The French really know how to celebrate New Year's, whether it's clubbing in Paris or the sublime midnight grape-picking event in the Midi Pyrenees or an upscale, medieval celebration in a Loire castle. Find out how to plan a New Year's Eve visit to France, and which events and festivals are planned for the turn of the new year.
New Year's Eve in Paris - There are diverse events and activities in Paris to celebrate the New Year. First and foremost, you should book a room in Paris for New Year's Eve, as rooms can fill up for this annual celebration.
The French call New Year's Eve "la Saint-Sylvestre". It is usually celebrated with a feast called le Réveillon de la Saint-Sylvestre (also called Cap d'Any in Northern Catalonia). This feast customarily includes special dishes like foie gras, seafood such as oysters and drinks like champagne. The celebration can be a simple, intimate dinner with friends and family or a much fancier ball (une soirée dansante).
On le Jour de l'An (New Year's Day), friends and family exchange New Year's resolutions kisses and wishes, the main ones being "Bonne Année", Bonheur, Sante, Amour, Argent ("Good Year", Happiness, Health, Love and Money). Some people eat desserts made of ice cream.
The holiday period ends on January 6 (The Twelfth Night) for the Epiphany, or Jour des Rois. On this day, they celebrate the Wise Men, eating a traditional type of flat pastry cake, la galette des rois, most often two sheets of puff pastry, filled with frangipane (almond paste). The cake contains a fève, small china character, that whoever finds becomes king or queen and get to wear a gold paper crown, then chose their partner. This tradition can last up to two weeks.
We would like to wish you Bonne année!
Photography: Dailymail, Telegraph
