Joyeux Noel! The phrase that resonates everywhere in France at the time of Christmas. For all the excited readers, it means 'Merry Christmas' in French. In France, Christmas celebrations is the time to have fun and merriment. People get immersed in the festive mood and enjoy every moment of Christmas. French people consider Christmas as the time to create memories and cherish them for life. Another name for Christmas day in France is Twelfth Day. This is because festivities of Christmas last for twelve long days.

Christmas Decorations in France
During Christmas most dominant colors seen in France are Red and Green. All streets, shops, homes and offices are decorated with lights, candles, balloons, artificial snow, stars and ribbons. Every home displays La crèche or the nativity scene filled with little figures called Santons or "little saints" and auspicious Mistletoe flower is hung at every doorway.

Christmas Tree
In France, Christmas decorations also include decorating the Christmas tree with red ribbons and candles. The Christmas tree is called "Sapin de Noel" . It was introduced to France by a German Princess called Hélène de Mecklembourg. She brought it to the Paris after her marriage to the Duke of Orleans. Christmas tree marks a special importance to all the people of France. It symbolizes creation of God. The tree is topped off by the star that points out to heaven with red ribbons and candles.

Christmas Customs and Traditions
Christmas traditions in France vary from province to province. Some states celebrate it on December 25th while for others Christmas celebrations begin on January 6. On a Christmas Eve, children put their shoes by the fireplace. These are to be filled with gifts and candies from Pere Noel (French version of Santa legend). To the great delight of kids Christmas tree also gets laden with sweets, toys, fruits and nuts in the morning. A late midnight supper called Le Revellion is relished after the Midnight Mass.
The custom of enacting Mary and Joseph and creating a story of Christ's birth is also observed in France just as in USA.

In Southern France, the custom of burning Yule log is followed from Christmas Eve until New Year. According to popular legends, the burning of log brought good harvest. In present time too, people believe that the custom brings good luck to them.

In some parts of France, a very interesting game called 'Three Kings Cake' is played. Here women bake cake with a bean hidden somewhere. Whoever finds a bean in the slice of their cake is made King or Queen for the day.

Christmas Meals
The most important feature of the Christmas festival in France is its sumptuous Christmas meal. Every family celebrates the day with the family members by having the most appetizing dishes. People of France believe that the time spend with the family members on the Christmas day is the time well bestowed. Dinner tables in almost every house are laden with traditional Christmas dishes like Turkey with Chestnuts, ham and wine. There is also an old tradition of including Yule log-shaped cake called buche de Nol, which means "Christmas Log ". Some famous Christmas carols are also sung to celebrate the day.