Christmas in France by: Kendal Keene and Tyler Barfield

France

By: Kendal and Tyler

We dedicate this book to Mrs. Turner

December 16 2013 Reading class Mrs. Turner Covington Street

5th grade

In France Christmas is called Noel. This comes from the French phrase

les bones which means ‘’the good news’’ some people burn a log from Christmas Eve until New Year’s Day. Unlike some countries gifts are given out on the 6th of December. That is called Saint Nicholas Day.

Christmas has turned out to be one of the main religious festivals in France.

In France, although Easter remained the major religious festival, the festivities connected with Christmas grew, as the many carols and church or family. In the middle Ages, French carols were dances accompanied by singing. Also the "carol" was a kind of round dance.

In time the "carol" changed its meaning, referring to only to certain kinds of songs. A number of currently popular American Christmas carols came directly from France.

Christmas is usually celebrated with all of the family coming together on Christmas Eve. Children in France put their sabots

(shoes) in front of the fireplace where they hope Pere Noel, Father Christmas, will fill them with presents. Pere Noels French partner is Pere, and he will "reward" bad children with a spanking.

Two traditionally songs are Jingle bells and Deck the Halls.

Dashing through the snow on a one-horse open sleigh Over the fields we go laughing all the way; Bells on bob-tail ring making spirits bright What fun it is to ride and sing A sleighing song tonight Jingle bells jingle bells jingle all the way! O what fun it is to ride in a one-horse open sleigh Bells on bob-tail ring making spirits bright what fun it is to ride and sing a sleighing song tonight Jingle bells jingle bells jingle all the way! O what fun it is to ride in a one-horse open sleigh A day or two ago the story I must tell I went out on the snow And on my back I fell; A gent was riding by In Jingle Bells Jingle Bells Jingle all the way! What fun it is to ride in a one-horse open sleigh Now the ground is white Go it while you're

young Take the girls tonight And sing this sleighing song; Just get a bob-tailed bay two-forty as his speed Hitch him to an open sleigh And crack! You’ll take the lead Jingle Bells Jingle Bells Jingle all the way! What fun it is to ride in a one-

horse open sleigh

Deck the halls with boughs of holly Fa-la-la-la-la- la-la-la-la' tis The season to be jolly Fa-la-la-la-la- la-la-la-la Don we now our gay apparel. Fa-la-la-la-la-la- la-la-la trolls the ancient Yule tide carol. Fa-la-la-la-la- la-la-la-la. See the blazing Yule before us.

Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la Strike the harp and join the chorus. Fa-

la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la Follow me in merry measure. Fa-la-la- la-lala- la-la-la while I tell of Yuletide treasure. Fa-la-la-la-la- la-la-la-

la fast away the old year passes. Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la Hail the new ye lads and lasses Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la Sing we joyous all together. Fa-la-la, la-la-la, la-la-la Heed less of the wind and Weather. Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la

In France Merry Christmas is said Joyeux Noel In France thankful is said Reconnaissant

In France Santa is said pere In France please is said s’il vous plait

In France Joy is said joie

The Oceans around Europe is Arctic Oceans and Atlantic Oceans. The location based on the equator is north. The location based on the hemisphere Northern. The population of France is 65.7 million.

The borders around France are Italy, Germany and Spain. Their official language is French. The continent is in Europe. France is the largest European country in terms of land area after Russia and Ukraine.