Nearly every French home at Christmas displays a Nativity scene or creche. It is  the focus for the Christmas celebration. The creche has  little clay figures called santons or "little saints." These little figures are made by craftsmen in the south of France  In addition to the usual Holy Family, shepherds, and Magi, the craftsmen also
produce figures  of local dignitaries and characters. The molds have been passed from generation to generation since the seventeenth century. In December the figures are sold at annual Christmas fairs in Marseille and Aix. 

The Christmas tree is not  popular in France The French people make a traditional Yule log-shaped cake called the buche de Noel, which means "Christmas Log."   The cake, is served at " le rveillon."   Le rveillon is a very late
supper held after midnight mass on Christmas Eve. The menu is different in different parts of France. In Alsace, goose is the main course, in Burgundy it is turkey with chestnuts, and the Parisians eat oysters and pate de foie gras.