5 Things That Make the French Santa Claus Different - FAYLI (2024)

FAQs

What is Santa Claus like in France? ›

Santa Claus in France is called “Père Noël”.

Like in any place celebrating Christmas, the French Father Christmas wears a red suit and hat with white fur trim with a broad black belt around his waist. He is tall and large, with ruddy cheeks and nose, bushy eyebrows, a white beard and a moustache.

The favourite British tradition of the Christmas stocking isn't really a thing in France, as it's replaced by children leaving out their shoes and boots for St Nicholas instead. Both traditions come from the same place, however.

In France, children leave out carrots and cookies in their shoes. The French make sure Santa Claus isn't hungry by leaving him treats — like biscuits — as well as carrots for the reindeer. They typically leave the goodies in their shoes and awake to find the food gone and presents in their place.

But Santa Claus being a man is a long-held tradition accepted by the vast majority of society.”

Contents. Santa Claus—otherwise known as Saint Nicholas or Kris Kringle—has a long history steeped in Christmas traditions.

In many countries, families gather and give gifts on Christmas Day. But French people tend to exchange gifts on the night of Christmas Eve (le réveillon (de Noël)), rather than on Christmas Day (Noël/le jour de Noël), although kids do often get their presents from le Pere Noël on Christmas morning.

Many people in France put up a Christmas tree, visit a special church service, eat an elaborate meal and open gifts on Christmas Eve. Other activities include swimming in a park, participating in city life and sharing a meal with family and close friends.

Just like turkey is to Thanksgiving, a French Christmas main dish is almost always a large roasted “dinde” (turkey). A French Christmas turkey is traditionally made with a chestnut stuffing, and served with roasted potatoes, chestnuts and sometimes cooked apples around it.

In French Happy/Merry Christmas is 'Joyeux Noël'. In Breton (spoken by some people in Brittany, Northern France) it's 'Nedeleg Laouen', in Corsican it's 'Bon Natale' and in Alsatian (spoken by some people in Alsace, in Eastern France) it's 'E güeti Wïnâchte'.

What is the French Santa called? ›

In France, Santa Claus is known as Père Noël, and in the French colonies of The New World, came to be called Papa Noël. Like the French Père Noël, Papa Noël leaves toys for children following Catholic Mass on Christmas Eve.

On the night of Christmas Eve, there is a special meal to celebrate the very beginning of Christmas Day. This traditional Christmas Eve dinner is called le réveillon de Noël. French children leave their shoes out in front of the fireplace - la cheminée, or around the Christmas tree - le sapin de Noël.

Surprise! Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen, and yes, even Rudolph, are ladies. The original eight — first introduced in the 1823 poem "A Visit from St.

Claus (Mother Christmas) Mrs. Claus may not be an ancestor of Santa but she's certainly in his family tree.

Exactly how old is Santa? According to the blog Email Santa, Santa Claus is 1,751 years old as of 2022. In fact, the origins of Santa Claus can be traced all the way back to a monk named Saint Nicholas, who was born between 260 and 280 A.D. in a village called Patara, which is part of modern-day Turkey.

The common Christmas expression is thought to be derived from a Western European folklore known as Krampus. The mythological figure — who is half goat, half demon — is the evil twin of Saint Nicholas and was supposedly invented in the middle ages to discipline kids according to National Geographic.

Fred Claus, Santa's bitter older brother, is forced to move to the North Pole to help Santa and the elves prepare for Christmas in exchange for cash. Fred Claus, Santa's bitter older brother, is forced to move to the North Pole to help Santa and the elves prepare for Christmas in exchange for cash.

The Original Elves

The original six elves include Alabaster Snowball, Bushy Evergreen, Pepper Minstix, Shinny Upatree, Sugarplum Mary, and Wunorse Openslae (sound it out, “one horse open sleigh,” get it?), per Elfcrazy.com.

The thirteen desserts are in reference to Jesus and his twelve apostles at the Last Supper. As tradition goes, there must be at least thirteen sweets available. They are all served at once, and each guest must have at least a small bite of each dessert.

The French tend to celebrate with a family gathering on Christmas Eve which continues into the following day. Unlike in the UK, the big Christmas meal will mostly consist of delicious sea food delicacies, namely oysters and huge crevettes, as well as the traditional foie gras and boudin blanc!

Are French Christmas traditions similar or different from American Christmas traditions? ›

While in North America, Christmas Eve tends to be a quieter affair, with the main festivities, opening of gifts and large family gatherings on Christmas Day, in France Christmas Eve is often a very special time for family to gather, enjoy a meal (either large or small, depending on local or familial tradition), perhaps ...

People come together in cathedrals and churches across the country to pray and sing carols (known as Chants de Noël). They celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, believed to have happened on that night. After the service, people return home to either sleep, eat, or open presents (for those with excited little ones).

The French called a Christmas tree “un sapin de noël” or “un arbre de noël”. In France, the Christmas tree first appeared in Alsace in 1521. The tree, covered in red apples and lights, symbolised the venue of Christ: 'the light that illuminates the world'.

Marché de Noel

The marchés de Noel, or Christmas markets, are an important part of the French Christmas tradition. Beginning usually the last weekend of November and continuing until Christmas Day or into the New Year, little wooden stalls pop up in the center of villages and cities all over the country.

Christmas customs, originating in the Middle East, were introduced to France by the Romans. Reims was the site of the first French Christmas celebration when, in 496, Clovis and his 3,000 warriors were baptized. Bishop Rémi had purposely chosen the day of the Nativity for this ceremony.

A French Christmas dinner can often last for hours, and it's no surprise! But if when the cake has been consumed you have room for one more morsel, opt for a clementine or mandarin.

Père Noël (French pronunciation: ​[pɛʁ nɔ. ɛl]), "Father Christmas", sometimes called 'Papa Noël' ("Daddy Christmas"), is a legendary gift-bringer at Christmas in France and other French-speaking areas, identified with the Father Christmas and/or Santa Claus of English-speaking territories.

While Christmas is the main event in terms of December festivals, certain parts of France have an extra day of celebration on December 6th. For people in north-east France, Monday, December 6th marks Saint Nicolas Day – with family celebrations and lots of gingerbread.

Does it snow in France? ›

Summers are warm, with some thunderstorms, and winters are cold. Temperatures can drop below 0 degrees Celsius and, in the mountains, are frequently accompanied by snow. In the South, the climate is Mediterranean. Summers are hot and winters mild and dry.

Santa Claus also has some other names: Saint Nicholas, St. Nick, Kris Kringle, Pelznickel. Two of his names -- Santa Claus and Saint Nicholas -- both come from the Dutch who settled in New York long ago. The Dutch believed Saint Nikolaas gave gifts to children.

Le Père Noël: Santa Claus in French

In France, all children are familiar with this version of Santa, who wears a red suit and travels by reindeer delivering gifts on Christmas Eve. His name is Father Christmas, Kris Kringle, Saint Nicholas or Santa Claus from Dutch Sinterklaas (Saint Nick).

This has been the common belief over the last few decades, and many people outside of the North Pole will call her Jessica Claus around the Christmas holiday. Regardless of what her true first name is, everyone at the North Pole continues to refer to her as Mrs. Claus, even Santa!

Although the French don't necessarily decorate the outside of their houses with une guirlande électrique (string lights), French towns and villages usually do have some Christmas lights. A large Christmas tree next to the city hall or on the city main square is also customary.

Santa Claus also has some other names: Saint Nicholas, St. Nick, Kris Kringle, Pelznickel. Two of his names -- Santa Claus and Saint Nicholas -- both come from the Dutch who settled in New York long ago. The Dutch believed Saint Nikolaas gave gifts to children.

Santa's Elves have creative and cute names such as Alabaster Snowball, Bushy Evergreen, Pepper Minstix, Shinny Upatree, Sugarplum Mary, and Wunorse Openslae to name a few.

According to the blog Email Santa, Santa Claus is 1,751 years old as of 2022. In fact, the origins of Santa Claus can be traced all the way back to a monk named Saint Nicholas, who was born between 260 and 280 A.D.

In SANTA GIRL, Cassie Claus (Jennifer Stone) lives in the North Pole, but wants to attend college and experience life away from her strict, no-nonsense father (Barry Bostwick).

According to the blog Email Santa, Santa Claus is 1,751 years old as of 2022. In fact, the origins of Santa Claus can be traced all the way back to a monk named Saint Nicholas, who was born between 260 and 280 A.D. in a village called Patara, which is part of modern-day Turkey.

What is short for Santa? ›

Noun. Sta. f. Abbreviation of santa (saint)

The name, Santa Claus, was stated to evolve from Nick's Dutch nickname, Sinter Klaas, a shortened form of Sint Nikolaas, which is translated as the Dutch name for St. Nicholas. Gift giving, a custom that was passed down from St.

Although Santa and Mrs. Claus almost never have children in any of their many depictions, there is at least one Christmas Burlesque musical from 1892 that features Kitty Claus, the daughter of Santa.

They state that one of the oldest elves around is 4,000 years old, and he goes by the name of Kringle. The youngest is only 700 and is named Buttercup. As you can see, Santa is always on the lookout for new elves with plenty of holiday spirit.

Shinny Upatree

He's no taller than a four year old, skinny and as wrinkled as an old apple. Under his rugged appearance and cranky manners, he has a good heart and is totally devoted to Santa. Shinny is the leader of the all the Elves and Santa's oldest and most trusted friend.

In 1943, one of Harlem's biggest department stores, Blumstein's, hired its first black Santa Claus. It was followed, in 1946, by a store in Chicago.

If you are talking about the character that came from the legend of the Saint he is both a man and an elf depending on which legend you believe in.

Krampus is basically the anti-St. Nicholas, the opposite of Santa Claus. He's a fugly mythical creature usually depicted with similar features as the devil. He has body hair, horns, hooves, and fangs.

Cassie Claus is the daughter of Santa Claus, and all she wants to do is explore the world, but she has to marry Jack Frost Jr. before taking over the family business. She doesn't want any of that. However, her dad gives her some freedom by letting her go to college.