Le Réveillon de Noël*

Though today only about 15% percent of French citizens declare themselves practising Catholics, there was a time towards the end of the 19th century when that number was 98%.

This could explain the French tradition of celebrating Christmas on the 24th December with a very late dinner, usually eaten upon their return from Mass and often kicking off at about midnight.

Naturally, things have changed since then and many families celebrate with an earlier dîner* on Le Réveillon de Noël with some even waiting for the 25th to celebrate.

While in the most religious of families the Christmas meal was deliberately simple (for example une soupe aux légumes*) as a reminder that Jesus was born into poverty, today the meal is often a veritable festin de Balthazar* and can include foie gras*, huîtres*, queues de langoustines*, saumon fumé*, champagne* and the traditional bûche de Noël, of course.

Délicieux*!

*Christmas Eve | *dinner | *vegetable soup | *feast fit for a king | *foie gras | *oysters | *lobster tails | *smoked salmon | *champagne | *Christmas log | *Delicious!