Christmas in French-Speaking Countries | 6 Traditions
- Camille Alayrangues
- 2 days ago
- 5 min read
How do French speakers celebrate Christmas worldwide?
Ho ho ho! If I say foie gras, champagne, and oysters, you probably think of Noël in France, right 🎄? But what about other Francophone countries? Have you ever wondered how people in Switzerland, Québec, Tahiti, or Cameroon celebrate the holidays?
If you’re curious about Christmas in French-speaking countries, let me take you on a journey from Europe to the tropics. 🏝️🎅🏻 Ready? Let’s take off!
France: Noël the French way
Let’s start with a quick reminder of how Noël is usually celebrated in France. On Christmas Eve, families gather for a festive (and often gargantuan 😵) dinner! For churchgoing families, it’s also time to attend la messe de minuit (= the Christmas Mass). At midnight, families traditionally place the baby Jesus figurine in their miniature nativity scene.
Then, on December 25, comes the moment all children (and, not gonna lie, also adults 😉) have been waiting for: opening the presents! In France, it’s le petit papa Noël who delivers the gifts and leaves them under the Christmas tree. And then… Time to eat again!
A typical repas de Noël often includes foie gras and smoked salmon on toasts with a glass of champagne as a starter. For the main course, it really depends on the family: roast chicken or capon stuffed with chestnuts, usually served with pommes dauphines and green beans, sometimes mashed potatoes or gratin dauphinois. And for some families, oysters, escargots, or scallops are also part of the feast.
And to finish, the most iconic dessert of all… la bûche de Noël, of course. 😍
➡️ Psst, find out what French people chat about during Christmas dinner! 🤫
Tahiti: Christmas by the beach
Let me tell you about one of my dreamy destinations: French Polynesia, and more precisely, Christmas traditions in Tahiti!
Here, December 25 is celebrated under the sun, with Polynesian customs blending harmoniously with Christian traditions. During the holidays, churches are adorned with tiare flowers, pandanus leaves and other tropical plants 🌺. People sing Christmas himene (Polynesian carols) in both French and Tahitian—often accompanied by the iconic ukulele, giving the celebrations a truly island vibe.
Unlike in France, the mass in Tahiti is usually held in the morning, and it’s followed by a big lunch with family or close friends. The atmosphere is usually relaxed and the food is much lighter too. Think tropical fruits like uru, mango, pineapple, and papaya, along with Polynesian specialties such as po’e, milk-fed calf, tuna, or raw fish in coconut milk.
And of course, Tahitians can spend the rest of the day on the beach enjoying time with their loved ones—it’s around 28°C this time of year! 🍹
Québec: A Christmas tree tradition
You’re dreaming of a white Christmas? Just hop on a flight to Montréal! At this time of year, Québec is usually covered in snow ❄️.
Now, if there’s one place where Christmas trees feel right at home, it’s Canada! In the past, Québécois families would head into the woods with an axe to pick their own tree. Today, while most people buy their tree from a shop, some families still keep the tradition—and there are even places where you can choose and cut your own tree 🪓🎄.
Then, of course, it’s time to put garlands, baubles, and strings of lights on it! Canadians also love decorating the outside of their houses with Christmas lights. Walking through certain streets during the holidays can feel truly magical! Compared to France, there are far more decorated houses.
Québec is also known for its delicious dishes on this special holiday: roast turkey stuffed with pears and cranberries, mashed potatoes, chicken milk, meatball stews, meat pie, maple-glazed ham, and sweet treats like fudge, to name just a few…
➡️ Here’s a big difference with France: Canadian children usually open their presents on the evening of December 24!
Switzerland: Christmas fondue—but not the one you would expect!
Switzerland is known for its love of yummy cheese and fondue—but fun fact: on December 25, many Swiss families actually enjoy… Chinese fondue! I bet you didn’t expect that 😂! It consists of cooking all kinds of food (meat, vegetables, or even seafood) in a simmering broth placed in the centre of the table. According to a Swiss poll, it’s a beloved tradition for 69% of the country’s citizens!
Another cherished holiday Swiss tradition is baking spiced Christmas cookies, often flavored with cinnamon and shaped like gingerbread men, stars, Santas, reindeers or all kinds of cute shapes. Two classics you’ll find in almost every Swiss home are the étoiles à la cannelle (also known as Zimtsterne) and the Milanais suisses (Mailänderli).
Many families bake huge batches and prepare homemade cookie boxes to offer to colleagues, friends, or family.
Belgium: Saint Nicholas versus Santa Claus
In Belgium, Christmas celebrations begin early, on December 6, for la Saint-Nicolas! And if you’re wondering whether Saint Nicholas is the same as Santa Claus… let me stop you right there: they are VERY different!
So who is Saint Nicholas exactly? Legend has it that he brought three orphans back to life after an evil butcher had killed them to turn them into salted meat! Since then, he has been known as the protector of children.
Around this time, Christmas markets also open all over Belgium. Brussels is home to one of the most beautiful markets in the world! You can wander among the wooden chalets and try some vin chaud (= hot wine), pâté gaumais, cougnous, and many other local specialties.
Then, on December 24 and 25, celebrations are pretty similar to those in France. 🙂
➡️ Fun fact: One of the longest bûches de Noël (=Yule log) ever made was created in Nivelles, Belgium, in 2010. It measured 372 meters—taller than the Eiffel Tower!
Cameroon: Iconic dishes for Noël
In Cameroon, Christmas is both festive and deeply rooted in religious traditions. Many families attend the mass, which is especially crowded at this time of year. Singing also plays a big role during Noël in Cameroon: churches prepare Christmas concerts and carol performances in French or Ewondo.
Traditionally, Christmas trees and bright decorations weren’t common (good luck finding a natural fir tree in Cameroon 😉), but with globalization, this is gradually changing—and many families now have a fake tree!
Of course, le repas de Noël is also a very important part of the Christmas tradition in Cameroon, and Cameroonians enjoy iconic dishes such as:
Ndolé—a flavorful stew made with greens and peanuts;
The very famous DG chicken (short fo Directeur Général)—made with chicken-and-plantain;
Ngond’a Mukon—a traditional dish with pumpkin seeds;
And so many other delicious specialties... 😍
After the meal, families exchange gifts, and in some communities, people gather to sing songs together!
To sum up: Christmas in French-speaking countries
Whether in Europe, Africa, or the heart of the Pacific, Francophones celebrate the end of the year in countless unique ways! From Santa Claus to Saint Nicholas, snowy winters to tropical sunshine, champagne to hot wine, Chinese fondue to Ndolé… each tradition is different, but they all share one thing: joyful gatherings! Noël is celebrated with warmth and creativity across the whole Francophone world!
How about you: how do you celebrate the holidays in your country? Let us know in the comments! 🎅
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