Public holiday in France
Christmas Day in France
Friday, December 25, 2026
Nationwide public holiday
Christmas Day is a nationwide public holiday in France on 25 December. It is the main day of the Noël season, combining family gatherings, a Christmas meal and, for some people, church services.
About Christmas Day in France
In France, Christmas Day is a public holiday observed nationwide on 25 December. It sits at the center of the Noël period, and for many households it is the main day for family meals and gift-giving after Christmas Eve celebrations. As a public holiday, it has practical significance for travel and daily routines, although arrangements vary by place and sector.
History
France’s 25 December holiday follows the long Christian calendar that established Christmas as the feast of the Nativity. In modern France, it remains a national public holiday under the secular republic’s holiday calendar, separate from religious observance itself.
Traditions
French Christmas customs commonly focus on the réveillon de Noël, a late evening meal on 24 December, followed by the Christmas Day gathering with family. Typical seasonal foods can include oysters, foie gras, roast poultry, smoked salmon, cheese and a log-shaped dessert known as bûche de Noël. In many households, gifts are associated with Christmas, and children often link the season to Père Noël.
How Christmas Day is celebrated in France
Christmas Day is generally a quiet family day in France. Many people spend it at home with relatives, and some attend Mass or a Christmas service. In larger cities and tourist areas, restaurants and attractions may operate on limited schedules, but the day is usually slower than an ordinary weekday.
Interesting facts
Alsace and Moselle have a distinctive public-holiday regime that includes 25 December, reflecting their separate historical background within France. In France, Christmas trees are widely used, but the day itself is usually less about public spectacle than about the private meal and home celebration.
Dates in published calendars
Sources and verification
- 2026: Service Public – France · checked 20 Oct 2026
- 2027: Service Public – France · checked 20 Oct 2026
Import sources
- Generic ICS feed
An import is not an independent verification.