During the Christmas season, while French children look forward to the arrival of Père Noël, the adults are busy shopping and preparing the sumptuous dishes for their Christmas Eve feast, or Réveillon. Looking up, we'll see trees strung with twinkling lights, shop windows filled with seasonal decor, and the smell of roasting chestnuts in the air, adding extra sparkle to this 'Moveable Feast.' Our 2.5-hour Paris holiday food tour, led by a culinary expert, will explore popular French culinary traditions for the holidays. While Paris remains a culinary tour de force throughout the year, the holidays bring a distinctive array of delights, including foie gras, oysters, champagne, clementines, and Bûche de Noël cake, in addition to many other treats.

Starting at the Church of Saint-Germain-des-Prés, you will bear witness to the holiday spirit, as shown by the lights and festive decorations that spread throughout the neighborhood. In the company of one of our talented food docents, you will learn about the traditions associated with these delicacies and more on display in the Saint-Germain-des-Prés' most revered bakeries, chocolate shops (also the subject of our Paris Chocolate Tour), and patisseries. We may learn about the Parisian appreciation for Bûche de Noël, Yule Log cake, or their penchant for glazed chestnuts. Together, we will learn to shop as true Parisians do in this festive neighborhood. Known throughout the city for its holiday decorations, Saint-Germain-des-Prés is a common location for revelers seeking beautiful shop window displays, sparkling lights, and holiday spirit. Along the way, we will have the opportunity to sample some of these holiday treats.

We will also spend some time in a small Christmas Market. Following along a street lined with rustic Alpine cabins, we will explore the variety of handcrafted goods perfect for unique presents for family and friends. This bustling pop-up market of merchants selling ornaments underneath colorfully lit branches makes for a spirited browsing experience. From fragrant soaps made in the South of France to wooly knit mittens, hats, and scarves, the wares at the Christmas markets will reflect both regional wares, as well as commercial items. As we stroll through the stalls, we may discuss the history of these holiday markets and their role in Parisian Christmas shopping.

Leaving the market behind us, we may continue to the Bon Marché department store. With its beautiful holiday window displays, the Bon Marché will give us a feel for the magic of the Christmas season in Paris. Wrapping up, our docent will answer any lingering questions about French holiday traditions, or address suggestions for continuing our jovial holiday spirit. As our walk comes to a close, we will have indulged our palates with both savory and sweet treats and emerged with a sense of the Parisian approach to Réveillon.