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
news 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
Festive French phrases and words for the Christmas period Joyeux Noël tout le monde - your vocabulary guide to get you through the festive season
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
The French village with more than 500 Christmas nativity scenes The hill-top Provencal village of Lucéram has become famous for having 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 Day 9 French regional Christmas specialities: Escargots persillés Day 8 French regional Christmas specialities: Cardons from Rhône-Alpes
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 Day 7 of French regional Christmas specialities: Pain d’épices Meet the French designer already working on Christmas wrapping 2024 Day 6 of French regional Christmas specialities: Vin chaud Day 5 of French regional Christmas specialities: Treize desserts
What is Saint Nicholas Day celebrated in France on December 6? Areas of France dedicate a day to the saint who inspired Santa Claus
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
Gardening in France: French history and care of Christmas trees ’Tis the season for 'sapin' tales, with gardening on hold during the darkest month in France we turn to magic and mystery
France rail strikes: Two in five TGV trains cancelled this weekend SNCF will meet with unions to try to avert another strike on New Year’s weekend. We explain how compensation will work for those affected
French rail operator offers reassurance over Christmas travel strikes At least two in three trains will be running, SNCF claims
‘Noël au balcon, Pâques au tison’: Our French expression of the week As Christmas approaches, we look at a phrase that might come in handy if the weather stays mild
Travel strikes, face masks, wood heating aid: The week ahead in France The European Court of Human Rights will also rule on whether Éric Zemmour’s 2017 conviction for inciting hatred based on religion undermined his freedom of expression
Christmas strikes, Paris-Madrid trains: 10 France travel updates We also look at holiday traffic, a ferry company anniversary celebration and a decree allowing Father Christmas to fly over a French commune
'Peak' cold to hit France this weekend: what about Christmas? Temperatures of -15C are expected in some areas on Saturday after a week of freezing weather, snow and ice
How to choose French wines to match classic British Christmas food We explore the perfect pairings for turkey, salmon and Christmas pudding
Traditional French Christmas food and a very modern bûche de Noël We look at why France is ‘top’ at festive fayre and the mandatory chocolate log gets a star chef makeover
Visit magical Marseille and swap snow for sun this Christmas The vibrant Provençal city that offers 136 hours of December sunshine is full of festive spirit and a wonderful Christmas market
14 changes for residents and property owners in France December 2022 Key dates include an end to fuel rebates and the 4% electricity cap, aid for wood-fired homes and gadget repairs, Christmas bonuses and more
Fuel, Prime de Noël, Covid: 9 December 2022 dates to note in France Key dates include an end to fuel rebates and the 4% electricity cap, aid for wood-fired homes and gadget repairs, Christmas bonuses, new mask recommendations and long-Covid help
UK Eurostar security workers to strike in lead-up to Christmas Services are expected to be ‘severely affected’. The 100 staff members, who are employed by a private contractor, are calling for pay increases
When is Saint Nicholas Day and how is it celebrated in France? Some areas of France remember the saint who inspired Santa Claus in December
Beware the Christmas firefighter calendar scam, say French police Bogus door-to-door marketers don false costumes to sell fake calendars to an unsuspecting public
The deadlines for sending Christmas gifts to and from France Royal Mail strikes mean you should send gifts between France and the UK well in advance this year. We also explain how long it takes to send packages to and from the US
Cost of Christmas trees up by 20%: how to find best option in France The increasing cost is due to rising packaging and transport costs. However, some shops are offering discounts
French nursery looks after Christmas trees for next year Trees can be returned, stored, and reused the following festive period
Children in France have until December 20 to write to Père Noël Sixty years ago two postal workers’ independent actions sparked the tradition of replies being sent to children who write to Father Christmas. Letters in English are accepted
French cheesemakers bring out an advent calendar with 24 types to try Each numbered door leads to a different cheese, with the Strasbourg-based makers promising a real tasting experience
SNCF opens ticket sales for Christmas train journeys around France TGV Inoui and Intercités trains can be booked up to January 2, while Ouigo service reservations are open up to July 2023
Savoie: Christmas trees collected with help of horse-drawn carriages The towns of Chambéry and Aix-les-Bains say it is an eco-friendly solution. Organisers say it provides entertainment too and is appreciated by locals
Covid France: record 180,000 new cases reported in 24 hours The previous record of 104,611 daily cases had been set on Christmas Day
Covid France: 500,000 people set to spend Christmas in self-isolation On average, more than 50,000 people are testing positive for Covid each day, all of whom should still be quarantining over Christmas
Risk of parcel theft increases in run up to Christmas in France People who live in apartment blocks are most targeted with police calling for a change concerning who has access to master keys to unlock postboxes
Heartbreak for Britons kept out by Covid rules Families were split and plans had to be remade when travel rules between France and the UK tightened last week. The rules are not the same in both directions and are more serious for some...
Omicron, boosters, child vaccines: Updates from French health minister Olivier Véran estimates that by the New Year France will be seeing 100,000 Covid infections per day but that it will not necessarily bring a wave of hospitalisations due to vaccination
Covid and Christmas: French government's four tips for staying safe Official advice for end-of-the-year events to limit the spread of Covid-19
Extreme cold for end of year in France? -10C in some predictions Today is set to be the country’s coldest winter solstice in 15 years, and freezing air from Russia may extend these weather conditions up to New Year
French home’s huge Christmas decorations attract thousands of visitors The 22-year-old creator of a winter wonderland – which took six weeks and €15,000 to create – says seeing children and parents ‘happy makes me even happier’
Health advisors call for New Year Covid restrictions in France New Year celebrations pose a greater risk than Christmas gatherings of spreading Covid, le Conseil scientifique has said, as it suggests restrictions on larger events and parties
Can I travel from France to US for Christmas? The US State Department put France on an amber travel alert in August
Positive signs for France-UK Christmas travel Changes are coming in both the UK and France which should make it easier to make family visits across the Channel
Covid rules France: How many friends can come for Christmas? The French government has promised that it will be possible to have Christmas as a family
Can our son in the UK visit us in France for Christmas? Travel into France from EU countries (including the UK) has been allowed since the end of lockdown on December 15
France’s Christmas ‘bonus’ paid to two million households from today The annual prime de Noël has been given to lower income households every December since 1998. The minimum amount is €152
‘High price of UK tests means no family Christmas visit this year’ Our family of five would have to fork out almost €500 in Covid tests at an already expensive time of year - sadly, it’s made us decide to cancel
Omicron, tests, guests: Official guidelines for Christmas in France The Conseil scientifique recommends that people have smaller festive gatherings, air rooms regularly and think about taking a Covid test before seeing family and friends
Why does eastern France celebrate Saint-Nicolas today? Father Christmas may be known for his present delivery on December 24, but in the east of France, another bearded figure bearing gifts – saint Nicolas – is still celebrated much earlier, on December 6.
25 French Christmas gift ideas for under €100 to send to UK family A sausage guillotine, spices, slips... a selection of French gifts to send to your loved ones in the UK
Bordeaux to have glass and steel Christmas tree instead of ‘dead tree’ The 11-metre high structure will be made of recycled materials and comes after controversy last year when officials announced they were cancelling a traditional tree
Countdown conundrum: To buy or not buy an advent calendar? Advent calendars are nothing new, but they are more popular than ever, with many brands selling them as a promotional tool
Three tonnes of oysters worth €20,000 stolen in south-west France The seafood is traditionally eaten during end-of-year celebrations in France and thefts are common in the lead-up despite gendarme monitoring and surveillance drones
Children in France have until December 17 to send their lists to Santa Children need only write ‘Père Noël’ and their return address on the envelope to receive a message in French or in English