Month: December 2018

4 French Christmas Traditions That Stand Out

Christmas traditions are different around the world, and while a French Christmas may look a lot like an American one, there are a few traditions that make it stand out. Here are four of our favorites.

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1. Advent Calendars

The days leading up to Christmas are known as Advent, and in France, this period of time is celebrated with a calendar filled with chocolates, easily found in any supermarket in Paris beginning as early as late October. On every day of December leading up the the 25th, children open a window in their cardboard calendar to reveal a small chocolate, generally in a festive shape.

While some adults get a chocolate Advent calendar too, other types of calendar, including ones revealing bottles of beer instead of chocolates, have become popular in recent years.

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2. Saint Nicholas Day

Early in December, Christmas festivities begin with Saint Nicholas Day, a day derived from the tradition of Saint Nicholas, a man who lived in Turkey in the 3rd century and developed a tradition of gift-giving. In several European countries, including in France, he is commemorated each December 6th with a unique tradition.

On the eve of Saint Nicholas Day, children leave their shoes by the hearth before they go to bed. In the morning, their shoes are filled with coins and sometimes small toys or clementines.

This tradition is especially popular in Northeastern France, where delicious gingerbread cookies in the shape of the original Saint Nick are baked and sold.

3. Christmas Eve

Whereas for most American families, the big holiday is the 25th, in France, the biggest Christmas party takes place on a day when many Americans are still at work: the 24th.

The big Christmas dinner usually takes place on Christmas Eve in France, and some families even exchange gifts on the 24th as well.

What you’ll eat depends a lot on where you live. Many French families roast a turkey with all the trimmings. In Provence, it’s not uncommon to serve fish, followed by a 13-piece traditional Christmas dessert featuring nuts, dried fruits, and marzipan.

4. Epiphany

Most folks don’t know that when we sing about the “12 days of Christmas,” the countdown actually starts on Christmas. The culmination is on January 6th: Epiphany. Traditionally celebrated as the day when the three wise men arrived at the birth of Jesus, in secular France, it’s mainly a day for yet another food-fueled celebration, this time, with a very specific cake known as a galette des rois.

Galettes are puff pastry rounds stuffed with almond paste and a small fève, a porcelain figurine that gets its name from having once been a dried fava bean. The cake is sliced, and the youngest guest sits beneath the table to decide who gets each piece. The person with the fève in his or her slice is crowned king!

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5 Secret Beauty Gems to Uncover at Parisian Pharmacies

It took us a while to understand the beauty of the French pharmacy. Distinct from the American drugstore, the pharmacy is not where you go to buy basic shampoo or a bag of chips (we learned that the hard way, after finding no snacks in sight and paying a pretty penny for the cheapest chapstick). Rather, the pharmacy is a place to seek out prescription medications, holistic or homeopathic remedies, and the very best of French beauty products.

It’s no surprise to us that beauty bloggers have jumped on the French beauty product bandwagon – the variety and quality truly are staggering. If you too want to discover the best that French pharmacies have to offer, here are a few items that might find their way into our suitcases and into the Christmas stockings of our loved ones this holiday season!

1. Klorane Dry Shampoo

Ever wondered how Parisiennes always seem to look like they had time to do their hair, even first thing in the morning? Many rely on Klorane, a dry shampoo we absolutely love for those days you’re dashing out the door. It doesn’t leave a residue and has a super pleasant smell. Perhaps best of all, they make one just for brunettes!

2. Bioderma Makeup Remover

This product is so popular it’s said that a bottle is sold every two seconds! This non-rinse makeup remover works wonders, easily wiping away even the most stubborn of water-proof mascaras while remaining gentle on your skin. We love the dry and sensitive skin versions in this line for daily use!

3. Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse

This golden oil can be applied on hair, skin, nails, or face – anywhere you need a bit more moisture and a natural glow. Made with six all-natural plant-based sources of Vitamin E, this oil repairs your cells without leaving a greasy residue behind.

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4. Caudalie Face-Lifting Cream

Caudalie unites two of our favorite French products: skincare and wine. This line of beauty products is based on “vinotherapy,” the idea that grapes, grapevines, and grapeseeds contain the antioxidants necessary to give your skin a youthful, healthy appearance. In fact, the brand’s name comes from a wine term for the time a wine’s flavors linger on the palate after tasting. The brand’s face-lifting cream contains a patented combination of resveratrol and hyaluronic acid, clinically proven to increase your skin’s natural production of hyaluronic acid up to three times.

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5. La Roche Posay Ultra Light Face Sunscreen

La Roche Posay is the brand to beat for high-quality, high-SPF sunscreen that offers great protection without ever being greasy or sticky. This little tube specifically developed for the face offers SPF 50 protection and is particularly easy on sensitive skin around the eyes.

Top Image: Thesupermat

The Insider’s Scoop on the Paris Protests

Following the past few weekends of “Yellow Vest” protests, a number of people have been asking us, not just if we’re OK in Paris (we are!) but also if it’s safe to come here. The short answer is yes!

When protests like these take place, news coverage can often lead to misinformation or a distorted view of the facts. The reality is there were a few protests confined to a small area of the city, and it has been relatively easy to steer clear of them. Protesting is part and parcel of French culture and has been since the French Revolution, and while these protests have been tied to more destruction than most (a complicated relationship we’ll get into a bit more below), there’s no need to worry about the safety of any friends or family traveling to Paris. The city is well and ready to welcome you – and even better, it’s all dressed up for the holidays!

If you’re interested in knowing more about what’s been going on in Paris, however, here’s the insider scoop.

Why Are People Protesting?

As a Socialist country in the largely capitalist West, France walks the fine line between encouraging economic growth and providing rights for its employees. And while some draw comparisons (however flimsy) to the 18th and 19th century French Revolutions, the act of protest is deeply rooted in French culture, especially when people feel their rights are being threatened.

The “Yellow Vest” demonstrations first began as a protest against an increased fuel tax on the part of working class people who already struggle to make ends meet. Over the last few weeks, the movement has expanded to highlight other issues facing France: an ever-deepening wage gap, recent tax cuts for the rich, unemployment, and low economic growth over the past decade.

What’s it Like in Paris?

The French have the constitutional right to protest, which they have long used liberally. It’s not infrequent to witness demonstrations in Paris, usually on Saturdays confined to the city’s largest squares, like Place de la RĂ©publique.

The past few Saturdays, protesters have been assembling instead in ritzy neighborhoods of Paris, such as along the Champs-Elysées, wearing the yellow vests that all are required to keep in their cars in case of emergencies. While the protests have been largely peaceful, there have been some cases of people (who are not necessarily associated with the movement) resorting to acts of vandalism. The news media has been conflating these images with images of the protesters, leading many people – both in France and abroad – to come to the erroneous conclusion that this is a violent protest.

What Does This Mean for Visitors?

Paris is a safe place to live and visit, even during the protests. Most inconveniences can be avoided simply by staying away from the areas where protests are taking place and not engaging with (or photographing!) protesters.

Inconveniences linked to the protest have been confined to protest days – namely, Saturdays. On the past few Saturdays, as a precautionary measure, the city of Paris has closed a handful of metro lines and stations, mainly near the Champs-Elysées, Opera house, and République. In addition, last Saturday, the city of Paris decided to shut certain museums and monuments for the day and encouraged small businesses not to open. The city has been posting monument closures and other information on its website to minimize the effects on people’s daily lives.

While there have certainly been some instances of vandalism, for the most part, these demonstrations have been relatively peaceful, and they have not stopped Parisians from getting on with our lives – or visitors to Paris from enjoying the city.

So please come pay us a visit – we’d love to show you around!

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Top 5 Things to Do in December in Paris

The Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, a food tour – there are certain Paris must-sees that never change. But the French capital is also home to a thriving, ever-changing scene of exhibits, concerts, and more! In keeping with the holiday spirit, here are the five things we’re most excited about for this month.

1. Christmas Windows at the Department Stores

Paris is home to several grands magasins, gorgeous department stores that are far more than a mere shopping experience. The Galeries Lafayette is known for the beautiful Piaget Christmas tree in its rotunda, while Printemps is now home to one of our favorite places to grab a quick bite to eat: Printemps du Goût, on the top floor of the gorgeous 19th century building.

To celebrate Christmas, these stores have inaugurated their annual holiday windows: at Galeries Lafayette, the designs were made in part by children from 5 to 11 years old, who were invited to draw their Christmas heroes and see them transformed into stuffed puppets. At Printemps, meanwhile, the windows were developed in association with luxury brand Maison Boucheron to evoke the “Magical World of Father Christmas.”

While not in the same neighborhood, don’t miss the windows at BHV, which boast a Mary Poppins Christmas theme this year and have proven to be our personal favorites of 2018! (It’s also not far from one of our favorite hot chocolates in Paris – a secret spot at the Jardins du Marais hotel. (Discover some of our other chocolatey faves on our Sweet Tooth in Saint-Germain tour.)

2. Ice Skating at the Grand Palais

The ornate Grand Palais is transformed into a patinoire for skating every year beginning just before Christmas. This year, the indoor Grand Palais des Glaces invites you to skate on the largest ice rink in the world from December 16 to January 9. Grab tickets online for skip-the-line access to daytime skating and nighttime shows!

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3. Christmas Concerts

We’re huge fans of Christmas music, and so is our adopted city! Paris really pulls out all the stops at the holidays with concerts at some of its most beautiful Gothic churches, from Saint-Sulpice to Eglise Saint-Roch to the Madeleine. We’re particularly looking forward to the annual Christmas concert at Notre-Dame Cathedral – there’s really nothing like it for getting into the spirit of Christmas!

4. Illuminated Species at the Jardin des Plantes

If you’re traveling with kids (or any fans of animals!) a visit to the Jardin des Plantes to see a variety of animal-themed illuminations. This nighttime walk inspires wonder and awe as you glimpse pandas and turtles and even walk through an enormous illuminated shark’s mouth! Check out the real thing at the menagerie right next door.

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5. The Last Month of the Klimt Exhibit

We’ve heard nothing but raves about the Gustav Klimt exhibit currently on display at the Atelier des Lumières. For this unique experience, the works of the Viennese artist are projected and set to music, for an immersive experience unlike any other. Given its popularity, this exhibit has been extended through January, so now’s the time to go – before it’s too late!

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