December 6 is known as Saint-Nicholas Day. A long, long time ago three children wandered away and got lost. A wicked butcher tricked them into coming into his shop, where he tried to cook them. Saint-Nicholas came and saved them, and the boys were safely returned to their homes. Saint-Nicholas became known as the protector of children. Now on December 5th in France children place their shoes by the fire place, and if they have been good they will find presents in them, but if they have been bad they will find twigs.

Père Fouettard is Saint Nicholas's eternal sidekick. Legend has it a long time ago Père and his wife lured three boys into their home, poisoned them, and then slit there throats. Saint Nicholas found out and resurrected the boys and made Père deliver coal and twigs to all the naughty boys and girls on Christmas.

Le Réveillon is a huge dinner that is held on the evenings before Christmas and New Years. They usually eat foods such as oyster, escargots, lobster, and turkey with chestnuts. There are also traditionally 13 types of desserts including bûche de Noël, which is a Yule log cake.

On Christmas Day children wake up to find present's in their shoes that they left by the fireplace filled with Yule logs sprinkled with red wine to make the house smell good.

Parents do not open their presents on Christmas. Instead they open them on La Saint-Sylvestre, which falls on New Year's Eve, and is more of an adult holiday.

La Fête des Rois is Three Kings day. It is celebrated on the 1st Sunday of January. The three main parts to this day are the king's cake or gallete des rois, the fêve or baby, and the crowning of a King and Queen. The gallete slices are randomly served and the person who ends up with the fêve is the king and gets to choose the queen.