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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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 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.

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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.)

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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!

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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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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! Here are the three things we’re most excited about for this month.

1. Celebrating Beaujolais Nouveau

The third Thursday of November is time for celebrating the very first primeurs, the first wines of the year. The first region to release its primeurs is the Beaujolais, where fruity Gamays make for easy fall drinking. Pretty much every bar and café in Paris will have a few bottles of this wine on-hand to enjoy, but here are some of our favorites:

• Le Baron Rouge
• Le Barav’
• Le Siffleur des Ballons
• Les Pères Populaires

Find out more in this month’s newsletter; there’s still time to subscribe!

2. Discovering Renoir (Father and Son) at the Musée d’Orsay

It’s hard to decide which of Pierre-Auguste or Jean Renoir is the more famous: the father was one of the founding fathers of the Impressionist movement, while the son was an illustrious artist of the screen. Both are being featured at the Musée d’Orsay through January, and we’re excited to see how the museum (recently voted the world’s best) is going to do these great men justice.

3. Enjoying a New Chocolate Bar in the Marais

Summertime in Paris is all about where to find the best sidewalk terrasse, but it turns out you can also enjoy sitting outside in wintertime, thanks to the Marais’ Jardins du Marais hotel. Starting on November 9, the hotel is inviting the pastry masterminds behind Hugo & Victor to create a chocolate wonderland in its private courtyard. Pull up a chair and enjoy the heated terrace complete with twinkle lights and chocolate creations ranging from macarons to waffles to hot chocolate.

It’s time to talk about an unfortunate reality in Paris… pickpockets.

With sights like the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, and Sacré Coeur drawing visitors – and their cameras, wallets, and passports – to the city, it’s no wonder that Paris has its share of scammers. Luckily, it’s fairly easy to avoid them, if you know what you’re looking for. Here are a few of the most common scams we’ve seen around the city – and our insider’s tips for avoiding them!

1. The Petitions

Around the Eiffel Tower, specifically, you’ll often see young women approaching you, holding out clipboards with pencils and asking if you speak English. When you sign these petitions, the young women will ask for a “donation” – and inform you that they don’t accept less than 10 euro. Not only is this a scam, but sometimes, while you’re signing, a colleague (another woman or a small child) might try to pick your pockets.

The Solution: Loudly and assertively say, “No!” This lets them know you are aware of the scam, and they’ll leave you be; if you’re too loud, after all, you might scare off their other “customers.”

2. The Rings (and the Friendship Bracelets)

This scam tends to pop up as you’re crossing bridges in Paris. A gentleman will lean down and pick up something shiny – a ring! He’ll offer it to you, insisting you take it, and if you do, he’ll insist you also pay him for it.

A similar scam, this time with friendship bracelets, also happens near Montmartre.

The Solution: Once again, loudly and assertively say, “No!” and walk away. They’ll seek out someone else, rather than follow you.

3. The Fellow Lost Tourists

You’re sitting at a sidewalk café, and someone walks up with a map. Holding it out in front of you, they ask if you can let them know where they are… and by the time they leave, your phone or wallet are gone too.

The Solution: Don’t leave phones and wallets on the table, especially when you’re sitting outside. Always place them in a pocket or bag, and loop the strap of the bag through your foot or the leg of a table or chair.

4. The Sly Subway Exit

You’re sitting on a strapontin, one of the flip-down seats on the metro, near the doors. As you scroll through your Instagram feed, someone stands near you, getting ready to exit. The doors open; the stranger remains on the train… and just as the alarm sounds letting everyone know the doors are about to close, he slips your phone right out of your hand and exits behind the slamming doors.

The Solution: Avoid using your phone when seated on the strapontins, or invest in a phone ring holder that allows you to keep your phone in your hand, where it belongs.

5. The Shell Game

You’re walking past a crowd of people looking at a gentleman running a shell game. Someone bets 50 euro… and wins! You throw down your own 50 and lose, because the man who won was actually a cohort.

The Solution: Walk away from the shell game, and spend your 50 on a lovely dinner instead.

These scams may make Paris seem like a scary place, but it really isn’t! Being aware of these unfortunate situations helps you avoid them, making the time you spend in the city so much more pleasant.

Living in France has some major perks – and it’s not just the exquisite wine and food! France is home to free education for all, inexpensive cultural activities, and a nationwide standard of five weeks of paid vacation per year. This means that, as we’ve previously noted, August in France (and particularly in Paris) is famously empty; it also means that early September is filled with new activity… and not just for students.

While early September certainly means most kids are heading back to school, la rentrée or “the return” isn’t just for young-uns. Here are three ways that Paris is welcoming la rentrée for all Parisians, young and old.

1. Restaurants Are Reopening

Many of our favorite restaurants closed their doors for a much-deserved holiday in August. But now that September has rolled around, they’re reopening – often featuring an updated seasonal menu and tons of new dishes to try. We’re super excited for our favorites like Martin, Ellsworth, and Racines to be back, among others!

2. New Books are Being Published

La rentrée doesn’t just mean new school notebooks. This is also the season for new novels: hundreds are released in September every year.

In 2018, France is expecting a whopping 567 new books to hit the shelves, so we’ll be hitting up some of our favorite independent bookshops in the Latin Quarter like L’Ecume des Pages (just a step from the historic Café des Deux Magots, where Hemingway used to hang) or Shakespeare and Company to page through all the new releases.

3. Folks are Setting New Resolutions

We’ve always felt that September is a far better time for setting resolutions than January, and the French tend to agree with us. Now that summer has ended, it’s really the prime time for setting goals, be they jogging around the Luxembourg Gardens a few times a week, testing a new restaurant that’s been on your must-try list, or learning a new language.

If you want to get in on the fun of la rentrée at home,why not set a goal yourself? Visiting Paris this year is a great one!