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It’s that time of the year when most of us are getting ready for Christmas. Planning holidays to visit family and friends; decorating the tree; watching Christmas movies and listening to songs; counting down the days with an advent calendar; shopping for presents and making your own list for Santa!

Christmas is largely celebrated around the world, yet the food and traditions vary. In France, Christmas is celebrated with a feast and offering presents to family on the night of the 24th of December. Christmas Eve dishes include roast turkey, oysters, foie gras, venison, cheeses, wine and champagne!

This week, we give you seasonal expressions and french vocabulary to set you up for a French Christmas:

Noël – Christmas

Joyeuse fêtes! – happy holidays

Joyeux Noël! – Merry Christmas

un sapin de Noël – Christmas tree

un cadeau, un cadeau de Noël – gift

le papier cadeau – wrapping paper

un ruban – ribbon

un ange – angel

une étoile – star

une couronne – wreath

une guirlande – garland

un bas, une chaussette – stocking

un bibelot, une boule de Noël – Christmas present

un sucre d’orge – candy cane

un bonhomme de neige – snowman