Sometimes, you’d like to be a little more specific in what kind of happinesses you wish upon someone in the New Year. There are not many traditional French Christmas carols, and are usually hymns from church instead. That is why many Christmas songs have been taken from UK, Germany and other places. Over time, non-religious songs have been translated from different languages into French, for example the French Jingle Bells is Vive le vent. French Christmas greetings If you’re talking with someone about their plans for the holiday season, and they mention your family, this greeting would be perfectly appropriate. The Christmas tree is decorated some time before Christmas Day, so there’s plenty of time to be ready for Christmas Eve when Santa Claus comes. Shoes in front of the fireplace

Either way, it’s a lovely phrase that both observes the happiness of the holiday season and wishes a pleasant and happy New Year. I’m wishing you an excellent Christmas time with your family. I hope you’ll receive plenty of gifts and that you’ll enjoy the Christmas meal, Champagne and your loved ones!Are you wondering what the most common French Christmas greetings are? If you have French friends or visit Paris during the holiday season, it is always good to know the appropriate greetings or how to write suitable greeting cards. Je vous envoie vœux de Bonheur pour un Joyeux Noël! (I send you happy wishes for a Merry Christmas!) Midnight Mass — Somewhere in between courses of the Réveillon, most French people will take the time to attend a midnight mass. You could surprise your friends by learning several Christmas greetings and using different ones depending on the occasion. Best Common French Christmas Greetings These are the nativity scenes or crèches displayed in many French homes. There are little clay figures called santons or little saints in the crèche, which you can buy from Christmas markets. There are plenty of pieces available for sale so you can create a small or huge crèche at home. Crèche Vivante/Pessebres

If you’re ready to leave behind the word vœux for a spell, souhaits means the same thing—wishes—and can communicate something very similar.

For L’Épiphanie, French families bake a galette des rois, or a Kings’ Cake, and cook inside of it a a small figurine. The person who finds the figurine in their slice of cake is crowned King or Queen. This is the most famous and oldest Christmas market in France. You can find it in Strasbourg in Alsace with many traditional French products to buy as gifts.

It is the most common holiday phrase and you’ll likely hear it a lot once it gets closer to Christmastime. Here are some examples: Nowadays they are a delicious French Christmas tradition, sold massively in shops at the end of each year. They usually decorate the Christmas table and are an essential element of Christmas traditions in France. Mistletoe Another way to wish someone happy holidays is to tell them you’re doing so. Je vous souhaite (I wish you) will communicate just that. This is a Provençal French Christmas tradition but worth mentioning as it sounds so ‘challenging’ – can you imagine having 13 desserts after the main (big) Christmas feast? In France they are important as they symbolise Christ and the 12 apostles at the Last Supper. Que l’année vous procure ___ goes beyond the usual Meilleurs vœux and outlines the positivity you’re wishing into someone’s life for the upcoming year.

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Theses are the chocolates (or candied fruits) wrapped in golden sparking paper with fringed ends. Inside there is a little note written on it. The papillote was created in Lyon at the end of the 18th century. Children wake up on Christmas day and happily run to the tree to open their presents. Another wonderful French tradition is that of writing to Santa. Traditionally, it it the youngest in the family who distributes the pieces of cake hiding below the table and shouting the name of the person who should get each piece. Chants de Noël