https://feeds.thelocal.com/ Read the latest news and views from France in English en-us news@thelocal.com (TheLocal) webmaster@thelocal.com (TheLocal) TheLocal RSS Feed With Christmas now over, here's how to get rid of your Christmas tree in France - in the right way. https://www.thelocal.fr/20240102/how-to-dispose-of-your-christmas-tree-in-france Tue, 02 Jan 2024 11:24:06 +0100 how-to-dispose-of-your-christmas-tree-in-france France is a secular republic and has laws in place to ensure that religion plays no part in the state - so Christmas is largely counted as a non-religious holiday. Here's how that works. https://www.thelocal.fr/20221221/why-is-christmas-a-holiday-in-secular-france Wed, 21 Dec 2022 14:49:26 +0100 why-is-christmas-a-holiday-in-secular-france If you're in France for the festive season then there are few words, phrases and expressions that will come in handy. Joyeux Noël is a decent start, but here are some thoughts on where to go from there. https://www.thelocal.fr/20191220/phrases-to-get-you-through-a-french-christmas Fri, 20 Dec 2019 17:00:00 +0100 phrases-to-get-you-through-a-french-christmas Christmas is a holiday and a time for family get-togethers in France, but not everything shuts down over the festive period. https://www.thelocal.fr/20241209/whats-open-and-what-closes-in-france-over-christmas Mon, 09 Dec 2024 14:31:44 +0100 whats-open-and-what-closes-in-france-over-christmas If you've spent time in France over Christmas one thing you're likely to have noticed is the amount of fish and seafood that is around, so what are the roots of this festive tradition? https://www.thelocal.fr/20191223/why-do-the-french-eat-so-much-seafood-at-christmas Mon, 23 Dec 2019 15:30:00 +0100 why-do-the-french-eat-so-much-seafood-at-christmas Christmas is always a busy time for travel, but this year travellers may have to reckon with new rules including the EU's 'Entry & Exit System' and the UK's ETA - here's what to expect if you are travelling to or from France by air, ferry, train or car. https://www.thelocal.fr/20251204/ees-and-eta-what-to-expect-when-travelling-to-and-from-france-this-christmas Thu, 04 Dec 2025 16:05:11 +0100 ees-and-eta-what-to-expect-when-travelling-to-and-from-france-this-christmas From abseiling Santas to floating choirs and mechanical elephants, France has some slightly unusual Christmas customs. https://www.thelocal.fr/20191225/quirky-holiday-traditions-in-france Wed, 25 Dec 2019 10:00:00 +0100 quirky-holiday-traditions-in-france Provence in the south of France adds a unique touch to its Christmas celebration with traditional 'santons', little figurines with a big history. https://www.thelocal.fr/20181220/meet-southern-frances-little-saints-of-christmas Thu, 20 Dec 2018 17:03:22 +0100 meet-southern-frances-little-saints-of-christmas If you're expecting figgy pudding and mince pies in France at Christmas you're likely to be disappointed - but the home of gastronomy of course has some wonderful festive food traditions of its own. French food blogger Florence Richomme explains more. https://www.thelocal.fr/20191218/12-dishes-you-need-for-a-classic-french-christmas Wed, 18 Dec 2019 12:29:53 +0100 12-dishes-you-need-for-a-classic-french-christmas Beloved of Christmas card designers and directors of festive films, an official white Christmas is actually a rare event in western Europe - so what are the chances for France in 2025? https://www.thelocal.fr/20251208/will-france-have-a-white-christmas-this-year Mon, 08 Dec 2025 18:32:30 +0100 will-france-have-a-white-christmas-this-year As well as shopping for gifts, French Christmas markets also offer a great opportunity to try regional and seasonal food and drink. https://www.thelocal.fr/20241129/10-food-and-drink-treats-to-sample-at-french-christmas-markets Fri, 29 Nov 2024 15:38:46 +0100 10-food-and-drink-treats-to-sample-at-french-christmas-markets If you're travelling to the UK from France this Christmas you might be thinking of bringing gifts of France's famously excellent cheese, pâté, charcuterie or foie gras - but a change in British import rules is still in effect. https://www.thelocal.fr/20251204/can-you-bring-french-meat-or-cheese-into-the-uk-this-christmas Thu, 04 Dec 2025 12:10:21 +0100 can-you-bring-french-meat-or-cheese-into-the-uk-this-christmas From huge and world-famous to small, cute and traditional, France has plenty of options for enjoying a Christmas market. https://www.thelocal.fr/20251104/the-french-christmas-markets-you-have-to-visit-in-2025 Tue, 04 Nov 2025 10:16:06 +0100 the-french-christmas-markets-you-have-to-visit-in-2025 While Christmas is the main event in terms of December festivals, certain parts of France have an extra day of celebration on December 6th. https://www.thelocal.fr/20201127/the-extra-festival-that-some-of-france-celebrates-in-december Fri, 27 Nov 2020 10:16:45 +0100 the-extra-festival-that-some-of-france-celebrates-in-december The French postal service is now accepting letters to Père Noël - in either English or French. Here's how children across France can send Father Christmas their wishlist. https://www.thelocal.fr/20241121/how-kids-in-france-can-send-letters-to-santa-claus-this-christmas Thu, 21 Nov 2024 12:50:06 +0100 how-kids-in-france-can-send-letters-to-santa-claus-this-christmas Sending packages to the US for Christmas this year will likely be more complicated than it has been in previous years. Here's what to expect. https://www.thelocal.fr/20251117/whats-the-deal-with-sending-christmas-gifts-from-france-to-the-us-this-year Mon, 17 Nov 2025 16:22:42 +0100 whats-the-deal-with-sending-christmas-gifts-from-france-to-the-us-this-year They pawned objects worth up to €50 in order to make ends meet and will now receive them back for Christmas in an act of solidarity and charity by a municipally owned pawnshop in southern France. https://www.thelocal.fr/20241223/french-pawnshops-give-back-for-christmas Mon, 23 Dec 2024 14:34:31 +0100 french-pawnshops-give-back-for-christmas From rail strikes to traffic warnings, here is the latest on travel by rail, road and air in and around France over Christmas. https://www.thelocal.fr/20241213/trains-roads-and-planes-what-to-know-about-travel-in-france-over-christmas Fri, 13 Dec 2024 11:54:27 +0100 trains-roads-and-planes-what-to-know-about-travel-in-france-over-christmas The season of big-spending is upon us, as shoppers up and down the country scour the online stores and high streets of France in search of the perfect Christmas gift – but how can you be sure your purchases are safe and genuine? https://www.thelocal.fr/20241213/christmas-shopping-in-france-how-to-avoid-scams-and-fakes Fri, 13 Dec 2024 17:50:33 +0100 christmas-shopping-in-france-how-to-avoid-scams-and-fakes The average spend for Christmas in France – including food and gifts – is set to be the lowest in eight years amid continuing worries about the cost of living. https://www.thelocal.fr/20241211/gifts-drinks-and-dinner-how-much-do-the-french-spend-on-christmas Wed, 11 Dec 2024 16:39:00 +0100 gifts-drinks-and-dinner-how-much-do-the-french-spend-on-christmas