In France, Christmas is a time for family and for generosity, marked by family reunions, gifts and candy for children, gifts for the poor, Midnight Mass, and le Réveillon .
在法国，圣诞节是家庭的和温馨的时刻，这一天意味着家庭重聚，小孩子得到礼物和糖果，穷人也会得到礼物，还会有午夜弥撒和新年来临。

The celebration of Christmas in France varies by region. Most provinces celebrate Christmas on the 25th of December, which is a bank holiday. However, in eastern and northern France, the Christmas season begins on 6 December, la fête de Saint Nicolas , and in some provinces la fête des Rois * is one the most important holidays of the Christmas season. In Lyon, 8 December is la Fête de lumières, when Lyonnais pay hommage to the virgin Mary by putting candles in their windows to light up the city.
法国不同地区庆祝圣诞的时间也有所不同。大多数的省都在12月25号过圣诞节，也是世界公认的日子。但是，在法国北部和东部地区，12月6号就会庆祝圣尼古拉，开始圣诞季节。在一些省份，主显节是圣诞季节里最重要的节日之一。在里昂，12月8日是灯日节，为纪念圣母玛利亚，会把蜡烛放在窗户旁点亮这个城市。

*Epiphany ( la fête des Rois ) is usually celebrated the 6th of January, but in some places in France it is celebrated the first Sunday after January 1st.
注：主显节通常是1月6号，但是法国也有一些地方在1月1号后的第一个星期天过这个节日。

French Christmas Traditions
法国圣诞传统

French children put their shoes in front of the fireplace, in the hopes that Père Noël(aka Papa Noël ) will fill them with gifts. Candy, fruit, nuts, and small toys will also be hung on the tree overnight. In some regions there's also Père Fouettard who gives out spankings to bad children (sort of the equivalent of Santa Claus giving coal to the naughty).
法国的孩子会把他们的鞋放在壁炉前面，西方圣诞老人会往里面塞满礼物。整晚圣诞树上都会悬挂着糖果、水果、见过和小玩具。在一些地区，淘气的孩子还会被 Père Fouettard （圣诞老人的一种）打屁股。

In 1962, a law was passed decreeing that all letters written to Santa would responded to with a postcard. When a class writes a letter, each student gets a response.
1962年的时候通过了一部法令，规定所有寄信给圣诞老人的人都会收到一幅明信片。如果以班级的名义写信的话，每个学生都能得到回复。

Le Réveillon
除夕之夜

Although fewer and fewer French attend la Messe de Minuit on Christmas Eve, it is still an important part of Christmas for many families. It is followed by a huge feast, called le Réveillon (from the verb réveiller , to wake up or to revive). Le Réveillon is a symbolic awakening to the meaning of Christ's birth and is the culinary high point of the season, which may be enjoyed at home or in a restaurant or café that is open all night. Each region in France has its own traditional Christmas menu, with dishes like goose, chicken, capon, turkey stuffed with chestnuts, oysters, and boudin blanc (similar to white pudding).
尽管现在在平安夜的时候参加子夜弥撒的法国人越来越少了，但这对于许多家庭来说依旧是圣诞节一项重要的活动。在除夕之夜会举行一个盛大的宴会。这个宴会是庆祝圣诞的标志和圣诞季节里烹饪的高潮。人们可以在家度过，也可以去外面的24小时营业的餐厅或咖啡馆。法国每个地区都有自己独特的圣诞食谱，比如鹅肉、鸡肉、栗子火鸡、牡蛎和布丁等。

French Christmas Desserts
法式圣诞甜点

Throughout the French Christmas season, there are special traditional desserts:
整个法国圣诞节，有专门的传统甜品：

La bûche de Noël (Yule log) - A log-shaped cake made of chocolate and chestnuts.
圣诞日志 - 日志形蛋糕由巧克力和栗子做成。

Le pain calendal (in southern France) - Christmas loaf, part of which is traditionally given to a poor person.
Le pain calendal（在法国南部）-是圣诞面包，按照传统其中的一部分会分给一位可怜人。
 

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