Even though Christmas is celebrated with a lot of good food, presents, family and friends in pretty much every country from what I know, there are still a lot of differences. In this short article, I will be writing about the differences between a traditional Norwegian and French Christmas celebration. However, take under consideration that this is just what I have learned from talking and googling. I do still have to wait for half a month to experience a real French Christmas!
To start off, the biggest difference that I have learned so far is that we celebrate on different days. In Norway, we have our Christmas-night the 23rd, and all of the 24th to celebrate with food and presents after dinner. For us, the 25th is basically just the day after, spent sleeping and eating what we did not have any space left for on the 24th. On the other hand, here in France, you start your celebration on the 24th and end it with presents the morning of the 25th. Of course, we do all that left-overs the day after the big dinner.
Furthermore, the food!!! The ingredients are similar, but how we prepare and serve the food is different, as shown in the pictures. My experience after 2 months is that French people like their food well done and processed. As well as lots of sauce, cake, pâtés, many small pieces of different dishes and wine. It makes up a different outlook compared to Norwegian Christmas. For dessert in France they have bûche, tarte and cakes with filling. In Norway, we eat Ribbe (pork), pictured to the left on the bottom picture, or Pinnekjøtt (mutton) prepared in a special way. In addition, we eat different types of sausages, red cabbage and brown sauce. Some do also eat cod (fish). For desert, we have a dish with sweat cream and cloudberries or lingonberry, and later on, small dry cakes (normally 7different sorts).
And finally, the decorations: In Norway, decorations make quite a bit of difference both inside and outside the house. There are also many who have traditions according to where, which day and how to put up the decorations. We use a lot of goblins (for Christmas with red hats), angels and also change our tablecloths, curtains and put up red, white or glittery decorations all over the house. And of course, a Christmas tree with some Norwegian flags and snow-crystals on them, as well as the other, more normal decorations. And now, on to the French Christmas. I was, to be honest, a bit disappointed after talking to my host family about this. They said that the only decorate with the tree and lights outside. I love the lights, but for me to feel like it is proper Christmas, I kind of need all the goblins and angels, and snow.
Anyways, I am excited to experience a French Christmas and I am sure it will be an experience I will never forget.
By Ane Raastad Basmo, Norwegian exchange student