Christmas

How to dispose of your Christmas tree in France in 2026

Dumping an old tree on the pavement, in a park or in woodland is illegal, and can result in a fine

Christmas gifts: from what sum must they be declared to French tax office

The process for declaration is moving fully online from January 2026

What to do if Christmas parcels in France arrive late or damaged?

There are various routes to follow dependent upon the issue

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French villages become living Advent calendars with different doors opening each day to give out treats

Local residents each choose a date in December, decorate their door or window and then on the day, open up and hand out hot drinks and edible treats to everyone outside

The origins and meaning of tirer les marrons du feu

As Christmas approaches, we look at a phrase to describe someone who takes advantage of a situation

Cyberattack on La Poste: are Christmas parcels impacted?

Parcel tracking services remain down for second day

Christmas gifts and food: How much are French households spending this year?

People are buying nine presents each on average

Festive travel reminder for residency card holders as new border checks expand in France

The EU’s Entry/Exit System is being rolled out progressively

‘Elves crossing’: Normandy village installs fun roadsigns for Christmas

Heuland has also cleared its airspace to ensure safe passage for Santa Claus and his reindeer

Deadlines for sending Christmas post from France to UK and other destinations

Deadlines for many international destinations are different

Many parcel collection points in France are overwhelmed as Christmas approaches

Heavy customer traffic and farmer road blockades add to problems faced by delivery networks

Provence’s santon makers seek geographical protection for historic craft

The small, hand-painted clay figurines are at the heart of traditional French Christmas nativity scenes

French supermarket’s ‘vegetarian wolf’ Christmas advert is worldwide hit

Clip has been viewed millions of times after version with English subtitles spread

Foie gras, pâté, and terrine: 8 Christmas food ‘scams’ to watch out for in France

Find out which seasonal snacks are on this watchdog’s naughty list for 2025

Christmas 2025: festive concerts, carols and markets across France

From traditional English-language church services to local Christmas markets and seasonal theatre, here are some highlights of Yuletide events recommended by Connexion readers

Do French people celebrate their ‘main’ Christmas on December 24 or 25?

The Connexion undertook a brief survey to find out

Festive presents to give to gardeners in France

Sarah Beattie has plenty of Christmas gifts to make horticulturalists happy

French people do not usually send Christmas cards

Cartes de vœux are used to send festive wishes for both occasions at once

5 things they don’t tell you about... Christmas in France

From la messe de minuit to les cadeaux, find out about typical French traditions

Christmas parcels delayed at French airports due to DHL strike

The four-day action saw 80% of workers join the protest resulting in a significant backlog in deliveries and pick-ups, according to unions

Festive French phrases and words for the Christmas period

Joyeux Noël tout le monde - your vocabulary guide to get you through the festive season

Photo: French police stop driver over car covered in Christmas lights

Officers were appreciative of the decorations and took photos - but demanded that they were all removed

Discover French magical Christmas châteaux in the Loire valley

Chateaux in the Pays de la Loire work together to provide festive cheer and local towns join in the festive fun

Watchdog highlights Christmas food shopping ‘scams’ in France

Pastries with palm oil, excess packaging, inflated prices…vote for the worst ‘scam’ in this food watchdog’s annual contest

English-language Christmas services in France

Anglican services are performed in churches around the country

What is Saint Nicolas Day celebrated in France every December 6 (and who is his bad companion)?

Areas of France dedicate a day to the saint who inspired Santa Claus

Parcel frauds on increase in France: How to stay alert and avoid them

Scammers are out in force as shopping intensifies in the run up to Christmas

How to ensure your packages from France arrive in time for Christmas

The deadlines for delivery to the UK and US vary between different services

France cannot find enough people to be Father Christmas this year

Ungrateful parents and crying children have left events agencies scrambling to find actors willing to play the role

I became a panto director after moving to France

Sara Bowles and her husband Craig, both 54, were quickly roped into their local theatre company

Who gets a free Christmas parcel from the mairie in France?

Mairies distribute festive parcels containing food and other goodies

How children in France can write to ‘Père Noël’ for Christmas

Father Christmas will write back to them if a return address is given

What is ideal calendar donation for French firefighters and postal workers?

There is no set price for the calendars, which are sold in workers’ spare time

Covid-19: What is latest situation in France ahead of Christmas?

Santé Publique France revealed new figures in its latest update

Major French Christmas market to open this winter despite blaze

Opening date has been pushed back one week

How much do people in France spend on Christmas on average?

The Christmas meal and gifts are the largest expenses, with almost 50% worried about cost

Major fire breaks out at one of France’s most popular Christmas markets

The cause of the blaze has yet to be officially determined

Firefighters, postal workers, rubbish collectors: Alert on calendar scams in France

Many professions offer calendars at this time of year - but not all sellers who visit your home are genuine

PHOTOS: French town uses horses to collect old Christmas trees

A horse-drawn carriage picks up the trees which are then recycled and turned into mulch to use as protection from weeds

Bin, forest? How to dispose of your Christmas tree legally in France

Be aware that there can be tough fines for fly-tipping and even worse for dumping it in a forest

SING ALONG: French Christmas classic carols

Wondering what your French neighbours are singing? Check out these translations and sing along to the French version of Jingle Bells, Silent Night, and more

Watch out for this scam parcel text in run up to Christmas in France

Gendarmerie are warning people to stay alert to this common Chronopost scam

Where are homes most at risk of burglary in France?

Plus: tips to help avoid being a victim over Christmas holiday period

These Christmas tree bags in France can help with more than housework

Charity bags fund services for disadvantaged children across world, as well as help disabled workers in France

Lucéram: the French village with hundreds of Christmas nativity scenes

The hilltop community near Nice has the most festive crèches in France

Salmon, panettone: beware these 7 Christmas food ‘scams’ in France

The public is advised to be alert to misleading packaging - and to vote for the worst fraud on this year’s shortlist

La Poste, fire service: where does money from calendars go in France?

The calendars are traditionally sold at the end of the year - we look at where your donations go

Six Christmas gift ideas for people learning French

Christmas offers a good opportunity to give helpful resources that language learners may not buy for themselves

Day 12 French regional Christmas specialities: Seafood platter

Oysters are unavoidable - but there are many other options too

Day 11 French regional Christmas specialities: Papillotes from Lyon

The origin of papillotes is wrapped in a cute story

Day 10 French regional Christmas specialities: Beerawecka from Alsace

This needs to be baked days ahead if you want it on your table for Christmas

Learn from the French: how Christmas étrennes gifts work

While étrennes are not an obligation, our French writer says it could be considered rude not to give anything but who should you give to and how much?

Day 9 French regional Christmas specialities: Escargots persillés

This snail dish is one of France’s most known Christmas recipes…thanks to a 19th-century visiting Russian tsar

Day 8 French regional Christmas specialities: Cardons from Rhône-Alpes

A relatively forgotten vegetable, cardons make a come-back on Christmas tables

Broaden your Christmas vocabulary with these festive French phrases

If you are ready to move on from the basic ‘Joyeux Noël!’ take a look at these yuletide expressions

Rise in respiratory infections continues in France

Three more regions are now at ‘pre-epidemic’ stage for flu and wastewater samples are showing a 24% rise in the presence of the Covid virus

Day 7 of French regional Christmas specialities: Pain d’épices

Pain d’épices is another Christmas staple of the Alsace region. A small village famously hosts one of the most famous gingerbread houses, and even a gingerbread museum

Meet the French designer already working on Christmas wrapping 2024

We go behind the scenes to find out how gift wrap designers predict trends, colours and patterns in advance - just like fashion

Recipe: an Alsatian twist on vin chaud

Many European countries have a version of this, often made with local alcohol or spices, and Alsatians too have their own twist, including a white wine version

Yes, some French people really do have 13 desserts for Christmas

The Provence tradition is heaven for those with a sweet tooth

France’s ‘Christmas bonus’: Who is eligible and how does it work?

The annual payments are set to begin next month. We explain who is eligible, how it will be paid, and how the amount is calculated

Day 4 of French regional Christmas specialities: Chapon farci

Chapon farci are often associated with Bresse, an area overlapping two regions, and where there is a myriad of stuffing options

Day 1 of French regional Christmas specialities: Crépinettes

This south-west and Savoie favourite is often eaten in an unexpected combination with oysters, a traditional dish on Christmas meal tables in France

Day 2 of French regional Christmas specialities: Bredeles of Alsace

Bredeles are a Christmas staple of eastern France but many people do not wait for the festive season to bake them

PHOTOS: Seven beautiful Christmas markets in France

There are few better ways to get in the festive spirit

Children in France can write to Father Christmas via La Poste

Letters can be sent up until December 20 and each will receive a response

Christmas TGV and other train tickets now on sale in France

Site crashes as travellers try to book early to get the best fares before prices jump

Cart horses collect Christmas trees and ‘bring joy’ across France

Around 200 towns use horse-drawn carts to collect recycling, take children to school or senior citizens to market

Eight ideas for what to do with your old Christmas tree in France

Leaving your tree on the pavement without authorisation is illegal. Here are some suggestions of what to do with your ‘sapin’ instead

New Year in France: What will the traffic be like this weekend?

Children will return to school from their Christmas holidays on Tuesday, meaning that many families will be travelling home from trips this weekend

Aix-en-Provence: the refined city full of French Christmas tradition

Watch santons figures being made, sample the sweet calissons or travel back to the 1960’s in elegant Aix

Brittany town painstakingly recreated in miniature by dedicated couple

What started as a helping hand to enhance the local church’s nativity scene became a monumental project involving 50 people

Heavy rain and flooding alerts for eastern France ahead of Christmas

Savoie and Haute-Savoie are under an orange warning, while much of northern France are on yellow alerts for strong winds. What will Christmas weekend look like?

Did you know? Strasbourg was France’s first Christmas market

Strasbourg has been known as 'The Christmas Capital' for nearly thirty years and for many years after its debut in the early 16th century, it was the only one of its kind

The history of Christmas trees in France - and how to care for yours

'Tis the season for 'sapin' tales, with gardening on hold during the darkest month in France we turn to magic and mystery