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 * While Christmas trees have become fashionable in France, la creche (the manger) is a major Christmas holiday decoration. People pass their "santons" (manger figures) down through the generations. There are santons representing not only the wise men and the holy family but local merchants also.
 * Explain to your students that French children put their shoes by the fireplace on Christmas Eve in hopes that "Pere Noel" (Santa Claus) will bring them some toys. Pere Noel is tall and thin. He has a long red robe trimmed with fur. He brings toys to children in a sack Download our PDF [|Pere Noel] picture.
 * On Christmas Eve everyone eats a huge dinner called [|"Le Reveillon."] After this large dinner of goose, turkey, chicken, or beef; a fish dish, cheese, bread, wine, and fruit, many families serve a "Buche de Noel." The Buche de Noel is a sponge cake decorated like a yule log. Some families burn a real log in the fireplace. Download our PDF [|Yule Log.] Students can make a replica of a"Buche de Noel." See [|Make a Buche de Noel.]
 * French families think that mistletoe is also lucky and hang it everywhere. Have students write a wish for the New Year on an index card and attach it to the downloaded [|Mistletoe] picture.
 * Teach your students how to say “Joyeux Noel” (Merry Christmas) and “Bonne Annee” (Happy New Year) to each other. Happy Hannakkuh is “Joyeux Hannakuh.” Have students practice in groups.[[image:http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSKsQsUbUXRAoFGmVirs_YV5FB1fg272JNsg-nVjmcjG_RzaqToy2h77ok:media.nowpublic.net/images//cc/e/cce8f57131ffdbc3ce9e7f30c426e32b.jpg width="202" height="136"]]