Paris : City of Lights

Lisa's * Everyday Life

Dec 1

Dazzling Paris Christmas lights begin to appear all over the city in mid-November and continue to fill the City of Lights through early January.

To see the most lavish display of Christmas lights and decorations in Paris, head straight to Champs Élysées, where a million (yes, literally!) sparkling crimson and blue lights cover street trees between Place de la Concorde and the Arc de Triomphe.

As you walk along the sidewalk, you'll also see festive decorations and even more lights in most of the stores lining this famous avenue. This year, the Christmas lights along Champs Elysees turn on starting on November 19 and continue through January 7.

Dozens of Christmas trees shaped like perfect cones and sparkling with white and blue lights glitter across Place Vendôme's huge central plaza.

Surrounded by the façades of palatial 18th century mansions (the Ritz occupies Number 15), the brilliantly lighted trees make the whole space feel ethereal.

If your holiday gift list includes jewelry, Place Vendôme and Rue de la Paix is where you'll find the most famous names in French and international luxury gems and watches. Look for Boucheron, Chopard, Chaumet, Bulgari, Cartier, Gucci, Chanel, Van Cleef & Arpels, Dior, and and many more boutiques where you can see their dazzling creations.

Christmas Holiday in France:

1. Homes Are Adorned with a Crèche

Crèche is the French word for nativity scene, and you'll find one in every French home where the holiday is celebrated. The displays tend to be elaborate, featuring village scenes and many figurines in addition to Mary, Joseph and the Baby Jesus.

. Families Tuck Into a Bûche de Noël (aka Yule Log)

This tradition has evolved quite a bit over the years: Once an actual log of wood that was added to the fireplace on Christmas for good luck in the coming year, the yule log, or bûche de Noël, is now more commonly found at the dinner table in the form of an artistically crafted and seriously decadent chocolate swiss roll cake that's meant to be enjoyed after the holiday feast.

The Holiday Fun Continues Into January with la Fête des Rois

December 1 is the start of the Christmas season in France and Epiphany, which is observed on January 6 and known as Three Kings Day, marks its end. Although la Fête des Rois isn't a national holiday, it is still widely celebrated in schools and workplaces with a namesake cake (galette des rois or king cake) made from flaky puff pastry and almond cream. Per the tradition, a tiny figurine is baked into every cake; the person who is served the slice with the hidden treasure is crowned King or Queen for a day.

Children Leave Shoes in Front of the Fireplace

You're probably familiar with the stateside tradition of stockings hung by the fireplace with care, but in France it's common practice for children to leave their shoes on the hearth in the hopes that Santa will fill them with gifts and goodies overnight

The Big Meal Is Served on Christmas Eve

American families tend to feast on Christmas Day, but in France a traditional holiday spread, known as le réveillon de Noël, is served on Christmas Eve instead. The meal itself is also quite different, typically consisting of French favorites like oysters, foie gras and escargots, followed by roast turkey and the (previously mentioned) yule log for dessert. Needless to say, it's also French tradition to wash down the meal with plenty of fine wine and Champagne.

Mistletoe Is Hung Up for Good Luck

Here's a familiar one for you: The French, too, hang mistletoe in their homes during the Christmas season. The key difference is that the festive plant is considered to be a symbol of good luck, not an invitation for a kiss. (Though it's standard practice to faire la bise no matter the season.)

The Week Before Christmas Features Thirteen (!) Desserts

This tradition hails from the Provençal region of France, where it's customary to set out a lavish spread of thirteen different desserts (representing the thirteen apostles) during the week leading up to Christmas to satisfy the sweet tooth of family and friends who come to visit for the holidays. Some treats commonly on offer include candied nuts, fruits and the famously sweet and chewy nougat de Montelimar.