It is not New Year’s Eve, but Christmas in Paris that is the main and most anticipated holiday. Everyone prepares for it for an entire month. It is on the night of 24 to 25 December that the French Santa Claus, Père Noël, brings gifts to children under the Christmas tree. New Year’s Eve serves more as a solemn conclusion to the Christmas holidays. After drinking champagne and relaxing on 1 January, it’s back to work!
The winter holidays culminate on 25 December. If you want to experience more of the festive atmosphere, plan your trip for December and spend your January holidays at home. It’s so nice to rest after the celebrations.
Festive lighting
The installation of electric garlands along Paris’s main Christmas avenue begins as early as September. But the festive lights are only switched on at the end of November, around the 20th. A whole team of engineers and designers works on the illumination of the avenue. The lights must be not only beautiful but also energy efficient. The colour and design of the garlands change every four years.
Paris city center: choose a hotelChristmas markets
Most Parisians are not religious, but everyone celebrates Christmas in Paris. It is a holiday of family, friendship, comfort, and delicious food. The main Christmas tradition is to organise Christmas markets. The first ones open at the end of November. Some close on 24 December, while others remain open until New Year’s Eve. Very few continue into the first days of January.
To fully appreciate the charm of Christmas markets, take a walk! From Notre Dame with an audio guide to Parisian sights or along the Champs-Élysées from the Arc de Triomphe to the Tuileries Garden. There, in the garden next to the Louvre, is the main market. In the damp Parisian winter, it is pleasant to warm up with hot soup and mulled wine among the market stalls. And once you’ve warmed up, you can start shopping for souvenirs and gifts.
Christmas treats
What kind of holiday would it be without delicious food? French chefs are true masters of delicacies. At Christmas, a million traditional cakes called Galette des Rois (Three Kings’ Cake) and just as many Yule Log cakes are baked. Be sure to try these seasonal treats.
All kinds of pastries and chocolates fill a good part of the stalls at Christmas markets. The smell of chocolate mixed with the aroma of roasted chestnuts and mulled wine creates that special Christmas spirit.
The famous French onion soup is not considered a festive dish, but it is seasonal and excellent for warming up during the cold season. Oysters and foie gras are also served at Christmas in France.
Carousels
In France, carousels and Ferris wheels are temporary attractions. They appear only during the holidays. Before Christmas, a Ferris wheel is installed in the Tuileries Garden. The cabins are enclosed, so you can admire the city’s festive lights without getting cold. Free carousels can be found in various parts of the city, especially at the large Christmas markets near the Eiffel Tower or at La Défense.
Ice skating
Ice rinks are a favourite Christmas pastime for Parisians. The weather does not always allow you to enjoy snow in Paris, but there is always ice. These rinks are artificial, yet they add to the festive mood.
The largest rink opens at the Grand Palais. You can skate outdoors at the Paris City Hall and under the Eiffel Tower. Every year, new rinks appear on the rooftops of buildings, offering wonderful views of the city. For example, look for a scenic rink at Galeries Lafayette or the Grande Arche de la Défense.
Christmas sales
There is a common misconception that there are sales in Paris at Christmas. In fact, this is not true, as it is extremely unprofitable for retailers. Winter sales in Paris begin on the second Wednesday in January.
But it is still worth strolling through the shopping centres and shops on the Champs-Élysées. They are spectacular! Every shop window and entrance is decorated with Christmas trees adorned with garlands and toys. Large shopping centres such as Galeries Lafayette, Printemps, and others compete to create the most impressive window displays. Puppet scenes come to life behind the glass and put on performances. These Parisian «living shop windows» are famous all over the world.
Christmas Mass
On Christmas Eve, services are held throughout Paris, from parish churches to the most famous cathedrals. After restoration, Notre Dame has reopened and welcomes parishioners again. Christmas services are held here on the evening of 24 December (vigil and midnight mass) and on the afternoon of 25 December. The exact times are published closer to the holiday on the official schedule page. Admission to mass is without reservation, with a separate queue that opens about 20 minutes before the start.
At Montmartre, in the Sacré-Cœur Basilica, there is usually an evening musical programme on 24 December, followed by a night service. The actual schedule is updated at the end of November on the basilica’s website.
Arrive 30–45 minutes early to allow time for security checks and queues. Dress warmly, as you may have to wait outside.
Christmas at the castle
We usually warn our readers that parks and palaces in the suburbs of Paris are closed in winter. It is not much fun walking through wet snow among bare flower beds and snow-covered statues. For example, it is better not to visit Versailles in winter.
However, some castles near Paris have made Christmas an additional reason to visit. For example, at the Vaux-le-Vicomte estate, the park is decorated with garlands, and the palace is filled with Christmas cheer. Lovers of all things antique will enjoy visiting the carriage museum, where many exhibits were once used by French princes and princesses.
The Château de Chambord in the Loire Valley also celebrates the winter holidays. From 1 December to 5 January, the castle is open to visitors and offers festive surprises.
Christmas at Disneyland
A holiday spent at Disneyland Paris will be the best Christmas of a child’s life. And many adults will believe in fairy tales again after such a trip.
» READ MORE – Christmas and New Year at Disneyland Paris
The Christmas programme at Disneyland is richer and more entertaining than on ordinary days. Santa Claus welcomes well-behaved children every day in his office. To ensure that as many letters as possible are delivered to Santa in person, the Christmas programme at Disneyland begins in early November and lasts until 9 January. Tickets must be purchased in advance, which can be done via this link.
Christmas fireworks
Christmas is a family holiday. After walking around and having fun at the Christmas markets, Parisians go home to gather around the festive table after mass. There are no noisy night-time celebrations or fireworks on this night. There is still a week until New Year’s Eve, so it’s worth saving energy to last through the whole festive season!
Merry Christmas in Paris!
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