1. Christmas en France See Video

2. Christmas en France Objectives
Learn some specific words such “la crêche” and “les santons“, “Joyeux Noel”, “Bonne Année”
Find out the legendary relationship between Children and “Père Noel” (Santa Claus), “Le Réveillon”)
Learn about some cultural facts such as “la Buche de Noel”, "Jingle Bells“, “La Fête des Rois”

3. Christmas in France
Instead of teaching an "Around the World" unit about light festivals or Christmas, you may want to feature this in-depth lesson about Christmas in France.
See the link

4. Instructional Sequence
Christmas trees called “arbres de Noel” or “sapins” have become very famous and fashionable in France.

5. But “la crèche” is a major Christmas holiday decoration.
“La crèche” is a depiction of the birth of Jesus as described in the gospels of Matthew and Luke.

6. People pass their "santons“ down through the generations.
There are “santons” representing not only the wise men and the holy family but local merchants also.
During the Christmas season, santon makers gather in Marseille and other locales in southeastern France to display and sell their wares.

7. Children and Père Noel
Have students keep in mind French children put their shoes by the fireplace on Christmas Eve in hopes that "Père Noel" (Santa Claus) will bring them some toys.
“Père Noel” is tall and thin. He has a long red robe trimmed with fur. He brings toys to children in a sack

8. On Christmas Eve everyone eats a huge dinner called "Le Reveillon.“
In France it is a time for the whole family to come together at Christmas time to holiday and worship. On the eve of Christmas beautifully lit churches and cathedrals, ring out Christmas carols with the church bells.
Dinner is over and the family has retired to bed, they leave a fire burning and food and drink on the table in case the Virgin Mary calls in.

9. After this large dinner of goose, turkey, chicken, or beef; a fish dish, cheese, bread, wine, and fruit, many families serve a "Buche de Noel."

10. The “Buche de Noel” is a sponge cake decorated like a yule log.
Some families burn a real log in the fireplace. Download our PDF Yule Log.
Students can make a replica of a"Buche de Noel." See Make a Buche de Noel.

11. French families think that mistletoe is also lucky and hang it everywhere.
Have students write a wish for the New Year on an index card and attach it to the downloaded Mistletoe picture.

12. Watch Video Noel in Paris

13. Teach your students how to say to each other.
“Joyeux Noël”
(Merry Christmas)
“Bonne Année”
(Happy New Year)
Happy Hannakkuh is
“Joyeux Hannakuh.”
Have students practice in groups.

14. Le Jour de l’An Hilarious Video to say “Bonne Année”
Le Jour de l’An (First Day of The New Year)

15. "Jingle Bells" in French
Teach your students to sing "Jingle Bells" in French. Here are the words:

16. "Jingle Bells" in French Tintez Cloches, Tintez Cloches
(Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells)
Tintez dans la nuit
(Ring in the night)
Pere Noel et ses grand daims
(Santa Claus and his big reindeer)
Arrivent toute de suite..ite
(Are coming soon)

17. La Fête des Rois
(Feast of the Magi)

18. La Fête des Rois (Feast of the Magi)
This is a children’s holiday. A butter “galette” (cake) is baked and a “feve” (favor) is placed inside.
The “galette” is cut into pieces and the child who finds the “feve” is “roi” (king) or “reine” (queen) for the day.
That child receives a “couronne” (crown) and the other children say “Vive le roi or Vive la reine)!

19. Instructional Sequence
You can buy a cake and put a bean in it to use as a favor. Or bake a cake using a mix.
Keep track of where the favor is so that you are sure it has been served.

20. Teach students “J’aime la galette” in the following way:

21. J’aime la galette
Savez vous comment?
Quand elle est bien faite
Avec le beurre dedans
Tra la la la la
I like the galette
Do you know how it is made?
How well it is made
With butter
Tra la la la la

22. 1.Teach students “J’aime la galette” in the following way:
J’aime la galette (walk in a circle holding hands to the right)
Savez vous comment? (change directions - go left)
Quand elle est bien faite (go right)
Avec le beurre dedans (go left)
Tra la la la la (hands over head, walk in )
Tra la la la la (step back to place in circle)

23. 2. Cut the “galette” and give to students. Instruct them to wait.
3. Everyone must eat carefully and at the same time. Teach students to say “Miam” Miam” (yum, yum) When a student finds it , they must say “le voici.”
4. Crown the king or queen. Students say “Vive la roi or la reine”

24. This is a children’s holiday
This is a children’s holiday. A butter “galette” (cake) is baked and a “feve” (favor) is placed inside.
The “galette” is cut into pieces and the child who finds the “feve” is “roi” (king) or “reine” (queen) for the day.
That child receives a “couronne” (crown) and the other children say “Vive le roi or Vive la reine)!

25. Assessment – See worksheet Please, remember only ONE answer is correct.
1- The phrase “arbres de Noel” means _________________________.
A- Christmas wedding
B- Christmas trees
C- Christmas party
2- The French word “sapins” is _______________________________.
A- a famous and fashionable tree for Christmas
B- a way of dressing up on Christmas Day
C- an outlook upon Christmas party
3- The French phrase “la crèche” reports to ____________________.
A- a major Christmas holiday decoration
B- a depiction of the birth of Jesus
C- all above

26. 4- The French "santons“_____________
A- represent all below
B- represent wise men and holy family
C- report to local merchants
5- Why are French children putting their shoes by the fireplace on Christmas Eve?
A- They believe in getting gifts from "Père Noel"
B- They hope they will spend a nice party
C- They are ready to meet with local merchants
6- Which of the following is the best description of that "Père Noel" ?
A- He is tall and thin. He has a long red robe trimmed with fur. He brings toys to children in a sack.
B- He is fat and heavy. He has a short red robe trimmed with fur. He brings toys to children in a package.
C- She is tall and thin. She has a long red robe trimmed with fur. She brings toys to children in a sack.

27. 7- On Christmas Eve everyone eats a huge dinner called _________.
A- “Le Réveil
B- “Le santon”
C- “Le Réveillon”
8- The “Buche de Noel” is _________________________
A- a sponge gift decorated like a yule log.
B- a sponge toy non decorated like a yule log.
C- a sponge cake decorated like a yule log.
9- Why do French families hang mistletoe everywhere?
A- They think that mistletoe is also is a symbol of Christmas and hang it everywhere.
B- French families think that mistletoe is a symbol of being lucky and hang it everywhere.
C- French families think that mistletoe is also lucky and throw it away.

28. 11- “Le Jour de l’An” correspond to ____________.
10- Based on the following French phrases “Joyeux Noël” , AND “Bonne Année”, which of the following combination of translations is correct?
A- “Merry Christmas” and “See you next year”
B- “See you next Christmas” and “See you next year”
C- “Merry Christmas” and “Happy new year”
11- “Le Jour de l’An” correspond to ____________.
A- January 31st
B- December 1st
C- January 1st