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By;Kaitlyn Scott &
Chelsea Perry |
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In France the residents usually start their
celebration on St. Nicholas Day, December 6th and sometimes even
get gifts under their tree. Christmas Day is on December 25th
but adults usually wait until January 6th to receive their
gifts. |
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In France the main language spoken is French. |
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If you ever go to France at Christmas time how
do you say Merry Christmas,Well… |
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The Christmas tree is a little different from
ours, one of the differences is they plant their beautiful tree in a flower
pot. |
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When the Christmas celebration has ended the
Christmas tree is planted in the garden, this occurs after every Christmas
celebration. |
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The Christmas tree is decorated with homemade
decorations, shimmering baubles, exotic birds,tiny angels, replicas of Pere
Noel (Santa), knitted figures of elves, animals and stars, tinsel in gold
and silver. Most families use electrical lights but some rather decorate
with real candles, usually red, even down to paper fish and topped off with
a star, angel, or Pere Noel. |
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The Christmas (Sapin de Noël) was introduced to
the country of France by a German Princess known as Hélène de Mecklembourg.
She had brought the first Christmas tree to Paris after her marriage had
taken place to. She had married a French heir to the throne, the Duke of Orléans. |
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The Christmas tree is usually decorated a few
days before Christmas(December 25th). The tree seldom has a lot
of ornaments |
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In France, the most important decoration is the
Christmas Tree, to them it is known as “Sapin de Noël.” It is seen in
homes, shops, offices, streets and even factories. |
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THE French Santa is called Pere Noel. |
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He wears a long red &white cloak. |
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Instead of reindeer he has a donkey. |
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Pere Noel is not as big as our Santa. |
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Pere Noel is basically the Santa Claus of
France. He is the main character of Christmas in France,but he still needs
an assistant to help him recognize who is naughty or nice. |
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His assistant is no other than Pere Fouettard.
He is also known as Father Spanker for he drags the naughty ones out of
their beds and gives them a stern spanking. It is unknown of his appearance
because a black hood hides his face from the world. Children dread his
appearance anyways. |
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Christmas mass as ended and and after hours of
dedication to God, they are ready to feast. The feast is reveillon and
takes time and patience to prepare. Even though there as been almost 15
centuries of Christmas celebrations there is no traditional reveillon meal,
but a common meal for some may be; |
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Oysters on the half shell Assorted canapes Eggs mimosa |
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Mushroom eggs Assorted pates Rillettes |
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Twice-stuffed turkey Sweet peas a la francaise in nests of duchess
potatoes |
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Remoulade salad Assorted cheese Winter fruits |
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Bouche de Noel Coffee Cognac |
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Cointreau |
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As you all know there is no traditional meal in
France at Christmas time but there is a traditional dessert “Bouche de
Noel”. |
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Ingredients-
Cake: 2/3 cup flour |
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¼
teaspoon soda |
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4 eggs |
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¾ cup sugar |
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3 square unsweetened chocolate |
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2 tablespoons water |
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Filling: ½ pint whipped cream |
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2 tablespoons icing
sugar |
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1 teaspoon vanilla |
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Icing ¼ cup cocoa |
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1/3 cup butter |
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2 cups icing sugar |
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2 tablespoons milk |
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½ teaspoon vanilla |
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Directions Cake:
1.Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 15 x 10 inch jelly roll pan, and
line with waxed paper. Grease waxed paper.
2.Mix flour, soda, and salt together.
3.Beat eggs in a small mixer bowl at high speed, until thick and light
- about 5 minutes.
4.Gradually add the sugar, and beat until thick.
5.Melt the chocolate and water together, and add to the egg mixture.
6.Fold in the dry ingredients, and mix gently but thoroughly.
7.Spread in prepared
pan, and bake for 15 - 17 minutes, until the cake springs back when lightly
touched.
8.Remove from oven and turn out immediately onto a tea towel that has been
sprinkled generously with icing sugar.
9.Remove waxed paper, and trim of any
crisp edges of the cake.
10.Begin at the narrow end, and roll up the cake and the tea towel
together. Allow to cool. |
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Filling:1.Whip cream until soft peaks form. Stir
in icing sugar and vanilla and whip until stiff.
2.Unroll the cake when cool, and spread the top with the whip cream.
3.Re-roll, without the towel.
4.Cut a thin slice off of each end of the roll, to make them even.
Icing:
1.Soften butter. Combine all ingredients and beat until 2.smooth and of
good spreading consistency.
3.Use the centers of the ends you sliced off the cake to make "bumps
on the log": Use a little of the icing to affix the bump to the side
of the cake - one on each side.
4.Ice the entire cake with the icing, including the ends and the
bumps.
5.Run a fork along the icing so that it resembles tree bark.
6.Sprinkle with icing sugar, and decorate with holly or other Christmas decoration leaves. |
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Christmas in France is a little different from
our Christmas. One of the differences is what you get if you naughty or
nice. If you are nice you will receive goodies from Pere Noel (Santa) in
your sabots (shoes) but if you’re naughty you’ll be frightened by Pere
Noel’s assistant, Pere Fouettard. He will give you the gift of a stern
spanking. |
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The holidays bring goodies…in your shoes?!
Yes,actually it is true, instead of stockings hanging from their fireplace
it’s shoes (sabots) by their fireplace. Later filled by Pere Noel. |
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We collected our information from- |
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Christmas in France which is found in School
Library, |
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http://www.donogh.com/cooking/holiday/yulelog.shtml |
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http://www.californiamall.com/holidaytraditions/ |
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Children’s World Atlas |
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Notes
