Festive French phrases and words for the Christmas period
Joyeux Noël tout le monde - your vocabulary guide to get you through the festive season
The festive period comes with a whole new set of vocabulary
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The festive season is upon us, meaning it is useful to have some Christmas vocabulary up your sleeve to help you out throughout December.
From wishing your neighbours a happy holiday to talking to your children about Santa Claus, there are a few phrases that will come up again and again.
Here are some to look out for…
Joyeux Noël - Happy Christmas
Joyeuses Fêtes - Happy Holidays
Meilleurs vœux - Season’s Greetings
Bonnes fêtes de fin d’année - Season’s Greetings/Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year
Le Réveillon de Noël / La Veille de Noël - Christmas eve
Le réveillon can also refer to the celebrations on New Year’s eve, which might be called le réveillon du Nouvel An or le réveillon de la Saint-Sylvestre.
It signifies a big celebration feast eaten with family and friends.
Réveillonner is also a verb used to talk about celebrating New Year’s Eve or Christmas eve.
The verb comes from veiller which means to keep vigil or to stay awake, and comes from the old tradition of going to midnight mass (mess de minuit) and then going home to celebrate with a big feast.
Père Fouettard - Saint Nicolas’ ‘badman’ / the boogeyman
Read more: What is Saint Nicholas Day celebrated in France on December 6?
Père Noël / Papa Noël - Father Christmas
Offrir un cadeau - to give a present
Le gui - mistletoe
In France, s’embrasser sous le gui (kissing under the mistletoe) is more closely associated with New Year’s Eve.
Le houx - holly
Une crèche - a Nativity scene
Un bibelot - an ornament/bauble
more specifically: une boule (bauble), une étoile (star), une guirlande (tinsel garland), une guirlande électrique/lumineuse (fairy lights), une couronne de Noël (Christmas wreath)
L’avent - advent
Un calendrier de l’Avent = an Advent calendar
Un noël / un chant de Noël - a carol
Le sapin de Noël - Christmas tree
Le jour de l’an - New Year’s Day
Noël au balcon, Pâques au Tison - Christmas on the porch, Easter by the fire
This phrase is used to signify that if Christmas is unseasonably warm, the following Easter will be cold.
On chante tant Noel qu’il vient - We sing so much about Christmas that it’s arrived
This is a good phrase when talking about how early the Christmas celebrations begin. For example, if you see Christmas adverts or shop displays ridiculously early, you can use this old proverb.
La Saint-Sylvestre - New Year’s Eve
Un renne - reindeer
Un bonhomme en pain d'épices - a gingerbread man
La hotte du père Noël - Santa’s sack
Crackers de Noël / Pétard de Noël / papillote surprise de Noël - Christmas crackers
Christmas crackers, although a tradition in the UK, are not typical in France so people may seem surprised if you ask about them.
Un bas/une chaussette - a stocking
Un santon - a traditional French nativity figurine made in Provence
Les Rois mages - Wise men
Un berger - a shepherd
Finir les restes - to eat the leftovers
Un Noël sous la neige - A white Christmas
If you are going skiing for Christmas this year you are hopefully guaranteed un Noël sous la neige.
Vive le vent - Jingle bells
Tes proches - your loved ones
Related articles
Seven beautiful Christmas markets in France
Children in France can write to Father Christmas via La Poste
