Christmas in the World. France (VIDEO)
By Diana Ungureanu/ Chisinau / Moldova.ORG/ -- France is a Catholic country with multiple customs and traditions of Christmas.
On the Eve, the faithful people go to church to be present at the midnight service. Christmas Eve represents an ideal opportunity for the French to be reunited in the family, around a table full of all sorts of traditional dishes.
On Christmas Eve children put their shoes near the fireplace for Pere Noel to give them gifts. Christmas tree is decorated in the night, on Christmas morning children to find near the decorated tree gifts of sweets, fruits, nuts and small toys.
In the markets located in front of cathedrals, the Christ's birth story is played by actors or retold in improvised theatres of the dolls.
In almost every French home owner build a scene of the Nativity, named "creche", larger or smaller, it became the center of this holiday of Christmas. Characters in this scene are usually small clay statuettes, known as "santons" (little Saints). In addition to the Bible characters there are placed also figurines representing local celebrities or authorities. This custom is attested for the first time in the 17th century, the care and talent with which are made the figurines being really amazing. By the way they are put up for sale in December, mainly in Marseille and Aix, at the Christmas fairs.
An important role there has the evening of Christmas Eve table. The family meets for festivity dinner called Reveillon de Noel, a retrieval and exaltation of the Saviour. Dishes are numerous, prepared according to the habits of the different regions of France.
Thus, in Alsace it is dished up roast goose, in Burgundy, the main dish is the turkey with baked chestnuts, and Parisians enjoy oysters and "bed of fat crust" (duck liver pate). At Christmas table is also consumed roast chicken, cheeses, salads, fruit and cakes.
A cookie prepared only on this occasion is "La bûche de Noël", a sort of rolled stuffed loaf of log shape, so that it is also named as "Christmas Log". Custom of preparation these cakes originated in the South of France, where, in the past, a real large wood log was put on fire by the Christmas and it burned till New Year's Eve. From this log farmers made a wedge to plough, to bring them plentiful harvest.
Once the dinner is finished, family goes to bed, not forgetting to let the fire flaming and food and drink on the table, where the Virgin Mary will stop in their home.
All places of worship are brightly light and ring the bells to call the faithful people to prayer. Christmas is expected with much cherishing in France, and the very feast in French homes brings a lot of joy and happiness.
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