Le calendrier d`avant les fêtes de fin d`année

Le calendrier d’avant les fêtes
de fin d’année
11
2
13
23
4
17
6
22
5
9
18
8
15
1
24
20
14
19
21
12
3
7
10
16
1 les boules de Noël
Dans les Voges, à la montagne, on
utilisait des pommes pour décorer le
sapin. Une année – catastrophe! Pas de
pluie. Donc, pas de pommes.
La solution? Des pommes en verre.
Aujourd’hui – des boules de Noël.
2 le film culte
There is a cult French film for Christmas called
“Le Père Noël est une ordure”.
Watch this clip (click on Santa).
Can you guess the translation of the title?
3 la Bûche de Noël
Yule logs are a recent addition
to the Xmas table, invented by
19th century Parisian bakers.
Originally the Yule Log was a
real log – a huge log to be burnt
on the fire in big houses over the
12 days of Christmas in France,
Belgium and the UK.
4 les cartes de voeux
In France, people send Cards of Good Wishes to wish
people happiness, health and good fortune in the New
Year.
The cards can be written and sent at the beginning of
January so there is not such a rush at the Post Office in
France.
However, the French post office hires someone every
year to deal with the letters they receive for Santa Claus
– over 1 million every year from 126 different countries.
5 le Père Fouettard
Le Père Fouettard travaille avec le Père
Noël.
Il punit les enfants qui ne sont pas sages.
Il donne une carrotte ou un morceau de
charbon aux enfants qui n’obéissent pas.
Which would the Father Whip bring you?
5 le Réveillon
In France, the Christmas meal
is eaten late in the evening on
24th Dec. Presents are opened
at midnight.
The term Le Réveillon comes
from the idea that you stay
awake all night to wait for
Christmas Day.
Neuf heures et demie
Minuit
Trois heures
Can you say the following
times in French? What will you
be doing on Christmas Eve or
Christmas Day at these
times?
6 le sapin de Noël
Practice counting 1-10
Click on the tree.
7 les chansons de Noël
Here are three Christmas songs in French.
What are the titles? Click on each picture to hear a song.
8 le Père Noël
Unlike Santa in the UK,
Father Christmas in France
carries the presents in a
basket on his back.
The basket is traditionally
used for firewood and is
called “un hotte”.
9 les Santons
Like in the UK, many churches
and homes will have a nativity
scene. However, in the South
of France, it is traditional to
have a nativity scene with
Santons. These are clay
figurines that depict the nativity
scene but also local people
and jobs. The figurines can be
life size!
Click on the Santons.
10
les 13 desserts de Provence
The desserts have a religious meaning. The number thirteen
represents the twelve Apostles plus Jesus.
Can you match up the French and the English words?
almonds
figs
raisins
walnuts
apples
pears
Oranges
melons
black nougat
white nougat
quince jam candies
dates
a savoury bread
poires
fruits confits
figues
nougat noir
nougat blanc
dattes
amandes
fougasse
melons
oranges
noix
pommes
raisins secs
11 la galette des rois
On the 12th day of Christmas, in France a special
cake is eaten called La Galette des Rois.
In the North it is made of pastry and filled with
sweet almond paste. In the South it is
decorated with red and green candied fruits.
Inside, there is a “fève” – a bean or today a
small ceramic decoration.
The person who finds the fève is king or
queen for the day.
12 les champs-elysées
Like in the UK, French towns
and cities are decorated for
the winter festivities.
The most prestigious
decorations are along the
Champs-Elysées in Paris.
The lights are switched on
by a famous person in late
November.
Click the photo for
the switch on!
13 le marché de Noël
Christmas markets are very popular in the North of France
and Belgium. All sorts of things are for sale: food,
decorations, gifts. They are very popular with tourists.
Many of the stall holders also travel to the UK to take part in
the Christmas markets that are becoming popular in big
cities.
14 le foie gras
This is a very expensive pâté made from goose or
duck liver.
The geese or ducks are treated very well by the
farmers and are fed on corn which they find delicious.
It is eaten as a starter during Le Réveillon – the
Christmas meal in France.
You eat foie gras with thin slices
of toasted bread and sometimes
rock salt or fig chutney.
15 les rennes
Le Père Noël a huit rennes qui font avancer son
traineau :
- Fougueux (Dasher)
- Danseur (Dancer)
- Fringant (Prancer)
- Mégère (Vixen)
- Comète (Comet)
- Cupidon (Cupid)
- Tonnerre (Thunder)
- Eclair (Blixen).
What are their names in English?
16 les pantoufles
French children send letters to Father Christmas to
tell him what gifts they would like to receive.
Unlike here, he puts the gifts in a slipper for children
(who have been good) to find.
If they have been bad, it is the Père Fouettard who
leaves something for them to find.
17 les Restos du Coeur
This charity was started in 1985 by Coluche, a French
comedian, to help people without food or shelter. He thought it
would only be needed for a year or two. The first of the Restos
opened on 21 December and soon multiplied all over the
country. The goal of the founders was to give away 2,000 to
3,000 meals per day; 8.5 million alone were distributed the first
winter. The charity is still running today in several countries in
Europe.
To raise money every year, celebrities make a record and hold
concerts using the name “Les Enfoirés” (politely translated as
the Dumbos).
Click on the image to hear their first song.
18 les soldes
Unlike in Great Britain, the French government
tells the shops when they can have a sale. The
sales can only last a very strict amount of time
and start on specific dates.
These dates change from region to region. The
Christmas sales don’t start until mid-January.
People near another region will travel – even
cross the border to Belgium – to get a bargain!
19 les décorations de Noël
Le sapin de Noël vient de l’Alsace.
Une région de France très proche de l’Allemagne.
Il faut des guirlandes, des boules de Noël et des rubans.
Cliquez sur l’image pour décorer un sapin.
20 les vitrines
Your parents may have taken you to visit Santa
Claus in a department store when you were
younger.
In France, children are taken to see the animated
puppets in the department store windows.
The displays change every year and take a great
deal of preparation. All of which is top secret.
However, there is only one puppeteer in France able
to make these displays.
He charges a lot of money! (click on the link to see
the puppets)
21 les vacances
The 25th December is a public holiday in France, as it
is in Britain.
The Christmas meal is eaten late at night on the 24th
although it is not a holiday. There is a rush to get home
to start cooking after work on Christmas Eve! Some
businesses let employees leave a little early.
However, Boxing Day on the 26th is not a holiday,
because it is a British tradition. Everyone goes back to
work!
22 les rennes 2
Les rennes habitent dans le nord de l’Europe.
Ils ont des bois sur la tête.
Ils ont un museau.
Seulement Rudolf a un nez rouge au bout de son
museau.
Reconstruisez la tête de Rudolf – en 30 secondes…
Ou creez votre propre Rudolf (il te faudrait du papier, de
la colle et des ciseaux)…
http://ngfl.northumberland.gov.uk/christmas/languages/renne.swf
23 le gui
This plant has a long history. For the
ancient Celtic Druids, it was considered
sacred because of its miraculous
properties - in healing, protection against
all sorts of witchcraft. Mistletoe is
suspended - either from the ceiling or a
doorway. It's the tradition to kiss under
the mistletoe, a symbol of prosperity and
long life.
24 les huîtres
Oysters are often eaten in
France for Le Réveillon – the
Christmas meal.
There are many oyster farmers
in France. France is the
leading producer of oysters in
Europe.
They are eaten raw with
vinaigrette and finely chopped
shallots.