Tis the season to celebrate Christmas in Paris, as the holiday spirit returns to the city in full swing for 2021. A plethora of bold lights, festive decorations, enchanting shop windows, seasonal concerts, ballets, and operas, and Christmas markets make Paris a must visit destination this holiday season.
Shop Windows, Lights and Decorations
The chic department store Printemps is spreading the joy of the holidays with delightful window displays. French artist Aurelia Fronty has drawn a series of scenes depicting a snowfall on December 25, which stops the fabrication of gifts in Santa’s workshop, leading to Santa’s elves quickly traveling the world to save Christmas. The illustrations come alive through animated blue elves who take on tasks such as holiday baking, giving Santa a helping hand sorting out his huge pile of letters, and helping form a Chanel N°5 bottle.
Omar Sy, the star of the hit TV show Lupin, was chosen to inaugurate the holiday windows this year at Galeries Lafayette. The theme for 2021 is "1,2,3 CHRISTMAS," and 11 windows feature animated scenes of toys coming alive and attending a banquet with Santa and then proceed to sing as a choir and board Santa’s sleigh. Inside the store is the magnificent, towering tree, which practically touches the ceiling and is decorated with toys and an enormous Santa floating up and down alongside the tree.
The world-famous Avenue Champs-Élysées, from Place de la Concorde to the Arc de Triomphe, is awash in delicate red lights adorning the tall trees.
Concerts, Operas and Ballets
Experience a holiday concert in a music salon in the Eiffel Tower where Ave Maria, the Four Seasons and other classical Christmas music will be performed by Orchestre Classik Ensemble. The concert is December 25 at 4:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Tickets are €75, which includes a glass of champagne. Visit www.classictic.com
Another option: Enjoy a candle-lit Christmas concert at Saint Julien De Pauvre, an historic 14th-century church. The program includes music by Beethoven, Chopin, Mozart and Schubet performed by pianist Philippe Alègre. The concert is December 18, 20 and 23 at 8 p.m. Visit www.classictic.com.
Iconic Russian choreographers Nijinksi, Eyal and Ashton will have their best ballets performed at the Opera Ballet Paris with music by Debussy, Rachmaninov and Stravinsky. Performances are December 1, 2021, to January 2, 2022. Fore more information, visit www.operadeparis.fr.
A concert version of Verdi’s La Traviata is being performed in the intimate salon of Hôtel Dosne‐Thiers, a former, private mansion from the mid-1800s. Three singers will interpret the main roles and accompanied by the piano, violin, and cello. There are multiple performances, including December 16. Visit www.classictic.com.
Christmas Markets
The most popular Christmas market in Paris is at the Tuileries, just beside the Louvre. Over 50 vendors offer holiday merchandise locally produced in either Paris, France or French colonies and includes jewelry, hand-blown glass, pottery and ceramics, handmade Christmas ornaments, and scarves, gloves and hats. You can also taste and drink your way through the market with stalls brimming with hot mulled wine and apple cider, waffles, crepes, sausages, raclette (melted cheese), tartiflette (a scrumptious mountain treat with potatoes, bacon and cheese), and, for the kids, barbe de papa/dad’s beard (cotton candy). The market also has an amusement park with a carousel, roller coaster, fun house and other rides.
Festive wood chalets line the Boulevard Saint Germain and the surrounding streets, selling crafts and artisanal products.
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