How we celebrate Christmas in France ǀ Justine Leconte

Merry Christmas if you are watching KZbin on the 24th!
This is how we do Christmas in France, in my family. The food is all home-made and it comes from the regions where my family members comes from. It is the one time in the year when we all (20+ people) meet and sing around the tree.
I hope it will get you into Christmas mood and make you hungry!
Thumbs up if you liked this video :-)
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Take care!
Justine
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Pain d’anis (with anise)
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#christmas #2017

[@justineleconte]

Merry Christmas everyone!! I wish you all the best for this celebration if you do celebrate it 🎁. And if not, what is the special-time-of-the-year you look forward to? See you on Wednesday

[@Meandyoujustus]

Justine Leconte officiel Merry Christmas Justine! I wish you all the best for 2018. 💕

[@apoorvaismyname]

wish you a very merry Christmas! Please do a video of what to wear to evening party

[@lenathechocolatelabrador3869]

Joyeux Noel de Belgique!xxx

[@fatemesadattabatabaei3429]

Merry Christmas everyone ! In Iran we start new year on the first day of spring!We call it "norouz" and we have 2-3 weeks of vacation. You know it's really lovely to start new year in spring, everything is fresh, trees are sooooooo alive and beautiful and it's a bit rainy...... Actually I'm really looking forward to that...

[@deniseveronicacarroll8424]

Justine Leconte officiel merry Christmas Justine. Beautiful video. Carol singing is very important in our family too in Ireland. X

[@christinemoritz9574]

Lovely post. You are so generous with your life. You look beautiful and I always love your posts. Your parents and family must be so proud of you. May you have continued success and happiness in your life. Christine

[@Makhmal72]

Greetings from Iran. Like most ancient countries we celebrate the winter Solstice at this time of the year !! We call it Yalda ! Poetry, fireside and pomegranate to start with and then like every other nation, an avalanche of food !! Happy holidays !

[@drematedesco4095]

Mary-am Your holiday sounds beautiful! I always love to hear about other cultures and families. Best wishes and happy holidays from America.

[@Makhmal72]

Drema Adkins I am glad you found our tradition interesting. We actually celebrate all equinoxes and solstices. You see we are an old agrarian nation and the position of the sun was important. We actually were sun worshippers of sorts once and our festivities are vestiges of those times. I believe some countries in Europe also still have festivities related to those days !! Thank you again for your kind words and Merry Christmas!!

[@Margar02]

Mary-am most "Christian" Christmas traditions were taken from pagan traditions, because when the Roman Empire conquered places, they changed the pagan holidays to Christian ones. That's even why we celebrate on Dec 25th. It's not like anyone knows when Jesus was actually born. In fact, for a while in the 15th century (I think) they even outlawed the celebration of Christmas all together, saying that it was all just idolatry and evil.

[@daisynonya2856]

Mary-am that's so interesting.

[@Makhmal72]

Margaret Gardner Indeed that is the case almost everywhere. I was told the same thing in Rome. That the birth of Jesus replaced that of Mithra. There is actually a church very near the colosseum that is built right on top of a mithraeum. I have noticed that the Celts also still have their strong connection with the winter solstice. Mistletoe and the many other symbols are from their pre-Christian traditions!

[@snowwpuppet671]

I’m from Norway and we celeberate Christmas on the evening the 24th - which is today! I’ve been to church, eaten dinner, dessert and opened my gifts. Merry Christmas ⭐️⭐️

[@mayamaarit]

Dear Sanna,the very same thing in Finland too. Then we`ll continue 2 more days..today it is Boxing day. We have my family with me in the countryside. We go to SPA , take a nice walk ..lots to do ( children)...many tourists here as well. Now we got SNOW more than for many years..we do eat much too. Chocolate is MUST...a.s.o.The traditional Finnish Christmas : we use to put candles on the family grave..it is BEAUTIFUL...light in the dark. Merry Christmas !

[@LittleLaanekas]

Sanna A we in Estonia celebrate the same way, the 24th, not 25th like most big countries. Our Christmas involves also a lot of food, but not many people go to church, because we aren't very religious people. I try to go at least once a year before Christmas for a school or other concert to listen and light a candle, but I'm not religious and many who go aren't as well, it's just nice to go there to respect the tradition.

[@traveldreamlovecom]

same in Hungary :) 24th big dinner and after gifts, 25th lazy day and more food :) 26th usually im so full so we take a big walk and have some fresh air.

[@lady_stog]

Same in Germany 😊

[@chainedemoi24]

i'm 28 and i refuse to be categorized as an adult too :D :) France is so beautiful

[@amyeades9327]

chaîne de moi I think we are all children at Christmas! 🎄☃️

[@bettdwolf474]

My eight year old brother had Lego for christmas, my mothers boyfriend, who is a 52 year old Pathologist has spent the whole day playing with it. Definitely a child at heart . bonne fête. xx

[@morganinciardi3211]

I'm from Italy, my entire family comes to my house in Rome. We have a huge feast! And at night, the Christmas witch comes and puts presents!! We have sweets and pastries we open the presents and have another huge feast of the day all the family comes it's a huge celebration!!! Buon Natale a tutti!!!

[@purplerose224]

The same is here in Croatia, we take Christmas markets very seriously and that part of the year is the best for people to meet and have fun. And oh my god the food... The food is the most important thing! Merry Christmas to you, hope you have fun!

[@Amyjo_lovesmusic]

Merry Christmas Justine!! I love that every year you argue on what the cutoff age of being a "child" is so you can still get the gifts in your shoes. It put a huge smile on my face and I would be right there with you!! :-) I hope you have a wonderful Holiday!

[@ZainabZinab]

You know I started taking French language lessons because the view about French lifestyle in your videos they make me fall in love with France

[@barbhayes5613]

That is so true! I took French in high school but never followed up. Justine's videos have inspired me to start studying again and visit France. Happy Holidays to you!

[@amyeades9327]

Zainab Ioolk I also took French in high school & never have a chance to use it here in central Illinois. Although I recently saw 2 French-language series on Netflix & I was surprised by how much I was able to understand! Now I know the subtitles are frequently inaccurate 😆

[@mobile_genshin]

This video made me smile :) big loving family celebrating together, this is a perfect way to celebrate Christmas ❤ To all of you who are like me, celebrating alone - Merry Christmas! I wish all of us to find our own loving family in 2018.

[@justineleconte]

+Lina Kuzmina merry Christmas! 💙

[@amyeades9327]

Lina Kuzmina I am also celebrating alone: thank you for your loving wishes. 💕

[@MC-gq5ms]

There are 26 in my immediate family; it’s a wonderful loving time together. I have a friend, tho, who is very lonely- especially at Christmas. She has spent the holiday w us some years. I wish and pray for her and many others who long for their own family to have a family one day.

[@marymary4093]

That was a lovely (and creative, well done!) break from your traditional videos to share your traditional festivities, thank you. I love the structure of your day. Can I join your family? ;-)) My family is unfortunately down to just three people spanning four generations, but we still try to make it special. I hope you manage to stay awake to catch Santa!! xx

[@garlicgirl3149]

Small or large making time for each other is great.

[@markitsche987]

Christmas Mass is the highlight for us even as a child. The midnight Mass is always special though nowadays it's not exactly at midnight. After Mass we do have soup. Then Christmas day is pretty much like yours. The Christmas eve is slightly changed now because we've got a birthday girl. So we also have a birthday cake for her. For us Catholic, Christmas season is not just a day out 365 days in a year.

[@ivanabeba]

This is so beautifull. We did that for every new years eve (we are orthodox christians from former pro-capitalis country in East Europe, and our Xmas is in January, two weeks later... :), but not anymore - kids grow-up eventuelly and stop believing in Santa. For me, my mom fake Santa knocking at the door, and she is always "too bussy" to open on time (frend of her bring a tree and presents and put at the door, so she needed time to runaway. :)) My imagination and believe was so strong that I was so convinced that I so his cap as he was running down the stairs. :) Once, when i was 3 y/o, she sent me to the friend-next-door and prepared everything - tree, all decorations, presents, and she faked three cups of coffee at the table, for her, my father and Santa, like, he was waiting and waiting for me to come home, but he eventuelly had to go to give presents to other kids. :) she even made santa's foot steps from dirt on the carpet...always come tu my mind when i start decorating my tree, and I still don't have an answer if that was more fun to her, or for me, haha. Merry Xmas, Justine, you are making our lifes more prettier.

[@Keepinitreal55]

Lela Beba haha that’s cool of your mom to go through all the trouble! You set up the Christmas tree only on the night of?

[@ivanabeba]

No, I do trees every year around 15th December (in cities is in November, there is not big difference between west and east in decoration and shopping), but we wait to take it off for 15th of January. In old calendar (that orthodox church is following), Xmas and new years eve is two weeks later, so 14th January is actually "our 1st January", haha. I mean, just with church. It is just tradition that we follow, it is stupid that our church don't want to move Xmas an 24-25th December. So, we celebrated, or still celebrate new years eve with kids and family on the way that Westies celebrate Xmas, minus going to church and singing Xmas songs. :) Then kids grow-up and celebrate new years eve on partyes. ;) So, we have regular Xmas tree, which is West tradition, and in the same time, we have around 5th of January different kind of branch-tree (different tree!) and some other stuff. I think it is still little mix of christian and pagan tradition. :)

[@abirabdessalam2395]

Lela Beba how nice of your mum , you 're soo lucky. Merry Christmas to you all

[@danielenriquez9342]

It's settled. I'm marrying into a French family!

[@justineleconte]

+Daniel Enriquez hehehe 😅😊

[@nzchristy]

Merry Christmas from New Zealand! Thank you for enriching my year and teaching me many new things in such an enjoyable way. Warm wishes.

[@Rye_Toast]

My Italian family has lots of traditions, technically the 24th was always a bigger and more hectic day than the 25th. On the 24th we have the "7 Fishes" which are always a big undertaking. Then a candle lit service at church, then we were allowed to open one special present which was an ornament for the tree. Then the day of christmas was full of lounging around, with light meals since most of the preparation was for the night before. There were always plates of different Italian cookies and candies so most everything was prepared leading up to christmas. Lots of antipasto, fresh fruits, wine, panettone, etc. Most of my family is gone now, I miss those traditions a lot. Celebrate with you family everyone, you just never know what the future holds.

[@LC-kz8fl]

Merry Christmas to you and your family, Justine! Im from Puerto Rico and we have a VERY LONG holiday season. It all starts on Christmas Eve & Christmas, families eat together on any or both of the two days, and get gifts from Santa Claus (or Baby Jesus, if your family is very Catholic). The festivities continue throughout the last part of december, people visit friends and have "Parrandas" (think very loud, slightly tipsy caroling with guitars, maracas, etc). Then on January 6 of the following year we celebrate the day the Three Wise Men brought gifts for baby Jesus. The night before (Jan 5) children put grass under their beds (in a shoebox usually), for the camels the three wise men are riding. Finally the holidays wrap up in the "Octavitas", the 8 days following Jan 6. Many towns have parties and a large carnaval is held in Old San Juan, called "Fiestas de la calle san sebastian" . Its a HUGE party and people come from all over the island to dance, enjoy music, admire the old town and shop at the markets. :D

[@LC-kz8fl]

Forgot to add that on the morning of Jan 6, the grass is replaced with gifts! :-) The camels get sustenance for their long trip, and the children get more gifts!

[@LittleLaanekas]

L C that sounds so much fun, we also have January 6 called a 'three kings day' or something like that, but we no longer celebrate it widely among others, I actually don't know where it's come from either. I live in Northern Europe, in Estonia by the way 😉😊

[@ninecatsmagee8384]

I lived in France for several years and truly loved the traditions, the family connection and celebrations. I miss that.

[@ShaleeSheen]

What a crazy coincidence; I’m currently home in Berlin for Christmas, where I was born and raised. Tomorrow I’m going back to Paris where I live and work. We pretty much swapped haha. Merry Christmas! :)

[@justineleconte]

+ShaleeGold frohe Weihnachten!

[@evelynbaron2004]

Wish you could have met my mum; the funniest person in the world outside of Monty Python she is deeply missed, the essential Berliner and my exceptional Parisian friend teaching of all things (she fell in love) Flamenco in Canada. Wonderful to read your post!

[@marianugent117]

Dear Justine I adore this video. I think it’s great that your Christmas season starts so late and is condensed into those few days. It used to be like that in UK when I was young but now it has been taken over by commerce and we are blasted with Christmas music and exhortations to buy! buy! buy! in the shops from not long after Halloween. I feel it cheapens the festival and people are jaded long before the feast of Christmas arrives. I think I will replay your video many times as it brings me such a calm and happy feeling. 😇 many thanks, Maria x

[@debrinhac7674]

Merry Christmas Justine! 🥂🎄⛄️😘 I'm from Brazil and Christmas here is in the Summer :) We do similar tradition with the children shoes, but instead of putting them by the chimney (since we don't have them) we put them under the tree haha

[@jenniferstilwell3817]

Joyeaux Noel, Justine! What a beautiful tradition your family has of singing Christmas carols around the tree. My favorite part of the celebration in my family is reading the Christmas story out of the gospel of Luke or Mark. God bless!

[@garlicgirl3149]

We do that too!

[@strawberry1025]

Oh Justine, how I loved hearing about your French Christmas. When you got to the part where you sing around your Grandmother's Christmas tree I suddenly had tears in my eyes. My Grandmother used to play the piano and sing for us every Christmas while we joined in; 'The Bells of St Mary's', 'Love's Old Sweet Song' and other lovely old songs. I miss her but am so delighted I had her in my life for so long. Another special highlight is the Nine Lessons and Carols candle lit service in my church where I sing in the choir. There was something transcendent about it this year. Joyeux Noel Justine! :]

[@lorielundgren7169]

Just beautiful. Watching this made me cry too...

[@kms5278]

Justine, thank you for inviting us into your life and showing us how you and your family celebrate Christmas together. It truly sounds magical! 🎄🌲🎁❄️🎅😀

[@gaiafox4286]

Merry Christmas dear :D I live away away from my family and on my own so my Christmas is spent with my 4 cats and 2 dogs sometimes with friends In Poland where I'm from ( I live in Ireland now), it's Christmas Eve that is most celebrated, the same as in Germany, so I'm spending tonight having lovely dinner with my German friend (our dogs are besties) and tomorrow and boxing day I decided to work (I'm training to work as carer in nursing home) I think it;s going to be fabulous! :D

[@garlicgirl3149]

I hope you get to enjoy friends and company.

[@JLynnEchelon]

I have a similar situation. I'm American, but I live in Korea. Christmas is a day off here, but it's really celebrated more like Valentine's Day (unless your family is Christian and goes to church. No big meal. No gifts really unless you have a significant other. Some expat groups do a big Christmas dinner, but it's not the same.

[@Samantha2209]

Happy Christmas to you. Lots of Internet love coming your way! 😘

[@traveldreamlovecom]

Hi Kawa, I live in Ireland too :) Im from Hungary.

[@ilonam.4446]

Hello! I'm also Polish :) Yes, we do enjoy Christmas time a lot. And the Christmas Eve is the most important day - tradition, tradition and again tradition. We usually prepare a big dinner but... without any real meat. There is some fish though and a lot of vegetables, mushrooms. And our famous dumplings called "pierogi". I wait for them for the whole year. (Believe me or not - they don't taste the same in the other parts of the year.) Last year I moved to the south of France (around Nice) and it was my first Christmas here. I must say that our traditions are very, very different. But one we have all on common: Christmas is a family time. Warm greetings to our brothers and sisters from Hungary! :)

[@reneehaug1467]

How wonderful that you all get together! I know so many people that spend he holidays alone, especially the elderly. Your grandmother is so blessed !

[@DeborahSutherlandDebinPei]

I would love to try a real Yule Log cake someday~ everything sounds lovely~~~~~Merry Christmas from PEI, Canada.

[@maricacullingham4785]

That’s how my family has always celebrated Christmas! So beautiful and heart warming!

[@SingingASMRSongs]

Merry Christmas to you! Thank you for your interesting videos, including this one ,🤗🎄💝

[@lyndsaycollins6468]

This is the cutest video ever. I smiled watching the whole time. You seem so excited and joyful. It’s rubbing off on me! 😍

[@peengoo]

Merry Christmas Justine :) Thank you for this informative video about Christmas. Being a Hindu I don't know much about Christmas.But I love to celebrate it and decorate a tree with lights in my house. We have DIWALI a big festival which we wait entire year to celebrate... Have a wonderful time with your family :)

[@SarahLizDoan]

peengoo that is so cool you celebrate Christmas with a tree. I absolutely love Christmas Trees, it’s one of my favorite parts of Christmas! Christmas is about Love and family and joy and peace. Yes it’s about the Birth of Jesus for those of us Christians but it can just be an overall wonderful time of year! Diwali is awesome, too! Happy Holidays!!

[@erica6825]

I love your family traditions! It's what Christmas should be all about - family, food, drink, children, fun...

[@susanmathis1682]

We think your family sounds very kind, caring and beautiful!!! We love all the traditions...Especially the singing part. My eyes watered when you shared that part. 💫✨💫✨💫⭐️✨⭐️⭐️💫✨ Our celebration is a bit similar but we have no grandma... She is her heavenly home. We miss her very!!! Much. We make a birthday🎂 cake for Jesus and we light the candles inside... We Walk outside singing happy birthday and the wind 💨 blows out the🥰 candles. During the day while everyone seems to be cooking and moving about. There are two tables set up for those who need a break. One is a large puzzle... The puzzle is usually finished that day IF it is not toooo hard. The other table has Domino's on it so people can play the game 42. That table has people come and go but it stays full. Each person brings or makes their favorite food to share Each person shares an answer to prayer that they give God praise for from the last year. We don't sing because ooooh my we r not blessed w beautiful voices 😂😂😂 but we do listen to Christmas music.

[@patriciajackson553]

I loved this! In my family, we sing carols on Christmas Eve, and open one gift. I love that you used shoes, in my family everyone has a stocking on the fire place. There is no age cut off, which is great it's my favorite. Our stockings usually have our favorite perfume, toiletries, sweet treats, and fun additional trinkets. One year my mother gave us a birth stone ring. My immediate family got together for Christmas Eve (most of the family) and then everyone joined at my Uncles house for Christmas day. My sister, mother, and I were involved in choir with the church, so most of the family would come see our Christmas Eve Candlelight service, then dinner after, with caroling. My grandmother was apart of the American Women's traveling choir (1960s), and loved to sing carols.

[@lyndam8165]

Thank you for your fun video. This is Christmas Eve the 24th and this year it is on Sunday so we started out the day in church celebrating the birth of Jesus!! Then good food. This evening my husband and I exchange gifts, drink hot cocoa, eat lots of food and home baked sweets. Tomorrow we go to our daughters family home to watch grandchildren open presents from Santa then all of family gather there and we eat, eat, eat, exchange gifts which takes hours, one of the great granddaughters will present us with a recital of religious Christmas hymns and then secular Christmas songs. etc. Then we eat eat eat again and again. I LOVE CHRISTMAS with our family. I have anxiously been decorating and preparing for it for months. Friends from afar come to our house the days following Christmas so we celebrate until the New Year. By the way I am in mid seventies and never want to be an adult at Christmas time. Merry Christmas to you and yours.

[@SarahLizDoan]

Lynda M your Christmas sounds lovely! Absolutely delicious, too! Eat, eat, eat!!! Yes! Merry Christmas!!

[@nhowei5394]

Back in the day, my aunt did all her shopping for the following year at the after Christmas sales. By new year's eve, those gifts were wrapped, the holiday greeting cards were addressed, & all were stored away ready to go. Dough for cookies & pie crusts were made then frozen in October along with a few assorted appetizers. That woman will always remain a holiday legend in my family... Wishing you all a very happy holiday full of warm new memories! And, Justine, thank you so much for all the valuable tips & tricks you've shared this year - your channel is a wonderful find!

[@silvasilvasilva]

What I love about the French is that they know how to eat! Merry Christmas! 🎅

[@jillluvslife1640]

Sounds like a lovely family Christmas. I love all the traditions....especially the singing. We do similar activities. Went to church this morning. Eat, gifts, family.

[@sarahhancock848]

I love your traditions!! I love that there are special foods, I love that there is singing! I love that your whole extended family gets together to celebrate it! Thank you for sharing. I think I would enjoy being part of your family!!

[@shanacurtis4379]

Your Christmas sounds absolutely perfect. Thank you for letting us get a small glimpse of what your holiday was like. It is storybook perfection.

[@ghoshchampoo]

A very Merry Christmas to you and your family Justine 🎄. In India, where I reside Durga Puja is huge. Do visit if you can during that season (Autumn), you will get brilliant experience of fashion completely different.

[@leftybelle7022]

Your face is radiant as you describe your family meal and traditions. Just beautiful. Thank you for sharing this.

[@me75702]

Merry Christmas Justine may your heart's desires be fufilled. 🎅🎄🥂

[@queenpjj]

Thank you for sharing this. I’m in America, and we have many things in common. Church on Christmas Eve, stockings filled with small presents for the children early Christmas morning, the reading of the Christmas story from the Bible before we open our other gifts, then a huge Christmas lunch, then napping or playing outside, then snacking on leftovers all evening. Obviously, our traditions mostly originated in Northern Europe. Merry Christmas around the world.🎄

[@antonietavite142]

Merry Christmas! Thank you for your video and for sharing your family tradition. In Mexico the main dinner is on the 24 at night. We eat Cod, Turkey and "Mole with romeritos (a green leafy veggie) and shrimp". My mom likes to set up a piñata so we can sing and break it, but not all families do the piñata thing. Kids get their gifts on the 25 very early.

[@kooltom4]

Now I'm curious Antonieta. When you say you eat mole, do you mean the small furry burrowing animal?? You have a very pretty name too by the way.

[@garlicgirl3149]

OMG! The food sounds so good.

[@tuppenceandbobneedlearts]

I always really enjoy knowing how other cultures celebrate the holidays. Love it. Cheers.

[@annafieduna9588]

Joyeux Noël 💐 🌲 Justine. Love from Canada 🇨🇦. We celebrate twice a year it is called Eid. It is a Muslim holiday celebrating the ending of our fasting month and another celebrating the end of the yearly pilgrimage to Makkah. We get together with family in new clothing and share a traditional meal and sweets. In some countries the festivities last up-to three days. 🧕🏻

[@clpage871]

Feliz Navidad Justine! Gracias for sharing your family's December celebration...you took me back many years. As a Navy family, we moved every 18-24 months and up until I was nine, mi Abuelita, Juana, would take a Greyhound bus on Thanksgiving Eve to wherever we were living. We managed to spend three winters in Michigan, after traveling cross-country (USA) to Georgia for a six month assignment. Juanita would come for Thanksgiving and return to Los Angeles after Christmas. While with us, Juanita would make tamales (we are a pork tamale familia), along with homemade tortillas de maize (all corn tortillas). My sisters and I would spend the time with Juanta teaching us how to knit and crochet ("...the needles tell you what to do..."), while she and mi Ama, Lucy (Juanita's youngest daughter) caught up with family news. Juanita and my Pops, Jack, would make the masa (we made from scratch, although I've seen commercial preparations at grocery stores in N. CA), which I remember included a couple of bay leaves which had to be removed before applying the masa to the dried corn husks. Gracias for taking me back over 50 years, Justine. Feliz Ano Nuevo y Prospero! -CL, Oakland, CA

[@Anna-sd8xl]

Merry Christmas to you, Justine, and to all your subscribers! This video is so cosy and warm, it really fills me with a Holiday spirit, though in Russia Christmas is in 2 weeks :)

[@Canadiangirlagain]

I love how... just, content you are. Just simply happy, your eyes shine and you smile so often! I admire that, it's beautiful.

[@miriamsoughley7004]

That a wonderful story. Enjoy your family and your day. I’m writing this on the twenty fourth to the sounds of my grandchildren becoming more excited as time goes on. Most of the cooking is done ✅, gifts under the tree, it’s such a wonderful time of the year for adults and children alike. 🎄🎄🎄🎄⛄️⛄️⛄️⛄️⛄️

[@justineleconte]

+Miriam Soughley I wish you full success with grandchildren, gifts and meal 😊🎄👍

[@cherylstasak7054]

Lovely. Thank you for sharing your traditions. I am American of Polish descent. We still follow many Polish traditions of Christmas that my Great Grandparents brought with them just over 100 years ago. Christmas Eve is most important. Merry Christmas to all and many blessings for a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year. 🕊☃️🎄

[@cynthiashepherd8676]

Oh Justine! This actually made me get all choked up! It is what I wish my family would do for Christmas, but we are all scattered about and not everyone is a sentimental as you are, or as I am, and so life has crept in and not much of this happens. But last night (Christmas Eve) I spent with a small gathering of friends and family for our own Christmas feast and present sharing and it was lovely! Thank you for sharing this. It made me all warm inside!! Blessings to you and your family this beautiful holiday season.

[@kathycourtney2]

Just came back from Germany and visited 5 towns...Loved it!

[@anacasillas6973]

Merry Christmas, Justine. I wish you a very blessed 2020. I live in Arizona, USA. My heritage is Mexican, and we do many similar activities. We always have a nativity scene in our home, and we go to midnight mass. We eat yummy food and spend time with our loved ones. Our traditional food is called a "tamal". It is a dough made of ground corn, filled with chicken, beef, pork, beans, or cheese and wrapped in a corn husk. They are delicious!

[@veronicamelson7087]

Thank you for your Christmas video 🎄 Love the simplicity and traditions 💕 Hubby and I were in France two weeks ago and loved the country and cannot wait to return. We celebrate Christmas and have had traditions that were enjoyed in the past and have been put to rest to embrace new ones as our family has grown. Christmas Eve is the start of the celebration of a lovely dinner, Santa surprises us all with new pajamas, stockings are put out and children are off to bed. Christmas morning all are up early, stockings are opened first and then the gifts one at a time. A big breakfast is enjoyed and later in the day a big dinner is shared.

[@somdattaguhabakshi3631]

Beautiful video. Very personal and I love how you describe your family 😄

[@carochan86]

I saw this.video of yours pop up. I appreciate listening to your traditions. Me as an American we can't wait that long to open presents. It's like the first thing we do when we get up.

[@olgagarcia4151]

Joyeux Noël!!!

[@bobmag5058]

I don't celebrate Christmas. But I love enjoying the holiday with friends, watching Christmas movies, going out with family for shopping and buy gifts as a celebration of new year. Enjoying the festivity as a whole going out to markets and shopping malls in the evening is great fun!

[@Khadeejahraja]

High Justine, - a very merry and happy Christmas to you and your lovely big family! I come from a gigantic family too...pls don't even ask how many people. Let me just say that I have 120 first cousins! Now add the parents, spouses, children and grand children - you get the idea. We celebrate Eid, and typically the family members who have large gardens in their homes will take turns hosting the family dinner. Everyone pools in money so the cost is shared. We show up from every where, different cities, countries etc. This happens in Pakistan where I am from. My husband is half Irish and the size of the dinner was quite the shock to him...first time around ;) Typically, the night before, called Chand Raat (the Night of the Moon), all the youngsters go out to the markets which are decorated with flowers, lanterns and many colorful stalls. All the girls get henna put on their hands and feet and get their arms filled up to the elbow almost with colorful, shiny, glass bangles...while the boys look on and flirt :) The day of Eid, we all wake up a bit late (because the whole night was spent at the markets and eating out.) We don't give gifts, but we give money in beautifully decorated, handmade envelopes. So after waking up and having brunch, everyone starts packing the money envelopes and putting the last minute touches to their hair, makeup and clothes. Boy do we dress up! It is like a fashion show! Very beautiful. Even the babies dress up to the max. Everyone sparkles and shines! By the time we are done, it is almost dinner time. The garden of the host aunt or uncle's house will have candles and lanterns every where in the garden. Large out door fires burning and gorgeous tents with tables laid out with the most scrumptious food and drinks ever. Fairy lights hanging from trees and soft music being played. It is amazing, and because we are not living back home now...I miss every Eid that we cannot make it to, very very much. Oh, and the next morning, everyone, and I mean everyone goes shopping. Shop keepers make a killing that day. Particularly toy shops, because the kids go nuts with the money they make from every relative. This is how my family celebrates...not everyone does it that way...but we have this family tradition.

[@nancycortelyou4964]

Thank you for sharing your traditions and for reminding me that the anticipation and prep (!) for Christmas Day is part of the whole shebang, not a separate thing. And can be just as exciting and fun as the big day.

[@freya99]

Just lovely!

[@amandalh60]

88İ8Freya Cormac8k 8i8g

[@reneeanselmi1427]

I watched this beautiful video over, and over. Each time brings tears to my eyes. I don't think we as Americans as a whole take Christmas as what it's meant for, but instead of the commercial aspect, meaning the gifts. Seems like been misplaced not willing to travel, we fall out, we don't speak, we let things get in the way, we don't get together and cook anymore. All those things that I seen in your video it seems like we as Americans, not all of us, but quite a few of us, lost the real Christmas spirit. Thank you, Justine for sharing this lovely Moment In Time. I guess I'm one of the lucky ones, because I have a son, and this wife, that has taken over the cooking, and having the family over his home. Before that was my grandmother, that just passed at 96, 5 living generations, and then it was myself, now my son, but other than that there would be none. You are blessed in so many ways and we can see it through the screen. Hugs hope you had a fantastic Christmas, and wishing you the very best for 2018 💕

[@cynthialeeser7952]

A wonderful video... Merry Christmas Justine... you have beautiful family traditions...you’re fortunate that you’re family carries on the old ways... I love the singing part.. and you may catch Santa yet❣️

[@TheClairegrant]

HIS blessings upon you and yours. Thank you ever so much for your gifts throughout the year!

[@chateau6528]

Thank you Justine. Never spent a Christmas in France though we have a French property so it's nice to see how you celebrate. Merry Christmas to you and the other 24 members of your family.

[@janereyes8352]

Justine, your family's traditions are wonderful. Thank you for sharing the details of the happy and loving festivities. You are so blessed.

[@caterinadellaiuto4696]

Merry Christmas Justine!❄

[@amygregg1658]

Justine, thank you for sharing your beautiful family traditions with us. I especially love your childlike joy and mischievous-ness about the boots by the fireplace! You are so sweet and unpretentious. Your joy is contagious! ❤️

[@1Wendy_Woo]

So nice to share your traditions. Thank You Justine. 🍃🌷 Merry Christmas 🌷🍃 Many more blessings in the New Year! xx

[@mypointofview1111]

Your Christmas celebration sound really fun and you're right, the preparation & anticipation is just as important & enjoyable as the event itself

[@SusanAfter60]

Merry Christmas dear sweet Justine!

[@0716maria]

Thank you for sharing your French Christmas. It's nice to be taken into someone else's home, especially one in another country. I am U.S.

[@Galastel]

You know, it is culturally interesting that you consider 20 people to be a big family. For me ~40 people is small family gathering, with just part of the family. All the family would be all the descendants of my great-great grandparents, + various in-laws. (Having all the family together is a logistical nightmare that we do every 4-5 years, and for weddings and such. For other holidays, it's different part of the family on different days of the holiday.) We split the cooking between us, like you do, and we've got this service that's like catering, only for dishes: you get plates and cutlery and stuff on the day you need it, and it gets picked up (dirty) the next day. That way, nobody needs to own enough plates etc. for 40 people, or do the washing after such a gathering. And we don't do Christmas. It's really interesting for me to see how people celebrate Christmas: it's such a beautiful holiday, and it inspired so many books and movies and stuff. For us the big ones are Pessach and Rosh HaShanna, but we also do Independence Day, Shavuot, Sukkot and Hannukah as family gatherings. I don't know if the preparation is as much fun as the thing itself for me. There's the cooking, and the cleaning, and the "oh God, there's so much still to do", and the "I've got no gift for someone". It's mounting pressure, until the celebration comes as a relief. Happy winter holidays!

[@kathyschlesinger9648]

What a lovely story you told! I am smiling from the beautiful feelings your words and pictures left me with.

[@michelleross9782]

Thank you for sharing. I think your family traditions are wonderful. I hope your generation is passing on how to make the family recipes to the next generation. My family traditions have changed over the years since my husband died 4 years ago. I struggle with my health so participating in church festivities this year wasn't possible. The GREAT news is that my mother and I will be spending Christmas day with her sister and I will finally meet my18 year old cousin who lives in Pennsylvania! Justine, merci pour votre conseil. Joyeux Noel et Bonne Année!

[@garlicgirl3149]

Blessings!

[@laurietaft8206]

What a lovely look into your family traditions and devotions. I am in America and mine are similar. We do go to mass on Christmas Eve or on Christmas Day-each family chooses. I love your videos and love that you are very authentic and honest.

[@lindaodom1322]

Merry Christmas from Texas!

[@Atypical60]

A belated Joyeux Noel and Bonne Annee! Being married to a Frenchman, I incorporated many of his favorites during the holidays. Since we had family and extended family for Christmas I made Gougeres --a ton of them, and as needed before aperitifs took them out of the freezer and reheated them. I made profitoroles and the annual Buche de Noel filled with a sweet chestnut filling that I make. But the best surprise was when our children (all grown) surprised us with a family dinner at our favorite French restaurant --it was a belated wedding gift, and for dessert, we had croquembuche! I love Christmastime in Paris. The markets are fun and Galleries Lafayette always goes over-the-top in the decorations. Thank you for a lovely revisit!!!! All the best to you in success for the new year!!!

[@realcustomerreviews3420]

Oh Justine! Your Christmas sounded lovely and beautiful!!! Our Christmas in the States is very similar but we did not sing, though i wish we did!! Merry Christmas to you!!!🌲🗼🌉!

[@dianaschmitt8854]

How lovely of you to share. Thank you Justine. The singing sounds like the most fun.

[@brandysviolin]

Merry Christmas! Your family traditions sound so lovely

[@clairegaudreau1396]

So interesting! I am surprised actually that there are so many differences. I live in Quebec and we often have our supper on the 24th, then sometimes go to midnight mass (depending with which side of our family) and open presents in the morning of the 25th. We do not do the kids shoes in front of the fireplace. The tradition is that Santa comes down the chimney and leaves gifts under the tree or small gifts in stockings hung up on the fireplace. We usually keep the meal to1-3 courses. Maybe a soup or salad to start, then turkey with gravy, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, tourtiere (meat pie) and boulettes (meat balls) We do have homemade desserts but that depends on the family again. Not the same desserts you make in France though. Usually more like pies, squares, etc sometimes buche de Noel. Thank you for sharing your traditions with us! :) xox

[@munaal-mutairy8526]

🎊Happy holidays 🎊Justine We celebrate Eid after the month of Ramadan And it’s quite similar family , gifts, songs and lots of sugar :)) If you feel that 25 is a large number My nephews and nieces are 30 So Imagine the gathering with cousins, sisters and brothers as well :))

[@justineleconte]

that sounds like the perfect mix :-) I think Eid is insteresting because sometimes it is in winter and sometimes in summer... imagine celebrating Christmas in August? ;-) Happy holidays to you too!

[@theawakenedheart8783]

Muna Al-Mutairy and Eid money!

[@munaal-mutairy8526]

Justine Leconte officiel Yes absolutely true But in Australia I think it’s summer now I wonder how they do it Christmas is almost synonymous to snow ❄️ Thanks 💕

[@theawakenedheart8783]

Muna Al-Mutairy sun, beach and BBQ with a lot of seafood 😁

[@garlicgirl3149]

Do you go to one person's house or rent out a place?! WHEW!

[@kich6172]

How lovely. Thank you for sharing. In the US with my family there is typically a TV on somewhere with an American football game playing.

[@amyeades9327]

Joyeux Nöel, chère Justine! This video is lovely & it did indeed make me hungry! Your laugh is so joyous & infectious! I love it. Your celebration sounds wonderful & oh, wow! the food! I think my favorite sweetie would be the candied orange peel dipped in chocolate. Is it dark or milk chocolate? In our family we had a tradition on Christmas Eve: our evening meal was steak (we were not wealthy so this was an enormous treat!) with baked potatoes & other vegetables & egg nog (non-alcoholic, of course, for the children’s sake) as dessert. We all enjoyed it so much. Then my brother & I got to open one present each, saving the rest for Christmas Day. This was always my favorite part of the holiday. I wish I could see the Christmas markets in France 🇫🇷: I was in Paris once, but it was summer. I also love all the lights: a great way to lift the weight of the short winter days & gray skies. I wish you & all your family the Merriest of Christmases & the greatest warmth of all: your love for each other. 🎄✨🌹🎶☃️

[@justineleconte]

+Amy Eades merry Christmas! PS: dark chocolate, 70% cocoa 😉

[@amyeades9327]

Justine Leconte officiel Ooooh! All the better! 😊🍊🍫

[@thegoodbyegirl27]

I love that you tried to trick Santa as a child. Adorable

[@beingWantable]

Im dutch we have a word for the fun before the event: Voorpret :)

[@justineleconte]

+beingWantable nice!

[@PeachyNanaUK]

I’m in the U.K. and I have 4 children and with their associated partners and their 12 children we have quite a crowd! Usually they all come round to our house in the morning and we exchange and open presents and then have brunch. Lots of food that we can pick up with our fingers, salad, pastries, cheese and biscuits etc. Then some of the families go home and I cook dinner for the rest of them! Prawn cocktail to start then Turkey, sprouts, asparagus, roast potatoes, parsnips, sausage stuffing etc with Christmas pudding, cream and ice cream to follow. I loved seeing your Christmas. Thank you.

[@totallydomestic433]

Your Christmas sounds lovely! So nice that Jesus is celebrated in France!!!

[@JaIch9999]

Chrismas or winter solstice as it was called before the Romans forced the christian belief on Europe is my favorite fest of the year. Atheistic greetings from Europe.

[@gwenbardon6025]

Thank-you so very much Justine for sharing your French Christmas traditions. I'm American but some of my relatives came from France and I've visited Paris twice! Big hugs, Gwen

[@sharonaaviv8203]

Merry christmass🎅🏻💐 we in israel have just celebrated hanuka a festival of light good sweet food presents and familly visiting

[@jennydumenigo6562]

Joyeux Noel! Yes my family's Christmas revolves around good food singing Christmas carols and retelling old family stories.

[@sunshinegalkw9675]

Merry Christmas 🎄! I think your holiday sounds amazing! Enjoy! God bless you & your family!

[@loriblackmon-ambienttraveler]

i love that the holiday is focused on family and food. What it should be! Not weird at all!! Merry Christmas!

[@Merima28]

Beautiful explanation of your family christmas tradition. Keep it up! Fröhliche Weihnachten 🎁🎄!

[@bethanya99]

There are SO MANY similarities in our individual families traditions! I loved hearing about how you celebrate, thanks for sharing.

[@shanshanzhao1387]

Merry Christmas!

[@katiev2750]

thank you for sharing such a lovely tradition. I really enjoyed this and think it is an ideal way to celebrate Christmas especially since the whole family is together. Your grandmother must be proud.