1. Christmas in France

2. On Christmas Eve French children are allowed to stay up late for a special meal.

3. Children put their shoes under the Christmas tree so that Father Christmas knows where to put their presents.

4. The tree is brightly decorated like in England, but a star is put at the top instead of a fairy.

5. The meal eaten on 24 th December is called Le Réveillon meaning “waking up” because you stay awake at a time when you are usually asleep!

6. The meal generally includes some seafood…

7. Oysters

8. Prawns

9. Mussels

10. Cooked Meat

11. Pâté

12. Cheese

13. A traditional Christmas log – une bûche de Noël

14. A lot of wine and champagne is drunk – le vin and la champagne

15. On 25 th December another big meal takes place around lunch time, the main course being duck, chicken, goose, guinea fowl, rabbit, venison or turkey.

16. After dessert children are given “des papillotes” which are the ancestors of the English crackers. They contain sweets.

17. Another big meal is organised for the 31 st December to see the New Year in.

18. In towns all the drivers hoot their horns at midnight.

19. French people do not tend to send Christmas cards, but they then have the whole month of January to send their Happy New Year wishes.