Day 3098 (Monday) 1st December 2025
It was very stormy this morning, I slept through most of it but Huw took this amazing photo.
There was a cruise ship in the bay so the poor passengers didn’t have the best day to visit our lovely little town. The storm blew away quite early but it was cold all day – I think that’s the coldest day we’ve had so far this winter.
As promised yesterday here is Everything that changes in France in December 2025 (the Local France.)
The Galeries Lafayette's 2025 Christmas tree during the unveiling of the Christmas window displays and Christmas tree in Paris on November 12, 2025. (Photo by STEPHANE DE SAKUTIN / AFP)
From strike action and more Budget chaos to the start of the Christmas holidays, here's what changes in France in December 2025.
Strikes
So far, there is only one nationwide strike that has been called for December - a one-day strike on Tuesday, December 2nd. This has been called by the CGT union with support from FSU and Solidaires, although the largest union, the CFDT, is not involved. It is in protest at proposed budget cuts.
The 2026 Budget
More strike action could be possible, depending on what happens in parliament, as the highly contentious 2026 Budget continues its journey through the Assemblée nationale. It remains possible that the budget will bring down a third government in a row and force prime minister Sébastien Lecornu to resign for a second time.
Ski resorts open
While some of the high-altitude resorts opened during the last week of November, most French ski resorts will not open until mid-to-late December, subject to appropriate weather conditions.
Deadline to fill out the birth rate survey
The French government launched a survey to gather the public's views on parenthood and policies related to parenthood, in an effort to understand declining fertility rates. Anyone can take the survey (which is entirely in French).
French film screenings
Lost in Frenchlation – the cinema club that screens French films with English subtitles – has several screenings in store for December in Paris. This month, it will also celebrate two anniversaries and mark Christmas with a thought-provoking seasonal comedy.
Sending Christmas gifts
The deadlines for mailing Christmas gifts are not yet available, but it is best to send packages sooner rather than later, as the days before Christmas are very busy for postal workers.
In 2024, packages within France should have been sent by December 20th to arrive by Christmas, while parcels sent to the UK should depart before December 17th.
As for packages to the US, this year will likely be more complicated for Americans looking to mail Christmas gifts. Normally, it is advised to send packages at least two weeks before Christmas, but due to recent changes, it would be wise to send items before this deadline.
Fête des Lumières
Between Friday, December 5th, and Monday, December 8th, visitors to the south-eastern city of Lyon are invited to enjoy enchanting walks in an ever-changing sea of light and sound — including large projections over the city’s most beautiful monuments. You’ll find displays over the facades of major landmarks and scattered around the city as you walk (perhaps with a vin chaud in hand).
Christmas markets
Most French Christmas markets start in late November and run either until the end of December or early January.
Saint Nicolas Day
In Germany the festival of St Nicolas (December 6th) is a big deal and for historic reasons certain parts of France celebrate it too. It’s not a public holiday, but it is a day of celebration with small presents for children, parades in some towns and special gingerbread for everyone.
Some Christmas markets also host a parade on St Nicolas Day.
Christmas bonus
Each year, France gives certain households the Prime de Nöel, an end-of-year bonus, also known as the Christmas bonus. Last year, it was paid out on December 17th, and it should be paid out around the same time this year.
It is reserved for low-income households and those who qualify for the government's top-up benefit, RSA. The amounts for 2025 are not yet available, but last year they ranged from €152.45 for a single person up to a maximum of €442 for a family with children.
Deadline to correct tax returns
If you made any mistakes - or noticed unintentional omissions - you can correct your French tax return. However, this is only available until Wednesday, December 3rd. In order to do so, you must log onto your personal space on Impots.Gouv.Fr. You cannot change your address or marital status, however.
More property taxes
Owners of properties deemed to have been vacant for at least one year must pay the vacant property tax. This is due by mid-December (usually the 15th) each year.
As for the taxe d'habitation, December 15th also marks the deadline for payment for non-electronic payment methods (by cheque or in cash at a participating 'buraliste'), while Saturday, December 20th marks the deadline for electronic/online payments.
School holidays begin
Schoolchildren across France will have time off from Saturday, December 20th to Monday, January 5th for the Christmas break. There is often heavy traffic on the roads the evening before the start of the school holidays and over that weekend, so keep this in mind when making your travel plans.
Christmas and New Year's Eve
In France, December 25th is a holiday, meaning an extra day off for workers. This year, it falls on a Thursday, making it easy for people looking to take Friday off to build a long weekend.
December 24th and 26th are not public holidays in most of France (the region of Alsace-Lorraine gets December 26th off for historic reasons), although quite a lot of businesses do let their employees take days off during these days. Many businesses will be closed.
January 1st is also a holiday, and this year it falls on a Thursday - so workers get another day off.
Here are some more French words for food…
Food in French: Seasonings 🧂
How do you say seasonings in French?
Well, there is two possible French translations for ‘seasonings’.
Les condiments (m) is the French word for seasoning as in things used to season a dish: salt, pepper etc…
L’assaisonnement (m) is the French word to comment on the seasoning of a dish.
List of seasoning names in French
Now let’s get to my favourite kind of food: desserts.
Dessert Names in French 🍨
How do you say desserts in French?
The French word for ‘dessert’ is “le dessert“. It’s exactly the same word as in English, but the pronunciation is quite different.
How do you pronounce dessert in French?
Just as in English, you have to be very careful:
Le dessert – with a “ss” sound : dessert (think of icccccce cream)
Le désert – with a [z] sound ; desert (think of… euh… zebras? Any zebras in the desert?
Comments
Post a Comment