Bonjour à toutes et à tous nos amis du Festival

We wish you all a very merry Christmas with your family and friends and a very happy, healthy and successful new year.

Save The Date

What a year it has been! Who would have thought, when we were busy planning the Bastille Day French Festival of 2020 that we would be spending most of the year in lockdown!

The silver lining is that we are now planning for a wonderful Bastille Day French Festival in 2021, on the weekend of the 16th to 18th July.

So save the dates and mark your calendar!

PS if you want to be part of the team of the Bastille Day festival 2021 whether as a sponsor, a participant, a stall holder or a volunteer please contact us.

Who is Père Noël? French Father Christmas unmasked.

In France, it's not Santa Claus but rather Père Noël who brings gifts to well-behaved children for Christmas. While the two legendary figures share many traits, a few surprising things distinguish Père Noël from the Father Christmas we know and love in the Anglosphere!

Shoes vs. stockings: while we hang stockings for Santa Claus to stuff with presents, French children leave out slippers or shoes for Père Noël to fill with treats.

Coal vs. companion: Santa punishes naughty children by giving them coal, but children on the naughty list in France suffer a much worse fate! Père Noël is accompanied by Père Fouettard, who whips badly behaved children (the name being derived from fouetter, ‘to whip, flog’). You certainly wouldn’t want to get into Père Noël’s naughty books!

Looking for the perfect gift to give from Père Noël?

Look no further than Blue Atelier! Recently launched by three French mums living in Melbourne, Blue Atelier is selling beautiful Christmas-themed masks and accessories with a quintessentially French touch.

Check out their Christmas boxes and Gift Box, perfect gift ideas for a fashionable Christmas!

Christmas Eve in Provence - les treize desserts

While families throughout France traditionally celebrate Christmas Eve with a long dinner, in Provence the Christmas feasting is taken to a whole new level! In an age-old tradition, Provençals dig into a ritual 13 desserts at the end of Le Gros Souper (“the big supper”). These 13 desserts represent Jesus Christ and his 12 apostles at the Last Supper, and are traditionally served on a table set with three tablecloths, representing the Holy Trinity. The exact combination of desserts varies according to household, but the selection generally includes fruits, nuts and sweets.

Looking to have your own Christmas feast? Look no further!

For something savoury to tuck into, check out:

Fromager d’Affinois for the perfect double-cream cheese

Frencheese for a sumptuous raclette party at home

Milk the Cow for a classy cheesy hamper

Or for something sweet:

Gavé and Choukette for delightful homemade pastries

Canelé Alain for premium canelés

Need some cooking inspiration this Christmas?
Take a look at the Maille blog post on what to cook for the holiday season.

Books to transport you this summer

While we might not be able to travel overseas this Christmas, reading can transport you anywhere…Discover some delightful holiday reads from these sellers:

BabelBooks, the first Australian online store for pre-loved books in French and in English. Recently launched by Sabine Dejey, former Vice-President of the Bastille Day French Festival, BabelBooks supports aboriginal languages by donating 10% of sales to Magabala Books, Australia’s leading Indigenous publisher.

Language International Bookshop, a bookstore with both an online and physical presence in Kew East. With books available in over 50 languages including French, there’s something for everyone!

And for those travelling domestically.....

Travel in style with a Delsey suitcase! Founded in 1946, Delsey’s luggage combines elegance and practicality in a uniquely French way. Who says you can’t look the height of elegance while lugging that suitcase…

A toast to Christmas

To get into the festive spirit, pair the best of French Christmas music with the best drinks around!

To get started on the drinks, why not try…

Champagne from Philippe Fourrier: toast the festive season with a bottle of bubbles from this authentic southern Champagne Maison nurturing their Baroville single vines for 5 generations.

Wine from Chapoutier: with a long history of winemaking stretching back to 1808, this family business is one of the most highly regarded winemakers in France.

Spirits from Spirits of France: offering the finest selection of spirits from France and around the world, this online shop specialises in both commercial and local, artisanal drinks.

And for the music…

Petit Papa Noël - recorded in 1946 by singer Tino Rossi, this Christmas classic is the best-selling single of all time in France. Have a listen!

Douce nuit, sainte nuit - the French version of Silent Night, a worldwide classic for Christmas time.