christmas in paris

Lizy · #1 (**permalink**) 27th October 2009, 07:07 AM

Hi all,

This will be our first year in paris for my husband and i and we are looking up events to go and do/see...where can we see good christmas shows apart from the lido (or is the lido one of the good christmas shows). last year we were in vienna and went to see the nutcraker in viennas opera house which was amazing! and we would love to see something similar in paris...Also where are the best christmas markets in paris? we live in saint germain en laye..

thanks in advance

Bevdeforges · #2 (**permalink**) 27th October 2009, 07:21 AM

To be honest, the best Christmas market is in Strasbourg (now reachable by TGV in just a couple of hours). When they do Christmas markets in the Paris area, they tend to be only one or two days - usually on the weekend - in specific towns. And they aren't big Christmas markets like in the German-speaking countries - more like craft fairs, with a Christmas theme.

Christmas in France is actually a fairly low-key holiday, usually celebrated en famille. There is usually a big Christmas festival for most of the month of December at Euro-Disney. But they don't even play Christmas music on the radio until just a day or two before the big day. It's a bit of a shock when coming from Germany or another country that does Christmas up big time.

The grands magasins in Paris (Galeries Lafayette, Printemps, etc.) usually have pretty neat window displays - and it's a big tradition to take the kids down to see those. (Though you don't have to be a kid to do that!)
Cheers,
Bev

Lizy · #3 (**permalink**) 27th October 2009, 07:31 AM

thanks bev,

will definately be taking a trip to layfiette to see their display....and we may even go to strasbourg for a day...do the lido do christmas shows?

Matou · #4 (**permalink**) 3rd November 2009, 06:29 PM

Hello Lizy,
you could also have a look at the Bon Marché window displays (as well as the stuff inside at the time, most specially at the Grande Epicerie)... As to Christmas shows there will be probably a lot of events in Paris and around. When time comes, you could have a look at the "Pariscope" or "Officiel des spectacles" (available for 0.4 € or 0.35 € at the press booths in the streets).
Cheers