Réveillon American Style

My French friends, knowing I have no family in Charlottesville, sometimes ask anxiously; “Where will you spend the "réveillon"?” I always appreciate the concern. Christmas is “family only” in France. I know of no expat that has been invited into a French home for Christmas. Even foreign students living with a French family for the year are usually expected to go somewhere else for the holiday.
Some of you may not know what the “réveillon” is. Traditionally, people were expected to eat little and go to church a lot on Christmas Eve. The culmination of the religious part of the holiday was midnight mass which was followed by a huge feast.
Few of my friends go to midnight mass any more and the “reveillon” has become a long and elegant family dinner, starting at about 9 p.m. and ending……. well whenever it’s finished, but well after midnight. Foie gras, oysters, smoked salmon and/or lobster are featured as first courses. The main course can be, but is not always, turkey. And it is often different each year. I still remember my female colleagues agonising over “what to serve for the réveillon”. Dessert is often a "bûche de Noël".
I never bother to explain that there's no “reveillon” in the United States. “I go to friends”, I reply and they are reassured that I won’t be alone.
As it turns out, I do have a kind of “reveillon” as Fred and Nancy, my hosts for Thanksgiving, also have a big dinner for friends and neighbors on Christmas Eve. Considering the time difference, I’m enjoying my Christmas dinner when my French friends are enjoying theirs.
The atmosphere is more informal. The menu is similar to our Thanksgiving feast and the guest list is much the same.

For the younger guests (and not only them) the memorable part of this celebration occurs between dinner and dessert when we have a Yankee Swap.

Originally gifts were supposed to be cheap and ridiculous. As the years have passed, more and more people are bringing “real presents” but the fun stays the same. Numbers are drawn from Edna’s hat.

She was an elderly guest who always enjoyed the party until she died a number of years ago. She was known around Charlottesville as “The Hat Lady”, for her numerous and extravagant hats.
Presents are opened one by one to cheers and jeers.





There are always one or two presents that are coveted by all. Family members with higher numbers try to recapture a gift a less fortunate family member has lost earlier.
In due course, all the gifts have been opened.

Dessert is served.

Thanks to a local bakery and one of the guests, we even have a bûche de Noël.
Private trades take place so the teenaged boy doesn’t usually leave with the teapot or the middle-aged lady with the “Buns of Steel” video. (Unless, of course, they want to.)
Soon afterwards, people take their leave. Some still have Christmas wrapping to do. Others go to midnight mass. Some just go to bed, knowing they’ll be up early the next morning. Christmas with the family will take place on December 25th as it always does in the United States. But to about 40 happy people, thanks to Fred and Nancy, Christmas Eve with friends and neighbors, is also a fun part of the holiday season.