French Christmas in the Alsace
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- Alsace Lorraine France
Alsace Lorraine France: Come experience the fairy tale of the Alsace as we explore Ribeauville, Riquewihr,...
Children in the Alsace get visited by Saint Nicholas. Saint Nicolas of French Christmas tradition was born in the 3rd century A.D. He was a Christian who suffered for his faith, was known as a protector of children and died on December 6. Nicolas was canonized as a saint long before the 10th century when the Catholic church began regularizing canonizations.
In the Alsace region of France, St Nicolas Day is celebrated on December 6. It is a day for children. The little ones leave their shoes out (not our traditional Christmas stockings) for a gift from St Nicolas in return for leaving a carrot for his donkey. Children also receive gifts from their parents on this day.
In other regions of France it is Père Noel who brings Christmas gifts on Christmas eve. Children also leave their shoes out for gifts from Pere Noel.
In Ribeauvillé one Christmas traditions involves three young persons who visit all the houses in the town and sing carols
and Christmas nursery rhymes. They represent the Three Wise Men who have stopped in the town after losing their way while following the star.
Christmas markets which used to take place on Christmas eve now open in late November. Strasbourg's Christmas market (Christkindelsmarik) is the oldest and most significant in Alsace and France. The first Christkindelsmarik took place in 1570. All over France, Christmas markets abound and range in size from a few stalls in the city hall to the large market in Strasbourg with the traditional huts found in squares all over the city.
Le Réveillon is the Christmas Eve celebration meal.
vary from region to region. In the Alsace, goose is traditionally served but in the Brittany region it is savory buckwheat crêpe called galettes and in the Burgundy region turkey and chestnuts. Everywhere, the log shaped is the traditional Christmas cake. My favorite would be the Alsatian butter cookies Butterbredel which are flavored with cinnamon. A plate of these cookies with recipe included along with a jar of the vanilla sugar makes a nice holiday gift.
