The Accent Français team tells you all about the Christmas period: the best memories, the traditions, Christmas markets and gifts in Montpellier and elsewhere. Merry Christmas to you all!

Stéphanie:
My best Christmases were those of my childhood, when all you could see was the magic of being with your family, having your loved ones available to play and laugh and, of course, getting a visit from Father Christmas, who would leave a few presents along the way!

Now I'm in the grown-up camp, and with children too! Tradition is all about keeping the magic alive: organising little surprises here and there, planning family time to cook, share and have fun, and of course, inviting Father Christmas to the party!

I take the students to the Christmas market every year and we also organise a special Christmas day with entertainment, a glass of friendship, tastings and so on. The whole school pitches in and that's what makes it such an unforgettable day!

Virginie :

My Christmas tradition in Montpellier is LE BAIN DE NOEL des Restos du Coeur.

Every year, with my brass band, Les Kadors de Montpellier, we play as volunteers to liven up an event organised by Restos du Coeur, a French charity that provides free meals to the most destitute.
It's a winter event that fits in with the tradition of charity events: generally, people eat at stalls set up by associations on the beach.
All the profits from this event go to the Restos du Cœur.

I play the trombone with my band on many occasions, but nothing gives me more pleasure than playing in a swimming costume in the 13-degree Mediterranean!
See you next year on the beach at Les Roquilles.

A few videos to give you an idea...
https://youtu.be/EEDyEwzAWEo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4MTG_s39QpQ
https://france3-regions.francetvinfo.fr/occitanie/herault/montpellier/mauguio-carnon-bain-noel-restos-du-coeur-1152999.html

Maria :

In winter, I really enjoy the Christmas market. Mulled wine with spices, as well as typical French dishes. The ones that make you happy in winter, especially tartiflette and aligot. Montpellier is magical at Christmas time. The city is covered in lights. The city centre and surrounding area welcome visitors with attractions for adults and children alike.

Marie :

My best Christmas was obviously in Montpellier. It was last year, very hot, and the beach at Palavas- les- Flots was packed with little elves in swimming costumes, all wearing sunglasses.

I was basking in the blazing December sun when suddenly a big, husky, masculine voice jolted me out of my dreams: "Boooooooon-jouuuuuuuuur Marie! I was startled, opened one eye and discovered a tall, heavy-built man standing over me (well, next to me), with the belly of a woman 8 and a half months pregnant. He was wearing a big white beard and snowflake sunglasses (not very practical), his forehead was beading with sweat (probably from the unbearable heat) and he was dressed in what we French vulgarly call a red and white 'moule-bite'. I could hardly believe it, straightened up, pulled up the straps of my swimming costume and had to pinch myself several times before realising that it was Father Christmas. Yes, it was him! I'd been waiting for him for 34 years, and on 25 December 2016, THE Father Christmas in the flesh came to me on the beach in Palavas-les-Flots!

Once I'd realised that this was no longer a whim, I decided to invite Father Christmas over for a glass of chilled wine (too hot to drink a glass of mulled wine!). We sat down at the Café du Port. Santa told me about his journey from Lapland to Palavas-les-Flots. He had been away for almost 1 year with his 3 reins and 2 camels. Along the way, he met Tintin and Professor Tournesol (still as deaf as ever!), Manuel Valls who had grown a goatee, Brigitte Bardot who had been resurrected, Karen Huesca who hitchhiked with Daft Punk and Olivier Garrigues who did push-ups. Santa had told me a secret, a big scoop #TheBigGossipOfThePereNoel! I'd have loved to tell you about it...really....but I promised him I wouldn't say anything (and yes, I'm a grave!)....so SHUUUUT!!!
Merry Christmas to you all :-)

Delphine:

My Christmas is first and foremost the Advent calendar for my son and all the little presents he has to look for to fill the 24 little boxes...
But also a big nativity scene at my parents' house, with the children rediscovering the Santons every year and inventing stories for them...
Christmas lists with personal gifts and the desire to find the little thing that suits the person;
It also means buying 10 books from the Restos du Cœur to give to everyone and do a good deed...
And the lights of Montpellier, the globe on the Place de la Comédie!

Claire :

Being the daughter of expats, I haven't spent many Christmases in France... Even when I was studying there, I always went to visit my parents in Africa, where they lived, for the festive season. In 2014, I was working in Laos. For Christmas, the whole family was there: my parents, my brother, my two sisters, the 'spare parts', the nephews and me :) It doesn't happen often, as everyone lives and travels all over the world! For the occasion, we went to a lion conservation centre in Pretoria, South Africa. There, the lions reproduce in safety before being reintroduced into the wild :) It was great fun, even if it was a bit scary walking among these ferocious and majestic beasts! They sometimes looked at us as if we were big Christmas turkeys ^^

Florence :

Christmas in Montpellier is also Christmas at Accent Français!
The school is open all year round, so the only time the team leaves to recharge its batteries is at Christmas. So it's the perfect opportunity to organise a party with the students, and a little happening to treat ourselves :-)

Some of the Accent Francais team go on a trip to the sun, others stay in their pyjamas for 2 weeks :-) but most of us spend a lot of time on the road, visiting family and friends and eating chocolate.... and we'll see you in January for new adventures!

Feel free to visit our blog to know more about the French traditions, Christmas markets.

Merry Christmas to you all!

The most beautiful Christmas of the French Accent team