Christmas

Do French people celebrate their ‘main’ Christmas on December 24 or 25?

The Connexion undertook a brief survey to find out

Festive presents to give to gardeners in France

Sarah Beattie has plenty of Christmas gifts to make horticulturalists happy

French people do not usually send Christmas cards

Cartes de vœux are used to send festive wishes for both occasions at once

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5 things they don’t tell you about... Christmas in France

From la messe de minuit to les cadeaux, find out about typical French traditions

Christmas parcels delayed at French airports due to DHL strike

The four-day action saw 80% of workers join the protest resulting in a significant backlog in deliveries and pick-ups, according to unions

Festive French phrases and words for the Christmas period

Joyeux Noël tout le monde - your vocabulary guide to get you through the festive season

Photo: French police stop driver over car covered in Christmas lights

Officers were appreciative of the decorations and took photos - but demanded that they were all removed

Discover French magical Christmas châteaux in the Loire valley

Chateaux in the Pays de la Loire work together to provide festive cheer and local towns join in the festive fun

Watchdog highlights Christmas food shopping ‘scams’ in France

Pastries with palm oil, excess packaging, inflated prices…vote for the worst ‘scam’ in this food watchdog’s annual contest

English-language Christmas services in France

Anglican services are performed in churches around the country

What is Saint Nicholas Day celebrated in France on December 6?

Areas of France dedicate a day to the saint who inspired Santa Claus

Parcel frauds on increase in France: How to stay alert and avoid them

Scammers are out in force as shopping intensifies in the run up to Christmas

How to ensure your packages from France arrive in time for Christmas

The deadlines for delivery to the UK and US vary between different services

Christmas trees: Popular varieties in France and what you should expect to pay

When to buy depends if you want a Nordmann fir, a Norway spruce, or an alternative

How children in France can write to ‘Père Noël’ for Christmas

Father Christmas will write back to them if a return address is given

Firefighters, postal workers, rubbish collectors: Alert on calendar scams in France

Many professions offer calendars at this time of year - but not all sellers who visit your home are genuine

PHOTOS: French town uses horses to collect old Christmas trees

A horse-drawn carriage picks up the trees which are then recycled and turned into mulch to use as protection from weeds

Bin, forest? How to dispose of your Christmas tree legally in France

Be aware that there can be tough fines for fly-tipping and even worse for dumping it in a forest

SING ALONG: French Christmas classic carols

Wondering what your French neighbours are singing? Check out these translations and sing along to the French version of Jingle Bells, Silent Night, and more

Watch out for this scam parcel text in run up to Christmas in France

Gendarmerie are warning people to stay alert to this common Chronopost scam

Where are homes most at risk of burglary in France?

Plus: tips to help avoid being a victim over Christmas holiday period

These Christmas tree bags in France can help with more than housework

Charity bags fund services for disadvantaged children across world, as well as help disabled workers in France

The French village with more than 500 Christmas nativity scenes

The hill-top Provencal village of Lucéram has become famous for having the most festive crèches in France

Salmon, panettone: beware these 7 Christmas food ‘scams’ in France

The public is advised to be alert to misleading packaging - and to vote for the worst fraud on this year’s shortlist

La Poste, fire service: where does money from calendars go in France?

The calendars are traditionally sold at the end of the year - we look at where your donations go

Six Christmas gift ideas for people learning French

Christmas offers a good opportunity to give helpful resources that language learners may not buy for themselves

Day 12 French regional Christmas specialities: Seafood platter

Oysters are unavoidable - but there are many other options too

Day 11 French regional Christmas specialities: Papillotes from Lyon

The origin of papillotes is wrapped in a cute story

Day 10 French regional Christmas specialities: Beerawecka from Alsace

This needs to be baked days ahead if you want it on your table for Christmas

Learn from the French: how Christmas étrennes gifts work

While étrennes are not an obligation, our French writer says it could be considered rude not to give anything but who should you give to and how much?

Day 9 French regional Christmas specialities: Escargots persillés

This snail dish is one of France’s most known Christmas recipes…thanks to a 19th-century visiting Russian tsar

Day 8 French regional Christmas specialities: Cardons from Rhône-Alpes

A relatively forgotten vegetable, cardons make a come-back on Christmas tables

Broaden your Christmas vocabulary with these festive French phrases

If you are ready to move on from the basic ‘Joyeux Noël!’ take a look at these yuletide expressions

Rise in respiratory infections continues in France

Three more regions are now at ‘pre-epidemic’ stage for flu and wastewater samples are showing a 24% rise in the presence of the Covid virus

Day 7 of French regional Christmas specialities: Pain d’épices

Pain d’épices is another Christmas staple of the Alsace region. A small village famously hosts one of the most famous gingerbread houses, and even a gingerbread museum

Meet the French designer already working on Christmas wrapping 2024

We go behind the scenes to find out how gift wrap designers predict trends, colours and patterns in advance - just like fashion

Day 6 of French regional Christmas specialities: Vin chaud

Many European countries have a version of this, often made with local alcohol or spices, and Alsatians too have their own twist, including a white wine version

Day 5 of French regional Christmas specialities: Treize desserts

There used to be no ‘set’ amount of desserts until the early 20th century, although people from Provence still choose 13 desserts from a selection of 55

France’s ‘Christmas bonus’: Who is eligible and how does it work?

The annual payments are set to begin next month. We explain who is eligible, how it will be paid, and how the amount is calculated

Day 4 of French regional Christmas specialities: Chapon farci

Chapon farci are often associated with Bresse, an area overlapping two regions, and where there is a myriad of stuffing options

Day 1 of French regional Christmas specialities: Crépinettes

This south-west and Savoie favourite is often eaten in an unexpected combination with oysters, a traditional dish on Christmas meal tables in France

Day 2 of French regional Christmas specialities: Bredeles of Alsace

Bredeles are a Christmas staple of eastern France but many people do not wait for the festive season to bake them

PHOTOS: Seven beautiful Christmas markets in France

There are few better ways to get in the festive spirit

Children in France can write to Father Christmas via La Poste

Letters can be sent up until December 20 and each will receive a response

Christmas TGV and other train tickets now on sale in France

Site crashes as travellers try to book early to get the best fares before prices jump

Cart horses collect Christmas trees and ‘bring joy’ across France

Around 200 towns use horse-drawn carts to collect recycling, take children to school or senior citizens to market

Eight ideas for what to do with your old Christmas tree in France

Leaving your tree on the pavement without authorisation is illegal. Here are some suggestions of what to do with your ‘sapin’ instead

New Year in France: What will the traffic be like this weekend?

Children will return to school from their Christmas holidays on Tuesday, meaning that many families will be travelling home from trips this weekend

Aix-en-Provence: the refined city full of French Christmas tradition

Watch santons figures being made, sample the sweet calissons or travel back to the 1960’s in elegant Aix

Brittany town painstakingly recreated in miniature by dedicated couple

What started as a helping hand to enhance the local church’s nativity scene became a monumental project involving 50 people

Heavy rain and flooding alerts for eastern France ahead of Christmas

Savoie and Haute-Savoie are under an orange warning, while much of northern France are on yellow alerts for strong winds. What will Christmas weekend look like?

Did you know? Strasbourg was France’s first Christmas market

Strasbourg has been known as 'The Christmas Capital' for nearly thirty years and for many years after its debut in the early 16th century, it was the only one of its kind

Gardening in France: French history and care of Christmas trees

’Tis the season for 'sapin' tales, with gardening on hold during the darkest month in France we turn to magic and mystery

France rail strikes: Two in five TGV trains cancelled this weekend

SNCF will meet with unions to try to avert another strike on New Year’s weekend. We explain how compensation will work for those affected

From spit cake to elf shoes... a Tour de France by Christmas desserts

How many have you tried?

French rail operator offers reassurance over Christmas travel strikes

At least two in three trains will be running, SNCF claims

‘Noël au balcon, Pâques au tison’: Our French expression of the week

As Christmas approaches, we look at a phrase that might come in handy if the weather stays mild

Travel strikes, face masks, wood heating aid: The week ahead in France

The European Court of Human Rights will also rule on whether Éric Zemmour’s 2017 conviction for inciting hatred based on religion undermined his freedom of expression

Christmas strikes, Paris-Madrid trains: 10 France travel updates

We also look at holiday traffic, a ferry company anniversary celebration and a decree allowing Father Christmas to fly over a French commune

'Peak' cold to hit France this weekend: what about Christmas?

Temperatures of -15C are expected in some areas on Saturday after a week of freezing weather, snow and ice

How to choose French wines to match classic British Christmas food

We explore the perfect pairings for turkey, salmon and Christmas pudding

Traditional French Christmas food and a very modern bûche de Noël

We look at why France is ‘top’ at festive fayre and the mandatory chocolate log gets a star chef makeover

Visit magical Marseille and swap snow for sun this Christmas

The vibrant Provençal city that offers 136 hours of December sunshine is full of festive spirit and a wonderful Christmas market

14 changes for residents and property owners in France December 2022

Key dates include an end to fuel rebates and the 4% electricity cap, aid for wood-fired homes and gadget repairs, Christmas bonuses and more

Fuel, Prime de Noël, Covid: 9 December 2022 dates to note in France

Key dates include an end to fuel rebates and the 4% electricity cap, aid for wood-fired homes and gadget repairs, Christmas bonuses, new mask recommendations and long-Covid help

UK Eurostar security workers to strike in lead-up to Christmas

Services are expected to be ‘severely affected’. The 100 staff members, who are employed by a private contractor, are calling for pay increases

When is Saint Nicholas Day and how is it celebrated in France?

Some areas of France remember the saint who inspired Santa Claus in December

Beware the Christmas firefighter calendar scam, say French police

Bogus door-to-door marketers don false costumes to sell fake calendars to an unsuspecting public

The deadlines for sending Christmas gifts to and from France

Royal Mail strikes mean you should send gifts between France and the UK well in advance this year. We also explain how long it takes to send packages to and from the US

Cost of Christmas trees up by 20%: how to find best option in France

The increasing cost is due to rising packaging and transport costs. However, some shops are offering discounts

French nursery looks after Christmas trees for next year

Trees can be returned, stored, and reused the following festive period

Children in France have until December 20 to write to Père Noël

Sixty years ago two postal workers’ independent actions sparked the tradition of replies being sent to children who write to Father Christmas. Letters in English are accepted

French cheesemakers bring out an advent calendar with 24 types to try

Each numbered door leads to a different cheese, with the Strasbourg-based makers promising a real tasting experience

SNCF opens ticket sales for Christmas train journeys around France

TGV Inoui and Intercités trains can be booked up to January 2, while Ouigo service reservations are open up to July 2023

Savoie: Christmas trees collected with help of horse-drawn carriages

The towns of Chambéry and Aix-les-Bains say it is an eco-friendly solution. Organisers say it provides entertainment too and is appreciated by locals