Christmas Vocabulary: at the heart of a typical French Christmas market.

On this Christmas Day, I'm taking you on a tour of French Christmas markets. Increasingly popular, Christmas markets, once a typical Alsatian tradition, are now bringing the spirit of Christmas to the whole of France. In this article, I invite you to follow me to the Christmas markets in Arras and Lille, and to take a look at French Christmas vocabulary together. Let's go!

Here are a few photos of the Lille market, with its Ferris wheel and entertainment:

Christmas markets in France are a tradition that originated in Alsace, in eastern France.

When I was a child, my village council organized a bus trip every year to visit a Christmas market on the German border or in Alsace. For us northerners, that's where the magic of Christmas happened, and we'd travel miles to enjoy it. Indeed, in eastern France, the tradition of Christmas markets goes back a hundred years. Strasbourg's Christmas market is said to have begun in 1570!

Here's a report from France 3 on one of these legendary markets:

LISTENING EXERCISE: Click on the arrow to the left of this text and test your listening comprehension by answering the questions about this report.

The Arras market in northern France rivals the Alsatian markets.

This year, I returned to my native Nord-Pas-de-Calais to spend Christmas with family and friends. I was surprised to discover that nowadays, every town in France competes to top the list of the most beautiful Christmas markets in France, and even in Europe!

Such is the case for the town of Arras, in the Pas-de-Calais region, a dynamic and charming city where I studied for part of my degree. Its typical Flemish architecture and facades, its large squares, and its belfry lend themselves particularly well to Christmas decorations. It even overshadows Lille, the capital of the Nord region, which, apart from its Ferris wheel, doesn't stand out in the minds of Christmas lovers.

Arras, on the other hand, is often featured in the top 10 of France's most beautiful Christmas markets. I had the pleasure of wandering its streets again to enjoy the festive atmosphere, a pleasure I wanted to share with you through these few photos!

Christmas market essentials: vocabulary in pictures.

Warm lights adorn the facades and lampposts. Christmas music plays in the background, and glittering decorations in the shape of baubles, fir trees, giant presents, and snowmen set the mood.

Children's merry-go-rounds, a Ferris wheel, and an ice skating rink enchant young and old. A few shopkeepers try to sell their trinkets, candles, elves, Santa Claus, his bonnet, or his reindeer, but where visitors line up, is in front of the food chalets.

Fondue savoyarde, tartiflette, croziflette, spaetzle, and choucroute are the most popular dishes, accompanied by a good wine or hot cider. Even in the north of France, Alsatian and mountain recipes are what people are looking for to warm up!

Those with a sweet tooth will also be tempted by a dessert from an equally exotic horizon: Liège waffles, Spanish churros and gingerbread cookies from our German neighbors perfume the squares with their tempting smells.

SPEAKING EXERCICE

And in your own country, what can you find at Christmas markets? What are the specialties? Which are the most famous markets?

Book your French course online in my schedule to discuss the subject

and practice your conversation!

WRITTING EXERCICE

Choose 1 photo that best represents your Christmas and write a short paragraph describing it.

Share your work in the comments of this article, I will correct it with some comments to help you improve your skills!

I look forward to seeing you in class.

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