Caro: Bienvenue, welcome to Parlez Away, our Babbel podcast for French beginners! Je suis Caroline. Je suis avec Ted, mon cher collègue Américain. Salut Ted !

Ted: Salut Caro !

Caro: Christmas markets have started in Berlin…

Ted: Yeah, I know, and I'm really excited to warm myself up with some mulled wine. And, of course, for the Christmas vacation!

Caro: Ah, les vacances… Holidays! By the way, I have a little surprise for you…

Ted: Really? What is it?

Ted: Ah, I've never heard the French version of that song before. In English we call it "O Christmas Tree."

Caro: Alright! in French it's "Mon beau sapin." And today, we want to celebrate this magic time and share with you our Christmas traditions! How do you say Christmas in French, Ted?

Ted: Um… Noël!

Caro: Très bien – Noël. You told us last time that you’re going to Paris for the holidays…

Ted: That's right. We'll go just a couple days before Christmas, and we'll be at my girlfriend's parents' place, and we'll meet her aunts and uncles and cousins, and, of course, eat a lot of food!

Caro: Of course! And that's perfect because in the last episode you learned how to introduce yourself. So, Ted, when you meet your girlfriend’s family in Paris, how do you say, “Nice to meet you”? Do you remember that useful little word?

Ted: Oui : enchanté.

Caro: Super. And can you tell us where you live and where you are from?

Ted: Oui, j'habite à Berlin et je suis de Madison.

Caro: Excellent ! You are definitely ready for Paris! So Ted, when you think about Christmas, what do you associate it with?

Ted: Well, let's see… la neige.

Caro: Yes, snow, la neige.

Ted: Les décorations, les vacances…

Caro: Vacations…

Ted: And how do you say "Christmas songs" in French?

Caro: Les chansons de Noël.

Ted: [repeats]

Caro: Yes, like "Mon beau sapin."

Ted: And, of course, joyeux Noël.

Caro: Oui, joyeux Noël ! Merry Christmas! And tell me, what do you usually do the day before Christmas, on the 24th?

Ted: Well, we usually get together with family and we of course eat a lot of food, we watch Christmas movies, we drive around and look at the Christmas lights and decorations.

Caro: How interesting! Now let's listen to a quick interview with Benoît from Tours, who is telling us what he does on the 24th… Are you ready to dive into French traditions?

Ted: Of course! I hope there’s gonna be a lot of food involved.

Caro: Let's see…

Caro: So Ted… Is the 24th a special day in France?

Ted: Well, it sounds like there’s gonna be a big party at Benoît’s place. He says, "C’est la fête"! So yeah, it must be a special day…

Caro: Yes, c’est la fête – it’s party time, exactly… But why? What are they celebrating?

Ted: Hmm… What does he say? Something like… [attempts to pronounce "réveillon"]

Caro: Le réveillon.

Ted: OK, let me try it once – le réveillon.

Caro: Yeah, good! Yeah, there is again a nasal vowel there – réveillon.

Ted: OK. [repeats]

Caro: So, what is he doing for le réveillon?

Ted: Can we listen one more time?

Caro: Sure.

Ted: Well, he repeats "on mange" a lot. And I know that manger means “to eat” because, of course, as you know, I’m very fond of French food…

Caro: Yes, I remember that! So… On mange… Who is hiding behind this "on"?

Ted: Hmm… Benoît’s family?

Caro: Oui ! He also says at the very beginning: "Je suis avec…"?

Ted: Je suis avec ma famille.

Caro: Oui ! Je suis avec ma famille. I am with my family. So "on" means “we”. It’s colloquial and you will hear it a lot in Paris.

Ted: OK, so… on mange – we eat.

Caro: Yep! And "on boit" – we drink.

Ted: Alright, I think I've got it! Le réveillon is a dinner!

Caro: And not just any dinner…

Ted: Christmas Eve dinner, of course!

Caro: Absolument ! By the way, I don’t know how it is across the Atlantic, but in France the 24th is actually the big party day! And it’s a true feast! The whole city is in a festive mood, there’s music and lights in the streets, the shops are beautifully decorated…

Ted: And the houses too?

Caro: Well, not really… apart from the Christmas tree – le sapin de Noël. But in France we don’t decorate the gardens, the windows, or the fronts of houses…

Ted: Oh, I guess that is a little different. Like I said, we would go drive around and look at all the neighbors' Christmas lights.

Caro: Interesting, we have some different traditions. And now, Ted, we are going to listen to Loulou, who wants to share with you a French tradition that we might have in common… who knows?

Ted: Oh… Trop mignon ! She’s writing to Santa Claus!

Caro: Yeah, Santa Claus, who’s called what in French…?

Ted: Père Noël !

Caro: Oui, mon cher Ted ! Le père Noël, literally Father Christmas!
 
This jolly and slightly chubby character, inseparable from Christmas, comes from the US but has become as important – or probably even more important – than Jesus in France, especially for the kids of course.
 
And why is Loulou writing to him?

Ted: She wants un dinosaure!

Caro: Oui, un dinosaure. How does she say that?

Ted: Could we hear it one more time please?

Caro: Of course.

Ted: OK… She says, "Je voudrais un cadeau."

Caro: Exactement ! She writes: Je voudrais un cadeau spécial. I would like a special gift.

With the expression "je voudrais" you can politely ask for something, for example – in Loulou’s case – un cadeau de Noël.

Et toi, Ted : pour Noël, tu voudrais quoi ? For Christmas, what would you like? Literally, you would like what?

Ted: Je voudrais… des chaussettes chaudes.

Caro: Ah! Very useful. Des chaussettes chaudes – warm socks. By the way, I don’t know if you know that, but I just discovered that the letters to Santa from all around the world end up… in Libourne! Which is in France! And if you write your address on your letter, you will even get an answer from Santa Claus!

Ted: Huh! I didn't know that! I always wondered what happened to the letters I wrote Santa when I was a kid.

Caro: Well, now we know. But let's get back to "je voudrais".
With je voudrais, you can also order a beer or buy a baguette… How would you do that?

Ted: Je voudrais une baguette.

Caro: Parfait ! But don’t forget to say "s’il vous plaît", if you want a smile from the baker!

And with je voudrais, you can also say what you would like to do, just by adding a verb. Ted, tell me that you would like to eat or drink something… We're getting a bit hungry here…

Ted: OK. Je voudrais manger le camembert. Et je voudrais boire une bière.

Caro: Bravo !

Ted: Caro, I have a question: when does Santa deliver presents in France? Also on the night of Christmas Eve?

Caro: Actually, as you’ve heard, the 24th is the most important day for many French people. So children open their presents on Christmas Eve. Or on the morning of the 25th, depending on their age and their family traditions. But on Christmas Day we have a cozy family day at home orbiting the dinner table… again!
So Ted, let’s say it's Christmas! What happens behind French front doors? Let’s take a peek…

- Joyeux Noël ! [chorus of voices]
- On boit le champagne ?
- Oui !!
- On mange le foie gras ?
- Bien sûr ! Et les huîtres !

Ted: Alright, I see, it's starting to get serious, c’est le réveillon!

Caro: Oui ! C'est le réveillon. And we won’t get less hungry… Ted,
when is this scene happening? Before, during or after dinner? What would you say?

Ted: Well, I would say that they’re about to start because someone asks: On mange…?

Caro: Absolutely! On mange…? Shall we eat…? And you must have heard the sound of champagne corks popping… It’s a sign that the apéritif has started! Champagne is, you know, highly symbolic. You drink it for very special occasions or celebrations and you sip it! So Ted, it’s apéritif time, right? But we don’t just drink, we also eat… What else are they having?

Ted: Le foie gras !

Caro: Eh oui, le foie gras, which is made of duck or goose liver that has been fattened. This is a very typical French specialty, which some are disgusted by and others adore! Have you ever tried it?

Ted: Yeah, I've had a lot of foie gras, it's a really popular thing in my girlfriend's family.

Caro: No way, how cool! And what else are they going to eat?

Ted: I know what it is, but I don't think that I can pronounce it. Les... huîtres.

Caro: Les huîtres !

Ted: OK. Les huîtres.

Caro: Oui, les huîtres – the oysters! You will always find seafood on a French table on Christmas Day or Christmas Eve!

Ted: Ah yeah, that's a little bit different than in the States. We never have oysters, but we might have some shrimp now and then. And what do you have after the seafood?

Caro: Well, traditionally, la dinde aux marrons – turkey with chestnuts.

Ted: Mmm… yum! And what about for dessert? I guess you have something special there too?

Caro: You bet! And this is… la bûche de Noël!

Ted: “La bûche”? What's that?

Caro: Well, it's a very traditional rolled-up sponge cake. Its name, "la bûche", means “the log” because it refers to the original Yule log itself!

Ted: Alright, I see! It's like that old tradition of putting a log in the fireplace on Christmas Day!

Caro: Exactement !

Ted: But wait! Et le fromage ?!

Caro: Le fromage ! Don't worry, Ted, cheese is always part of a French menu, just before dessert!

Ted: Alright, yeah, I always find that a little strange, to eat cheese right before dessert, but I'll go with it.

Caro: Well you will have to, Ted. It's an eating training for Christmas. So Ted, now that you are an expert in French Christmas traditions, shall we move on to our quiz?

Ted: Bien sûr !

Caro: Imagine, Ted, today I am Santa, le père Noël, with my secular sleigh and my eight reindeer… What do I deliver to you? Le réveillon, or un cadeau?

Ted: Un cadeau.

Caro: Parfait – un cadeau. Oh… but please remind me… Pour Noël, tu voudrais quoi ?

Caro: Oui ! And to thank me, you generously invite me to join your Christmas dinner! With which delicious French specialty does the feast begin? Les huîtres, or la bûche?

Ted: Les huîtres. [Caro corrects his pronunciation, and he repeats]

Caro: Très bien ! You can practice your "r"!

Ted: That's a tough one, I'll practice that one, yeah.

Caro:  Oh non… Sacrilège ! We forgot to eat the foie gras! But it’s never too late… Please Ted, ask your girlfriend's cousin if we shall eat it!

Ted: OK… On mange le foie gras ?

Ted: OK, one more time: On mange le foie gras ?

[Caro corrects again, and Ted repeats once more.]

Caro: You say "froid"! Foie gras. This time there is no "r"!

Ted: No "r"... Foie... gras.

Caro: Foie gras, très bien.  Ted, you are still sparkling like champagne bubbles! But sadly, it’s time to say au revoir!

Chers auditeurs, dear listeners, joyeux Noël! We wish you a wonderful holiday season and a happy new year. Whether you celebrate alone, with family or friends.
Please don’t hesitate to email your wishes and ideas for the upcoming episodes to us at podcasting@babbel.com.
 
Ted, I know it’s lunch time and this podcast has whetted our appetites but… Do you like singing?

Ted: Oui. 

Caro: Yay! Let's sing together "Mon beau sapin"… Are you up for it?

Ted: I guess so, yeah!

Caro: Don’t feel embarrassed please because my singing is absolutely horrible! And yes, I have the lyrics for you. Allez, on y va ?

Caro: Merci Ted ! Well done!