Mountain Christmas traditions

Christmas was originally a Christian celebration, and Christmas traditions in the mountains often make reference to religion, with specific features for each mountain range. 

Traditions in the Northern Alps

Christmas bread

In the Northern Alps, Christmas bread was marked with a cross before being baked. Once baked, it was left on the table as a sign of Christ's presence, and not eaten until New Year's Day. In this way, the batch (and the family's livelihood) was placed under God's protection. 

Christmas log

The Yule log was not the dessert we know today. In most massifs, a whole tree was placed in the fireplace on Christmas Eve, and one end was set alight. The tree was then pushed up the chimney every day to keep it burning until New Year's Day. If the wood went out before January 1st, it was considered a sign of bad luck. Today's log is derived from this tradition, even if we never manage to keep it burning until New Year's Day!

Le pâté en croute

In the Vercors region of France, a Christmas pie was made in the shape of a cradle, to evoke the birth of Christ. 

Tradition in Massif Central 

In the Massif Central, a candle was left burning on the family table during the meal on Christmas Eve. This Christmas candle, symbolizing the passing of the torch of life from one generation to the next, was carefully preserved, and relit on the morning of January 1st and for Epiphany. 

Tradition in the Southern Alps

In the Southern Alps, the Christmas season lasted forty days, from Saint Barbara's Day to Candlemas. Towns and villages came alive with living nativity scenes, and the Christmas meal ended with thirteen desserts, evoking Jesus and his twelve apostles. At Candlemas, the crib was taken down and the Provençal santons put away until the following year. 

Tradition in Pyrenees

In the Eastern Pyrenees, close to Catalan culture, the pessebre is a living nativity scene featuring the Nativity and popular characters. A tradition that's still very much alive. The same goes for the Hautes-Pyrénées region, where mass is punctuated by shepherds' songs in Occitan Gascon from Bigorre.

Traditions in Vosges 

Christmas markets 

Vosges, like Alsace, is a hotbed of Christmas markets. These open-air public squares used to be the place to find all the traditional foodstuffs. Today, you can wander between the illuminations and chalets in search of a kouglof, a pretzel or a christstollen (or stollen).  

Christmas tree

The Christmas tree, a tradition deeply rooted in Germany, was introduced to France from Alsace as a symbol of life in the heart of winter. Today, it remains one of the strongest symbols of Christmas, adorning every French living room. 

Traditions in Jura

The gifts 

Initially, presents were given in the Jura and Alsace regions by Saint Nicolas on December 6. Today, Santa Claus takes over and makes his rounds every year on the night of December 24-25.  

Rituals evolve, but the magic of Christmas endures...