1. What is the name of the Patron Saint of Lorraine who distributes sweets and treats?
Saint-André Saint-Etienne Saint-Nicolas Saint-Valentin
Question 1 Explanation: Saint-Nicolas is still celebrated in Nancy and Metz with fireworks and parades
2. Which famous street in Paris is illuminated from mid-November till mid-January?
Avenue des Champs-Elysées Boulevard Haussmann Boulevard Saint-Germain Champ de Mars Question 2 Explanation: The Avenue des Champs-Elysées runs from Place de la Concorde to the Arc de Triomphe.
3. What event takes place in Nancy, Lorraine in early December?
La Fête des Lumières (Festival of Lights) Les Lumières de Noël (Lights of Christmas) La Sainte-Barbe La Saint-Nicolas
Question 3 Explanation: The Saint-Nicolas celebrations in Nancy attract a large crowd of visitors. It features a splendid firework display, a light show on Place Stanislas, a great parade and the coming of Saint-Nicolas.
4. What is the French for the 4 weeks leading up to Christmas?
L’Avent L’Épiphanie Le Nouvel An La Toussaint
Question 4 Explanation: The Advent - l'Avent - is a time of preparation for Christmas.
5. The first written mention of a decorated Christmas tree dates back to the 16th century. In which region was this? Alsace Bavière Bourgogne Provence Question 5 Explanation: The first mention of a fir tree decorated at Christmas dates back to the 16th century and is found in the library of Sélestat, Alsace
6. What is the name of the little Provençal crib figures?
Les lutins Les marionnettes Les nains Les santons
Question 6 Explanation: Santons can be bought in workshops everywhere in Provence but the most famous and specialised sellers are found at the Santons Fair in Marseille and Aix-en-Provence
7. What do French people call “Santa Claus”?
Père Nicolas Père Noël Saint Claus Saint Nicolas
Question 7 Explanation: Like in all places celebrating Christmas, the French Père Noël wears a red suit and hat with white fur trimming with a broad black belt around his waist. He is tall and large, with ruddy cheeks and nose, bushy eyebrows, a white beard and moustache. His big brown sack is packed full of toys that will be delivered to every household at midnight, using his sleigh pulled by reindeer
8. What is the name of a delicacy which is reminiscent of the 4 ‘religious beggar orders’?
8. What is the name of a delicacy which is reminiscent of the 4 ‘religious beggar orders’?
La bûche de Noël Les madeleines Les mendiants Les truffes au chocolat
Question 8 Explanation: As little Christmas delicacies, the mendiants are part of the Provençal tradition and its thirteen desserts. The colours of their ingredients are reminiscent of the original robes of the mendicant order of friars in the Church during the Middle-Ages: - the Franciscans (the Grey Friars) founded 1209 = grey (sultanas) - the Carmelites (the Brown Friars), founded 1206–1214 = brown (the hazelnut / walnut), - the Dominicans (the White Friars), founded 1215 = white (the almond cut in half), and - the Augustinians (the Austin Friars), founded 1244-1256 = deep purple (figs / cranberries
9. What is the generic name for the traditional Alsatian biscuits for Christmas?
Les bredalas Les calissons Les petits-fours Les religieuses
Question 9 Explanation: Bredalas are little Christmas cookies whose preparation date back to the Renaissance. This is probably one of the best known Alsatian traditions
10. What is the name of the traditional Christmas dessert in France?
10. What is the name of the traditional Christmas dessert in France?
La bûche de Noël La forêt-noire Le kougelhof Le pouding de Noël
Question 10 Explanation: A Christmas log is the traditional dessert for the French Christmas meal on the 24th of December. It is a rolled sponge / Genoese sponge in the shape of a log, most often with chocolate ganache inside or chestnut cream and icing on the outside to make it look like a log ready for the fire.
11. In which French city was Santa burnt and hung in December 1951?
Dijon Lyon Paris Strasbourg
Question 11 Explanation: In December 1951, the religious authorities of the city of Dijon, Burgundy, decided to crusade against Santa and set fire to an effigy in the cathedral square, in front of a crowd of children and adults! It was their way of protesting against the character of Santa, who they considered to be a usurper and a heretic. Santa was accused of “paganising” Christmas, his greatest offence was being introduced in public schools, where nativities had previously been banned.
12. What is the name of the cake French people eat at Epiphany?
12. What is the name of the cake French people eat at Epiphany?
Le berlingot du roi La bûche de Noël La fougasse La galette des rois
Question 12 Explanation: For every French person, the Epiphany is synonymous with the “galette des rois”, a wafer king cake which is eaten ceremoniously a few days before and after 6 January. The “Galette des Rois” is made of flaky puff pastry layers and filled with a dense centre of frangipane. In Provence, the ‘galette’ takes the form of a ring of brioche with candied fruits on it. Tradition has it that the youngest member of the family goes under the table to distribute the slices to the different people sitting around the table. The person who finds the lucky charm in their slice of ‘galette’ becomes the king (or queen) of the day and must choose his/her companion
13. Which ornament which is neither a star nor an angel can be placed on top of a Christmas tree?
Une boule Un cadeau Un cimier Une guirlande
Question 13 Explanation: Alongside the traditional star or angel, French Christmas trees can sometimes be topped with a “cimier oriental” (finial) or an angel. This decorative tradition is particularly followed in the North-East of France (Alsace, Lorraine and Franche-Comté).
14. From which region is the tradition of 13 desserts of Christmas?
14. From which region is the tradition of 13 desserts of Christmas?
Alsace Burgundy Provence Savoie
Question 14 Explanation: The tradition of the 13 desserts represents the last supper (Christ and His 12 apostles) and are made from regional products (oranges, pears, apples, prunes, melons, white nougat, black nougat, pompe à l’huile, sorb). In addition, dates or dried figs, almonds, nuts or hazelnuts, and black raisins are included; their colours serving as reminders of the four mendicant orders of friars in the Church: Augustinians, Carmelites, Dominicans and Franciscans). This is also the occasion for preparing the delicious little chocolate mendiants delicacies.
15. What is the name of the big dinner French people have on Christmas’ Eve?
La grande bouffe Le grand dîner La messe de minuit Le réveillon de Noël
Question 15 Explanation: The Réveillon is the big dinner French people share with their family on 24 December. The menu varies according to the region, but it is always an occasion for the family to sit down together and enjoy a variety of the most delicious dishes. Christmas is a time for celebration and thus the French indulge in luxury food and delicatessen. The Réveillon dinner can continue for up to six hours in some families and it is a very sacred tradition to the French. Eating at the table for a long time is also a social custom in France and it is intended to be a magical and unforgettable moment for children too. This is the perfect occasion for everyone to “blow out” one’s food budget and savour snails, frog’s legs, scallops (Coquilles Saint Jacques) and truffles.
16. What is the true message of Christmas?
16. What is the true message of Christmas?
Jesus is born! It's time for a great party! Let me have presents! Santa’s coming to town!
Question 16 Explanation: The true message of Christmas is found in the Bible. Before Santa, the presents, and Christmas trees was the original story of the Nativity, the birth of Jesus. Christians will tell you that Jesus was born in a manger, in complete poverty. When crucified on the cross some 33 years later, He would save humanity. This is how much God loved the world: He gave His Son, His one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in Him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. God didn’t go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again [The Message Bible]. So, because of who Jesus is and what He did for us is reason enough to celebrate His birth on Christmas day! It is also a chance for people to reflect on life and celebrate friends and family and be generous to others.
17. From which city do the “cheveux d’ange” originate from?
Florence, Italy Heidelberg, Germany Lyon, France Strasbourg, France
Question 17 Explanation: In the 15th century, a very ancient decoration called ‘lametta’ was made by craftsmen in Lyon. Its metal fringes evoked angels’ hair, illuminating the fir tree with their silver or gold, inspired by the gallons worn by military men. They are called “cheveux d’ange” in French.
18. What do the French call the visit of the Wise Men to baby Jesus?
18. What do the French call the visit of the Wise Men to baby Jesus?
L'Avent La Chandeleur L’Épiphanie La Pentecôte
Question 18 Explanation: The Epiphany takes place on January the 6th and celebrates the date of the visit of the Magi to the infant Jesus. On this day the three Wise Men arrived from the East, guided by the Star of Bethlehem, bearing gifts for the divine infant. In France, it is on 6 January that the Wise Men figurines in the nativity scene are placed around baby Jesus; in the lead up to this date, they were either hidden or being gradually moved closer and closer to the stable.
19. Which city hosts France’s largest Christmas market?
Colmar Metz Montbéliard Strasbourg
Question 19 Explanation: The Strasbourg Christmas market is a vast outdoor public space spreading all over the Old Town which sells anything to do with Christmas. It is locally called Christkindelsmärik (Marché de l’Enfant Jésus) and is one of the oldest in Europe.
20. Which Christmas Carol was composed in France?
20. Which Christmas Carol was composed in France?
Angels we have heard on high Jingle bells O Christmas tree Silent night
Question 20 Explanation: Christmas in France is celebrated with singing songs that are called “les noëls”. Sung by Christians attending the midnight catholic mass, at the protestant service, or at gatherings of family and friends, they are traditionally remembering the birth of Jesus. According to the New Testament, the first ‘Christmas songs’ were sung by the angels above the birthplace of Jesus in Bethlehem.
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