France has a particular French way of saying Merry Christmas, called Joyeux Noël. The many religious traditions in France are widely evident during the holiday period. Among these are the re-enactments of the birth of Jesus seen in different towns and outside the cathedrals, and displays of nativity scenes with the use of figurines and objects are evident in most local homes.

Also, French children know their own version of Santa Claus as Père Noël, who gives goodies for them as well. Children would leave their shoes by the fireplace at night for Père Noël to fill it with candies and gifts. It is much in the same manner in most American homes wherein children hung their stockings by the fireplace for Santa Claus to put candies in it.

The feast of Sainte Barbe on December 4 officially marks the beginning of Christmas in Provence. On that day people spread wheat grains in a saucer and cover it with dampened cotton. The grains are watered daily so that by Christmas they sprout producing a dish of green sprouts that portends a bountiful harvest for the upcoming year. Otherwise, if the grains rot it predicts the harvest to be poor.

The Christmas Eve is the best time of the Christmas season, made more spiritual and special than on the Christmas day itself. In Provence, gros souper or big supper, is served before the Midnight mass. The dinner table will have three white table cloths symbolic of the Trinity, as well as three white candles. However, outside Provence, citizens acknowledge local meal as the le Réveillon and is accompanied by the famous French Christmas dessert called la buche de Noël, which means Christmas log.
The nativity scenes, Père Noël, wheat tradition, gros souper and le Réveillon are just some of the many unusual Christmas customs experienced in France.