France - Christmas traditions & cus

France - Christmas traditions & customs


In France, Christmas is called Noel. This comes from the French phrase les bonnes nouvelles," which means "the good news" and refers to the gospel. In southern France, some people burn a log in their homes from Christmas Eve until New Year's Day. This stems from an ancient tradition in which farmers would use part of the log to ensure good luck for the next year's harvest.
Italians call Chrismas Il Natale, meaning "the birthday."

On Christmas Eve, children leave their shoes by the fireplace to be filled with gifts from Pere Noel. In the morning they also find that sweets, fruit, nuts and small toys have been hung on the tree.

Nearly every French home at Christmastime displays a Nativity scene or creche, which serves as the focus for the Christmas celebration. The creche is often peopled with little clay figures called santons or "little saints." In addition to the usual Holy Family, shepherds, and Magi, the craftsmen also produce figures in the form of local dignitaries and characters. The craftsmanship involved in creating the gaily colored santons is quite astounding and the molds have been passed from generation to generation since the seventeenth century. Throughout December the figures are sold at annual Christmas fairs in Marseille and Aix.

The Christmas tree has never been particularly popular in France, and though the use of the Yule log has faded, the French make a traditional Yule log-shaped cake called the buche de Nol, which means "Christmas Log." The cake, among other food in great abundance is served at the grand feast of the season, which is called le reveillon. Le reveillon is a very late supper held after midnight mass on Christmas Eve. The menu for the meal varies according to regional culinary tradition. In Alsace, goose is the main course, in Burgundy it is turkey with chestnuts, and the Parisians feast upon oysters and pat de foie gras. Le Revellion may consist of poultry, ham, salads, cake, fruit and wine.

In Southern France, a log is burned in people's homes from Christmas Eve until New Years Day. A long time ago, part of the log was used to make the wedge for the plough as good luck for the coming harvest.

French families used to have a Three Kings Cake with a bean hidden in it. Whoever found the bean in their slice was made King, or Queen, for the day. In France the children go out to look for the Kings, taking gifts of hay for the camels.

Another name for this day is Twelfth Day. It is the last of the Twelve Days of Christmas, which used to be one long holiday. It was the last night of the Feast of Fools before the Lord of Misrule had to give up his crown and become themselves once again.

In France it is a time for the whole family to come together at Christmas time to holiday and worship. On the eve of Christmas beautifully lit churches and cathedrals, ring out Christmas carols with the church bells.

Once dinner is over and the family have retired to bed, they leave a fire burning and food and drink on the table in case the Virgin Mary calls in. Children leave their shoes or wooden clogs called sabots in the hearth for the Christ Child or Pere Noel to fill. In the north of France, children are given gifts on December 6, which is St. Nicholas' Day, instead of Christmas Day. The adults give each others presents on New Year's Day.

French children set out their shoes in hopes that le petit jesus will fill them during the night with small gifts.

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法国圣诞节的传统&海关


在法国，圣诞节是Noel。这个来自法国的短语的女仆”，“这意味着“好消息”，指的是福音。在法国南部，一些人在他们的家里烧了一个日志，从圣诞夜到元旦。这源于一个古老的传统，农民将使用日志的一部分，以确保来年的收成好运气。
意大利人叫圣诞IL Natale，意为“生日”。

对平安夜，孩子离开他们的鞋子挂在壁炉旁充满从Pere Noel的礼物。在早上，他们还发现，糖果，水果，坚果和小玩具已经挂在树上。几乎每一个法国家庭在圣诞节时显示一个情景或托儿所，作为庆祝圣诞节的焦点。这通常是充满了小泥人叫动或“小圣人。”除了通常的神圣家族，牧羊人，和法师，工匠也产生人物在当地政要和字符形式。手工参与创建红红绿绿的动是相当惊人和模具已代代相传至今的第十七世纪。整个十二月的数字是在马赛和AIX一年一度的圣诞集市贸易。

圣诞树从来没有在法国特别受欢迎，虽然圣诞节原木的使用已经褪色，法国使传统的木桩形状的蛋糕称为胆碱酯酶德诺，这意味着“圣诞节日志。”蛋糕，在其他食品中杰出的丰度是赛季的盛宴招待，即乐通宵。乐通宵是很晚吃晚饭平安夜举行午夜弥撒后。根据地区烹饪传统的菜单。在阿尔萨斯，鹅是主菜，勃艮第是火鸡栗子，和巴黎盛宴牡蛎和帕特de鹅肝。乐revellion可能包括家禽，火腿，沙拉，蛋糕，水果和酒。

在法国南部，一个日志燃烧在人们的家里从平安夜直到元旦。很久以前，日志的一部分是用来使犁的楔形为未来的收获的好运气。法国家庭有一三个国王的蛋糕藏在它。无论是谁发现了他们的那块豆子被做了国王或王后，为了一天。在法国，孩子们出去找国王，给骆驼取了一个干草的礼物。这是最后一个十二天的圣诞节，这是一个漫长的假期。这是愚人节的前一天晚上暴君不得不放弃他的王冠，成为自己的一次。

在法国是一个适合全家人一起在圣诞节假期和崇拜。在圣诞节的前夜，精美的教堂和大教堂，响起圣诞颂歌和教堂的钟声。

晚餐结束后，一家人都上床了，他们把火和食品和饮料放在桌子上的情况下，圣母玛丽的电话。孩子们离开他们的鞋或木屐称托在炉边，基督的孩子或Pere Noel填补。在法国北部，孩子们在十二月六日得到了礼物，这是圣的。尼古拉斯节，而不是圣诞节。大人给每个人的新年礼物。

法国的孩子们把他们的鞋子盼望小耶稣会填补他们在夜间与小礼物。