The French are very fond of having fun and relaxing. However, the main holiday for them is definitely Christmas . It is celebrated there on December 25. However, preparations for the celebration of Christmas in France begin on December 6, the day of St. Nicholas. The streets of large cities and small settlements are decorated with colorful lights and luminous figures. The main concern of the French in the pre-Christmas days is to stock up on gifts for relatives, friends and acquaintances.
From the history of Christmas in France
The ancestors of the French, the Gauls, in December celebrated the Saturnalia - the beginning of the new year. This holiday was closely connected with the annual cycle of celestial bodies and the solstice, which lasts for 12 days and ends on December 24. Later, the pagan holiday was replaced by Christmas.
Christmas traditions of the French
The main symbol of Christmas in France is the spruce. By the way, very few people know that the tradition to decorate a Christmas tree with glass toys has French roots. Previously, Christmas trees were decorated with apples. However, in a year when there was a crop failure on fruit, they were replaced with glass - local glass blowers tried.
All children love sweets and other goodies. Little French people get them in abundance just for Christmas. And in order not to remain without gifts, they put on their Christmas boots and boots on the Christmas tree. According to the belief, it is there that puts sweet surprises good Peer Noel, penetrating the dwellings through chimneys.
A mandatory attribute of this great holiday is the visit to the Christmas service - Mass. In the church, well-dressed Frenchmen go by whole families, and after it ends they rush home for a festive dinner.
Festive dinner
Culinary traditions of the celebration of Christmas in France are very diverse. To prepare a Christmas dinner - Réveillon - the French are treated with all seriousness. For the holiday they are required to bake a bird, as well as salads, pate, as well as pie or cake in the form of logs. It is the main attribute of the Reway. The tradition of its preparation appeared in pagan times and is associated with fertility.