Traditional Christmas Greeting: "Joyeux Noel" "Zorionak eta Urte Berri On" (Basque)
Location: Western Europe
Tree Type: Traditional

Decorations:
- The dolls represent the various regions of France. On the tree you will see dolls representing the regions of Provence, Poitou, Normandie, Bretagne, Franche-Comte, Guyenne, Basque, Alsace and Bresse.
- The flowers, lily colored roses, the apples and sugar represent the tree in the Garden of Eden.
- The toys, candles and fruit are more modern decorations.
- Garland is usually silver and gold.
- The crystal balls are of different color and are a more recent addition to French trees.
- Pinecones of silver and gold are also added to the tree.

Traditions:
Though holiday spirit and decorations can be seen in store windows and city streets from the beginning of December, people in France only begin their Christmas preparations in earnest a few days before Christmas Eve. Almost all French families set up an elaborate manger, known as a crèche, featuring santons, terra-cotta and porcelain figurines representing the Holy Family, stable animals, and villagers.

Puppet shows that depict Christmas stories and fables are popular on Christmas Eve. Before going to bed, young children leave their shoes near the doorstep or fireplace in the hopes that Père Noel, or Father Christmas, will leave gifts and candy in them before morning. While the youngsters dream of their presents, parents and older siblings attend a midnight mass at a nearby church or cathedral.

After mass, families return home for a late supper known as the réveillon, or awakening. In Alsace, most people enjoy a Christmas goose as their main course for the réveillon, while Parisians eat oysters with pat de foie gras, and Christians in Burgandy feast upon turkey and chestnuts. Throughout France, the traditional dessert is called "Buche de Nol," or Christmas Log. This chocolate cake is shaped like and meant to replace the Yule Logs that are now rarely used.

Christmas day is a time for family, as it is many countries. France's holiday season generally concludes after New Year's Day, when decorations are stored in waiting for the next year.