's natural you would find them stuffed inside turkey.
Traditionally, the Christmas meal was divided into two parts: A light meal was eaten before midnight mass. It was called “le repas maigre” – the 'light meal'. Depending on the regions it was customary to have a small soup with some bread or fish, but no meat. Midnight mass marked the end of the Advent period.
In France, the name for Santa is simply Père Noël, which translates to Father Christmas. You might also hear the little ones calling him Papa Noël, but it all amounts to the same thing.
Santa Claus, as in other cultures and languages, there are many ways to call Santa Claus in French, like, “Père Noël”, “Papa Noël”, “Saint Nicolas”. The most commonly used “Père Noël”.
Do the French have Christmas pudding?
Classically, the meal will start with oysters and/or foie gras, continue with turkey – often with chestnut stuffing (get someone to send you sage and onion from Britain; the chestnut stuff is grim), cheese and then dessert. It is a mark of France's civilisation that the nation has never embraced the Christmas pudding.
Wrapped chocolates or candied fruit are given to each other and are known as 'Les Papillotes'. Inside of them is a little note, a little bit like a fortune cookie. These can be compared to the tradition of Christmas crackers, although these are not used in France.
Elsewhere in France, families exchange presents on Christmas Eve, which tends to be the biggest day of celebrations throughout Europe. Some families in France even wait until the 6th January, which is Epiphany or 'Three Kings Day', to give their gifts to each other.
In France, the main festive Christmas meal is enjoyed on the Christmas Eve - December 24th. 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.
Small, one-bite delights such as smoked salmon on blinis, bacon-wrapped prunes, Gougères (baked cheese puffs), Gruyère Cheese Twists, and various Rillettes are served. Huîtres, or oysters, are a classic French Christmas tradition (if you can afford them), served with lemon and a shallot mignonette.
Instead, you are likely to be served chestnuts, probably the classic Christmas vegetable in France. They could appear in stuffing or as part of a sauce. Other winter vegetables that may make an appearance include squash, parsnips or pumpkins, as well as potatoes and mushrooms.
In Southern and Central Italy, baked pasta is a must. In Northern Italy, Lasagne Bolognese and filled pasta like manicotti and ravioli are traditional Christmas fare. Next comes the main event, the meat. Roasted veal, baked chicken, sausages or braised beef are common Natale entrées worth celebrating.
Instead of hanging stockings by the fireplace, French children place their shoes or slippers near the fireplace or under the Christmas tree. The next morning, if they've been good, they'll find their shoes filled with small gifts, candies, and sometimes even money.
Père Noël. Santa Claus is 'Père Noël' in France, and on Christmas Eve, he travels around the world handing out presents. The tradition used to be for French children to fill their shoes with carrots for Père Noël's donkey and put them by the fireplace, but today that has been replaced with the Christmas tree.
French children leave their shoes out in front of the fireplace - la cheminée, or around the Christmas tree - le sapin de Noël. When they awake on Christmas Day, they hope to find that le Père Noël has visited and that the shoes (les souliers) are filled and surrounded by gifts - des cadeaux.
What is the special meal eaten late at night on Christmas Eve in France?
The Réveillon
The Reveillon meal is normally eaten late on Christmas Eve – it is a nighttime celebration served after midnight – the word comes from reveiller which means awaken as this meal involves staying awake after midnight!
Again, according to surveys, the traditional French food list for Christmas includes: Foie gras. Seafood and salmon. A fowl, often a turkey but not always.
In France, children leave out carrots and cookies in their shoes. The French make sure Santa Claus isn't hungry by leaving him treats — like biscuits — as well as carrots for the reindeer. They typically leave the goodies in their shoes and awake to find the food gone and presents in their place.
It's Saint Nicholas Day. Celebrated every year around December 6, Saint-Nicolas is above all a tradition that endures in eastern France, including Flanders, Alsace, Lorraine and Franche-Comté.
However, for some, the celebrations begin on St Nicholas' Day on 6th December and do not finish until January 6th (the Kings' Day). Most people in France celebrate in some way from 24th-26th.
