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Rebonjour!
It’s time for the next French-inspired season (and my favorite): A French-Inspired Christmas!
It has been a minute since I’ve written a new post, but not because of writer’s block. My family and I moved to a new state over the past month, and it was quite a process. If you receive my newsletters, I filled you in on a few of those details. Suffice it to say that what everyone says is true: moving sucks. But you probably already know that.
Currently I am not only surrounded by moving boxes but also red and green Christmas storage bins. But my little girls wouldn’t have it any other way. The living room may not be fully set up, but we will have a Christmas tree, dang it. And in the midst of unpacking, I realized that many of my Christmas decorations are, of course, French inspired. This made the timing perfect to post habout a French-inspired Christmas. (Click the links for other French-inspired seasons, like Summer and Autumn.)
But stay tuned, because during the three weeks of living in a hotel (joy), I created some other fun content for you, and I am giving it to you for FREE this Christmas season. But a little more on that later….
How to Have a French-Inspired Winter/Christmas Season
If you are a Francophile, and I’m willing to bet you are, then you know just how special France is during the Christmas season. I know not everyone celebrates Christmas, but like it or not most of us must endure the Winter season. And by endure, I really mean celebrate because I actually love this time of year.
The hot drinks, the sweaters, the stylish outerwear, sitting by the fire with a glass of red wine… it’s all just so cozy. These are the Winter rituals I grew up with. And after living in hotter climates for so much of my adult life, I really cherish the opportunity to live out my Winter fantasies. So even if you don’t celebrate the Christmas holiday, there are still ways to celebrate this time of year as a Francophile. But Christmas certainly does make it a bit more fun.
Vin chaud: the French-inspired beverage
Ahh, le vin chaud. Or rather, “hot wine”: the most magical of Wintertime drinks. I first discovered this treat as a college student in France. Exploring the outdoor Christmas Market in my French town with some friends, we came upon a booth with a literal cauldron full of hot mulled wine. The salesperson was stirring the potion with the longest wooden spoon I’ve ever seen, and ladling the precious nectar into cups for the price of a single Euro.
Hot wine, Wintertime spices, and cheap as can be?? Music to a college girl’s ear. I drank 3 cups that evening and stumbled home in a rosy state of bliss. And then went back the next day for more.
Although I sincerely hope you have the opportunity to discover a French Christmas market one day (for they are incredibly magical even if you don’t celebrate the holiday), you can replicate this drink in your own home- and I do every year! There are two ways: mulling spice packets, or bottled.
To Mull, or to heat-and-serve?
Mulling spice packets are cheap and easy ways to turn the red wine on your shelf into a hot festive tipple before bed. Some come in individual tea bags so you can warm and steep a single cup of mulled wine. Or you can add them to a stock pot in a cheesecloth bag and steep them in the wine as it warms on the stove.
I am all for doing things in the kitchen the slow, methodical way, but I’m also a maman and have little time to make everything from scratch (though I try). So I buy Glühwein, the German version of vin chaud, pour it into a large pot and heat it on my stove. Voila.
Glühwein is sold in most liquor or wine stores this time of year, and come in different flavors like Cherry or blueberry. I am partial to the “Christmas Market” or original flavor, as it brings fond memories of my Winter days in France. Add a whole cinnamon stick to your cup, curl with a blanket, and watch a holiday movie. C’est parfait.
Christmas season begs for baking, and I’m making mine French-inspired
It wouldn’t be a cozy Winter without baking, at least in my house (and every French person’s I’ve ever met). The cold weather just begs for a filling, comforting baked treat to fill our bellies and accompany a hot cup of coffee or tea. Baking has become trendy again, thanks to le confinement, and especially so when the weather is too cold to enjoy.
My favorite things to bake this time of year are coffee cake, biscotti, butter spritz cookies, and fudge. But since I have begun plans for my macaron business, Christmas flavored macarons are my current baking focus. And, it doesn’t hurt that they add to my whole “French-Inspired Christmas” vibe. Sign up for my FREE newsletter on the side bar (or down below for free gifts!) for an update to come on that one next week!
In a French Winter, it’s all about your outerwear
I’ve shared this with you before, but it’s worth mentioning again. One of the things I always notice when in France during colder temperatures is the fabulous outerwear every French woman seems to own. This usually consists of a mid-thigh length wool coat in a neutral color, tall leather boots, a Longchamp tote, and of course a chunky scarf, or écharpe, wound around the neck to block out the cold.
Now, of course this does not describe every French person in the Winter months. Outerwear varies by fabric, style, and personality. A furred hood, no hood, belted coat, zippered coat, wool peacoat style or waterproof parka style- the options are endless. Whatever you do, find a gorgeous coat that reflects your personal style (and budget, bien sur). Then, show it off to the world with some tall riding or stiletto boots and a fashionable bag. You’ll blend right in on the street of Paris, I promise.
Light the dark Winter skies with Christmas lights
You don’t have to celebrate Christmas to enjoy twinkle lights. With shorter days and the afternoons becoming dark shortly after lunch, twinkle lights brighten our roads and towns. And let’s be honest they are cheerful to look at.
One of my favorite things about living in France was strolling through the city streets after school was done for the day. I would marvel at how the town dressed up in lights for Christmas. It was simply magical and made one sigh with joy. So, even if you’re not keen on Christmas Day, brighten up your home with some cheerful lighting during a dark Winter season.
Think Galleries Lafayette for French-Inspired Christmas shopping
Take advantage of the cheery atmosphere and shop at your favorite places: downtown, a department store, whatever strikes your fancy. A little retail therapy is good for everyone, and it might just help put you in the holiday spirit. Stop at a café for a hot festive coffee while you’re out, and sip it while you watch the Christmas hustle and bustle around you. A perfect French-inspired Christmas outing.
Make your skincare a top priority in the Winter
Skincare is a religion of its own in France, and you don’t even have to spend a ton of money to get quality skincare products. Next time youre in France, waltz into any pharmacie you find and check out their skincare section. You’ll quickly understand what I mean.
This is no surprise, as Paris and France in general are known as the beauty capital of the world (among other things). But the Winter months are especially important to take care of one’s skin anywhere with a colder climate. The dry, chilly temperatures can chap your face, hands, legs, whatever. And if you’re anything like me, you have to constantly apply lip balm every ten minutes to prevent peeling lips.
So, even if you can’t indulge in French brand skincare (although Amazon makes that easy, too), make your skin a priority this season. You will feel pampered and your skin will thank you. Self care is French-inspired, after all!
Deck the halls with French themed Christmas décor
I started collecting Eiffel Tower Christmas ornaments a few years ago, and once I did I quickly realized how prevalent they are. In almost every home store, big and small, I can find a new and unique Eiffel Tower ornament to add to my collection.
From there, I started spying macarons for the Christmas tree, and quickly started accumulating those as well. My goal is to have an entire French-Inspired Christmas tree, and I’m hoping this is the year! More on that in my December newsletter, if you’re a subscriber (it’s Free!)
And now, a French Christmas Gift for you...
Now that you’ve read all my lovely advice for how to Frenchify your Christmas season, I have some gifts for you! As a thank you for reading my little passion project, I’ve created some content for you to start thinking (or at least dreaming) about traveling to France again. With hope for a COVID-19 vaccine on it’s way before the end of the year, I am hopeful that travel will resume at some point next year. And since we’re all a little out of practice at this point, I’ve got two things to help you get started:
Let's start planning!
Where in France should you travel, according to your personality?
This is fun quiz I created is aimed to help you decide where to go on your next trip to France. A trip to Paris is not a fit for everyone, and France is a diverse country. So take my quiz to help you start thinking about what kind of trip to France is ideal for you.
Free [printable] France Travel Checklist
Once you’ve settled on your ideal trip to France, it’s time to start the planning process. There is a lot to be done before getting on the plane, and now is the time to start taking the steps necessary to plan a successful trip once we are given the green light. Being an experienced traveler, I’ve thought of tout (everything) on this list to help you check off to-do’s and progress smoothly with the planning process. There’s even a blank page at the end of the document for notes of your own. Did I mention I’m gifting this to you FOR FREE?
I just need your email so I can send you the links to these freebies. Enter below and you’ll automatically get the links in your inbox!
Joyeux Nöel, et à votre santé(e)
Alors, c’est tout mes amis. It is my hope that these gifts are valuable to you. I know I am already dreaming of travel next year and I want to spread the love!
Wishing you all a wonderful holiday season, no matter how you celebrate. Stay warm, stay safe, and be well! Je vous embrasse.
-geneviève
