Published on Sunday 20th of December 2015 by Valerie

French conversation: A pre-Christmas tour of France

A pre-Christmas French conversation: A little tour of France at the festive period…

As the Christmas trees light up in France and across the world, what makes a Christmas typically French? Christmas markets, family, presents and food of course!

Like most countries celebrating Christmas, the run-up period is full of exciting promises. Let’s start our French conversation with Paris. Not because it’s the capital but because it is the place I grew up in and know best. Take a walk in the streets and be dazzled by the lights and the sweet smell of hot chestnuts being cooked over metal barrels and sold in paper cones by street vendors at every street corner. That is the first taste of Christmas. And if you’re a child (but I think even adults get a kick out of it too), a walk along the famous department stores ‘Galeries Lafayette’ and ‘Printemps’ is a must. I remember children pushing and shoving each other on the raised platforms just to catch a glance at their animated window displays. Okay, maybe not much of a Christmas spirit in the behaviour but considering both shops line up the whole length of an entire boulevard, there are quite a few windows to get through… It’s not even like you desire the toys in the windows, it’s just that you get totally lost in each scene. In fact, it’s the prequel to Toy Story: In one window, a Lego train would be puffing out steam as it meanders through a snowy landscape. In another, Barbie and Ken would come to life and be seen entertaining their other doll friends. Along a bit, the biggest doll’s house you’ve ever seen would be all lit up and small figures would be coming and going around it. And let’s not forget the moving, dancing and skating teddy bears window! Of course, as toys are far more complex nowadays, I bet things have changed quite drastically but I hope they’ve managed to retain their magical touch.

Let’s direct our Christmas French conversation towards the North-East of France and its traditional Christmas markets. Christmas markets first took place in the Alsace region in the middle-ages. It was only quite recently, in 1990, that they developed throughout France, no doubt with the commercial aspect taking over the religious one (you have to retain a bit of cynicism even at Christmas). Unsurprisingly, the best Christmas markets are still the ones in that originated in the Alsace region. Top of the list is Strasbourg ‘l’indetronable’. Originally, the Strasbourg Christmas market was a place in which to buy presents to celebrate St Nicolas. On the 22nd of December 1570, the local council decided to keep the market but dedicate it to the birth of Jesus instead. That’s when the first Christmas market was born. There, you could buy Christmas trees and decorations, figurines of nativity scenes, local craft, sweets and warm wine. Three centuries later, the market moved to the main square of the town and nowadays the whole town takes part in various animations for their Christmas market which remains the most famous one in France. Of course, other towns in the same region are also strong competitors: Colmar, Amiens, Reims. Let’s not miss out of our French conversation the town of Montbeliard which is famous for its Christmas lights. And for a bit of useless trivia, in 2015 Scotland was the guest of honour at the Montbeliard Christmas lights with lot’s of Scottish products being found that year on its Christmas market stalls.

If we now move our French conversation in the opposite direction, towards the South of France, we would have to mention their famous ‘santons’: Little clay figurines painted in vivid colours and representing characters, animals and local trades central to the nativity scene and traditional way of life. The tradition of the nativity scene or ‘creches de Noel’ also goes back to the middle-ages. Every year, town halls in major southern cities recreate a giant nativity scene.

Was our festive French conversation enough to put you in the French Christmas spirit? Definitely so.