In France, Santa Claus is known as Père Noël (Father Christmas).

The meal is elaborate and typically consists of several courses.

The (Christmas Eve feast) is a multi-hour celebration of seasonal and local food:

The center of any French home during the holidays is the (Christmas tree). This tradition first appeared in the Alsace region in 1521, where evergreen fir trees were chosen for their ability to keep their needles through the winter, symbolizing hope and eternal life.