This holiday season, Christmas celebrations across France have come alive with festive spirit, marked by celebrity Christmas trees, the reopening of Notre-Dame Cathedral, and President Emmanuel Macron’s family holiday at the Fort de Brégançon.
Starting off, stars have been dazzling their fans with extravagant decorations. Social media platforms are flooded with images of Christmas trees adorned by various celebrities. Singer Céline Dion showcased her stunning tree decorated with sparkling white and silver ornaments, bringing traditional elegance to her home. Demi Moore opted for a chic, minimalist design with gold and white embellishments, exemplifying modern sophistication. Not to be outdone, the Macrons posted their own grand tree online, making sure to reflect their taste. This year, several notable personalities including David and Victoria Beckham, Laura Smet, and Dua Lipa also jumped on the festive bandwagon, displaying their own unique takes on Christmas tree decoration.
But it’s not just the stars who are celebrating. For many French people, the heart of the season beats strong within the historic walls of Notre-Dame Cathedral. After five lengthy years of restoration following the devastating fire, the cathedral is once again ablaze with Christmas spirit. This week, it began hosting masses and welcoming pilgrims and tourists alike.
“Il faut retrouver l’esprit chrétien,” Pope Francis recently remarked, emphasizing the need for Christians to keep the festive spirit alive and invoke moments of joy amid worldly troubles.
The reopening of Notre-Dame is not just about celebrating its physical restoration; it also speaks to rekindling the cathedral’s cultural and religious significance. A remarkable centerpiece this year is the 18th-century Neapolitan nativity scene, featuring over 150 intricately crafted figurines, which is drawing visitors from around the globe. Olivier Josse, the cathedral’s secretary general, advised visitors to “arrive 30 minutes before the celebrations” to fully partake.
Among the Holy Masses to celebrate the Nativity, which will be broadcasted internationally, there is palpable excitement as worshippers prepare to commemorate the birth of Christ. With anticipation building, Sybille Bellamy-Brown, responsible for public interactions at Notre-Dame, confirmed all staff and volunteers have been mobilized for the occasion: “On sait que l’affluence sera accrue cette année alors on a mobilisé tout le personnel,” she stated, as visitors line up to witness the resurrection of the cathedral’s festive past.
Meanwhile, President Macron is continuing his own holiday tradition. According to reports, he arrived on Monday evening at the Fort de Brégançon, where he plans to spend Christmas with his family. After facing political turbulence throughout 2024, the president refrained from any extravagance, aiming for rather discreet celebrations, keeping with his family-oriented custom. Unlike his predecessors, Macron has opted to stay true to this tradition, engaging with the tranquility of the Var region.
While Macron spends the holidays with family, echoes of the nativity of Christ fill the air at Notre-Dame, and celebrities display their festive creativity. This vibrant juxtaposition paints over France with colors of joy and reflection.
Emmanuel Macron’s routine, alongside the unique styles of various celebrities, showcases how different facets of society celebrate Christmas amid diverse interpretations and reflections. The culmination of these events converges this year to, rightly, rekindle the spirit of Christmas throughout the country.
With magnificent Christmas trees lighting up homes, the grandeur of Notre-Dame Cathedral welcoming worshippers, and family moments shared at the presidential residence, French society holds true to its cultural richness through these cherished traditions. Indeed, this Christmas season illuminates the shared desire for togetherness, joy, and celebration across all layers of France.
