Ask a French Girl About the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

The human ornament that is our resident French Girl, Laura, is back to decorate your computer screens with this festive edition of Ask a French Girl where she tolerates the very kinds of questions that boil at our toes like apple cider. But your mom was right: there is no such thing as a stupid question, so long as the person responding has bangs like Jane Birkin and an accent like Serge. Shall we?

What makes it actually feel like *the Holidays*? Everyone keeps saying it doesn’t feel like the Holidays yet.

It completely feels like it! People want to have dinner “before the end of the year,” Christmas music is everywhere, people are mega, uber busy and you feel like you’re not on track for Christmas gifts. It’s definitely The Holidays!

When is ok to start playing Christmas music and when should it end?

It should end the day after Christmas, really! Is Justin Bieber still singing after the concert ends? No, because every good thing has an end.

Favorite holiday song?

“All I Want For Christmas Is You” from Love Actually, music from Tchaikovsky’s “The Nutcracker,” the Amélie soundtrack (even though it’s not technically holiday music), and anything Chopin. I love him.

Have you ever been to an Ugly Sweater party?

Last Saturday! I got there with one of my best friends and everyone was wearing the nicest ugly sweaters. I completely forgot about the outfit rule and had been at the ballet before, so I showed up with a long black dress. I felt like I was the one wearing the ugliest sweater. They were all so cute.

Do you understand the point of them?

It is like Halloween but in winter. Was this invented by a designer who needed an excuse to create fluffy and weird sweaters?

Favorite holiday movie?

Le Père Noël est une Ordure, Les Bronzés font du Ski, La Piscine — all of the French classics I only get to see when I am with my little sister.

Favorite holiday tradition? 

We have a ton in my family, like my mother’s Christmas Eve dinner and breakfast on the 25th where we discuss the right way to perfectly cook your toast or eggs. For way too long. I don’t think that is a French thing, but definitely part of my family’s tradition.

Another one is to go skiing, all of us, on Christmas day, and to stop early for a big lunch. This always end with oranges and chocolates. The lunch is often at the same restaurant — La Grande Ourse — which I adore. After our big lunch, we immediately go for a Christmas stroll with my mum and my sister, making sure we buy the freshest bread and even more wine and gin than necessary.

Favorite holiday drink?

Hendricks tonic with cucumber.

How do Americans and French people celebrate this time of year differently?

Americans do it a little louder than the French. Their recipes have cinnamon and all types of powder and pumpkin. In France, there are some traditional meals, but more importantly there’s hot wine with orange that is so delicious and you can find everywhere. I also feel like French are less into the decoration of their home. But that’s not only related to Christmas — Americans love to decorate their interior for any reason, no?

Also, I find it fascinating that since living in America, I am way more into the cliché of Christmas. I even thought about wearing red pajamas. 

I said thought about it.

What’s the IDEAL holiday party outfit?

A white shirt, bell bottom velvet pants, big sparkly earrings or a tiara inspired from the Dolce show. No need for skirts or dresses — you are sitting at a table, sharing meals, so no one sees your legs! Smile everyone, this is the good news.

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Sequins: yes or no?

Sequin socks, sequin pants!

Kiss under the mistletoe: yes or no?

Why not? But it is the same thing as a kiss in the subway: Depends who it is. Just because you see a subway doesn’t mean you’re going to kiss someone, and just because you see this plant doesn’t mean that you should kiss someone.

Are you already thinking about New Year’s resolutions or do you wait until after Christmas?

Im not so into them before Christmas. I like to think Christmas is all about food and cooking. I will wait for January 2nd to say I want to be healthy this year. And by January 3rd, which is when we eat galete des rois (King cake) for the festival of the Epiphany, I will find a good excuse to not continue. One step at a time.

What’s your favorite cheap gift to give?

A hug. No, I’m joking. Food baskets are always well-received. Or a good bottle of wine.

Re-gifting: yes or no

NO. So mean.

What’s your favorite “little indulgence”?

What does that mean? Wait, let me look. Going to the pool after a full day of skiing? Or eating cheese and charcuterie plates every night because it is the specialty in Val d’Isère.

Do french people send those cards that are a pic of someone’s entire family and then catch you up on every single detail of their lives? (“Billy got into second grade, Martha lost a tooth…”)

Hahahahah no. We barely send texts to say, “Happy new year.”

Photographed by Krista Anna Lewis

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