What is Reveillon?

On December 31st, various New Year's Eve celebrations are held all over the world. It is a highly anticipated event everywhere.

French New Year's Eve events such as Réveillon are not well known in Japan. Réveillon is just one week after Christmas, so it is like a "continuation" of Christmas.

This event is different for everyone, whether you spend it with your family or with friends. One pattern is to spend Christmas with your family and then have a reveillon with friends, but there are many other options.

Just like Christmas, we eat a feast until midnight. Because it is an event that is close to Christmas, we try to prepare foods that are different from Christmas foods as much as possible, but sometimes we eat the same foods as Christmas.

So, what foods often appear on Reveillon?

Appetizers include foie gras, pain d'épices, escargots, seafood (oysters, scallops, etc.), and lumpy roe. A common main dish is whole roasted chicken. For dessert, they have macaroons or other high-quality pastries, or delicious fruits like lychees.

Drinks are the same as at Christmas: wine and champagne.

By a staff member living in France