In light of the holidays, I have been reflecting upon the beauty of Christmas and what it means. Last Christmas was my first away from home. I was in France, and I learned valuable things about the way different cultures celebrate. Without further ado, here are some differences I noticed.
1. It lasts longer.
Since there is no Thanksgiving and the French hardly celebrate Halloween, they begin prepping for Christmas at the end of October. Cities were lit up with trees and lights and snow as the holiday season was welcomed. Warm bakeries were filled with the lingering smell of Christmas dishes and yummy specialties. It was magical.
2. Christmas markets.
Oh my goodness. Christmas markets are everywhere in France. No matter what city you’re in, you can count on finding at least one or two markets. With local handcrafted gifts and delicious food, they encapsulate the most warm, fuzzy feelings Christmas has to offer.
3. The “Christmas” culture.
Americans are really big on Christmas movies, music, decorations, food, parades and pretty much anything else imaginable. Heck, we even have Christmas tree Little Debbies. Most of that is unheard of in France. They play American Christmas music in the markets and have probably never even heard of “Elf.” It was pretty funny, however, to hear the French talk about how extravagant we are with the holiday, considering they have insanely huge markets and spend tons of time intricately decorating their towns.
4. Consumerism.
Black Friday is a prime example of the consumerist attitude Americans have during the holidays. The French care more about spending time with their families and enjoying the season. It was really refreshing to be able to spend my Christmas in a simple yet fulfilling way.
Celebrating Christmas varies from culture to culture and reflects a variety of things about each place. I adored the beauty of a French Noël blanc, but I can’t wait for this year’s “tender Tennessee Christmas."