Shopping for Christmas decorations

Bouchara puts out its Christmas decorations and fabrics the third week of October. Their website is available in English.

The department stores put out their Christmas decorations to begin selling around the 1st and 2nd of November.

The Christmas windows generally go on display the first week of November.

Holiday Shopping Hours

Department and larger stores will be open the three Sundays before Christmas as is tradition: December 9, 16 and 23.

The hours for the larger department stores (based on my response from Galeries Lafayette) are:

Sundays, December 9, 16 and 23: 10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Printemps will be open 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Monday December 24:  9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Wednesday, December 26: 9:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Thursday, December 27: 9:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Monday, December 31: 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Wednesday, January 2: 9:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Groceries open at Christmas

Mini grocery store, complete with dairy products, dry goods, can goods, wine and beverages are open holidays and evenings when regular groceries are not. Some even carry packaged bread; although boulangeries in some neighborhoods will be open.

If you are around the 13th arrondissement, Tang Frères, a Chinese grocery will most likely be open, as well as restaurants. Their main address is 48 avenue d'Ivry,168 avenue de Choisy or 8, rue Nicolas Appert in the 13th.

Village Fermier de Noël  2007 (Farmer's market and Christmas market, arts and crafts)

December 14, 15, 16, 2007 in Vanves

Friday, December 14 4 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Saturday, December 15, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Sunday, December 16, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Admission is free

The market is situated in the heart of old Vanves.

Metro: Line 13, station Plateau de Vanves-Malakoff (a shuttle bus will take you to to rue Jean Bleuzen).

Restaurants open New Year's Eve and Christmas

Restaurants open late

The FLO brasseries are listed below with website addresses for more information such as how to find them.
Be sure to click on "English version" at the top of their page or go directly to the English version
Due to time constraints I was not able to translate all of the date and time information.

Brasserie Flo
7, cour des Petites Ecuries (entrance at 63, rue du Faubourg Saint-Denis) 75010
Métro : Château d’eau
Telephone : 33 (0)1 47 70 13 59 Fax : 33 (0)1 42 47 00 80
Open 7 days a week from noon to 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 1:30 a.m.

Valet parking available evenings: Tuesday to Saturday

Bofinger
5-7, rue de la Bastille 75004
Métro : Bastille
Telephone : 33 (0)1 42 72 87 82 Fax : 33 (0)1 42 72 97 68
Open 7 days a week from noon to 3 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. to 1 .m.

Weekends and holidays open all day non-stop from noon to 1.m.

Julien
16, rue du Faubourg Saint-Denis 75010
Métro : Strasbourg Saint-Denis
Telephone: 33 (0)1 47 70 12 06 Fax : 33 (0)1 42 47 00 65
Open 7 days a week from noon to 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 1 a.m.

Valet parking evenings Tuesday to Saturday

La Coupole 
102, bd du Montparnasse 75014
Métro : Vavin
Telephone : 33 (0)1 43 20 14 20 Fax : 33 (0)1 43 35 46 14
Open 7 days a week from noon to 1 a.m. Sunday to Thursday evening; Friday and Saturday until 1:30 a.m.

Breakfast from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.

Le Boeuf sur le Toit 
34, rue du Colisée 75008
Métro : Saint-Philippe du Roule ou Franklin-D.Roosevelt
Telephone : 33 (0)1 53 93 65 55 Fax : 33 (0)1 53 96 02 32
Open 7 days a week from noon to 3 p.m. and from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m.

Valet parking available from noon  Tuesdays to Saturday

Le Vaudeville 
29, rue Vivienne 75002
Métro : Bourse
Telephone : 33 (0)1 40 20 04 62 Fax : 33 (0)1 49 27 08 78
Open 7 days a week from noon to 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 1 a.m.

Breakfast Monday to Saturday from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Terminus Nord 
23, rue de Dunkerque 75010
Métro : Gare du Nord
Tel : 33 (0)1 42 85 05 15 Fax : 33 (0)1 40 16 13 98
Open 7 days a week from 11 a.m. to 1 a.m.

Breakfast from 8 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.

Brasserie Balzar 
49, rue des Ecoles 75005
Métro : Cluny La Sorbonne
Telephone : 33 (0)1 43 54 13 67 Fax : 33 (0)1 44 07 14 91
Open 7 days a week, 8 a.m. to midnight


FRERES BLANC
Au Pied de Cochon
6, rue Coquillière - 75001

Telephone: 01.40.13.77.00 Open 24 hours

La Lorraine
2, place des Ternes - 75008 

Telephone 01.56.21.22.00 - Open 7 1.m. to 1 a.m.

Le Grand Café
Opéra- 4, Boulevard des Capucines 75009

Telephone 01.43.12.19.00 - Open 24 hours

Chez Jenny
39, Bld du Temple 75003 

Telephone 01.44.54.39.00 - Open noon to 1 a.m.

L’appart
Champs Elysées, 9-11, rue du Colisée - 75008

Telephone 01.53.75.42.00

La Taverne
24, Boulevard des Italiens-75009

Telephone 01.55.33.10.00

Charlot
12, place de Clichy 75009

Telephone 01.53.20.48.00 Open noon to 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. to midnight

Le Procope
13 rue de l'Ancienne Comédie - 75006

Telephone 01.40.46.79.00

Christmas lights and Christmas windows

Galeries Lafayette, Printemps, BHV and le Bon Marché for Christmas

The major department stores will begin their lightings window displays begin November 2.

The 2007 theme at Galeries Lafayette (Haussmann) invites all ages to a shiny Christmas with a snow theme.

They will be reminiscing with a wild imagination of memories of winters past.

Brilliantly lit with balls, crystals, mirrors, diamonds and snow; nothing is too beautiful for lighting Galeries Lafayette with a thousand lights according to their press release.

As is tradition, they will be open Sundays December 9, 16 and 23.

Most stores will be open between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. on Sundays.

Christmas Illuminations (Illuminations de Noël)

Download the route of illuminations in the different arrondissements

More than 100 Parisian streets (50 in 2006) will be dressed up for the holidays until mid-January as the City of Lights lights up Paris.

Some of the major thoroughfares:

Avenue des Champs-Elysées
November 26, 2007 to mid-January 2008

avenue Montaigne
November 25, 2007 to January 7, 2008

Haut de la Butte Montmartre (On top of Montmartre)
December 1, 2007 to the end of January 2008

Place Vendôme

Candelabras are decorating the main avenue of Place Vendome.

Place Vendôme, rue de la Paix, rue de Castiglione et rue Saint-Honoré
November 22, 2007 to January 7, 2008
 

rues Lepic, Abbesses (Village Lepic/Abbesses) 75018

December 1, 2007 to mid-January 2008

Midnight mass

l'Officiel des Spectacles provides a long list of Catholic and Protestant services for Christmas in its December issues. 

Look for the title: "Offices de Noël" in the front of the magazine. You will find catholic, protestant and eastern orthodox information.

Buy l'Officiel at any newsstand; a new edition comes out every Wednesday.

For up-to-date information, visit the Catholic Parishes website

The Paris churches have their individual schedules; this is a list of highlights:

Cathédrale Notre Dame de Paris

Christmas activities This website page  provides all of the dates and times and events.

The light show "Lumen de Lumine"

An audiovisual show projected on a large transparent screen over 100 m² attached to nave. Presented for everyone, this is a presentation about the Mystery of Christmas with the liturgy of the Nativity and great works of art: painting, sculpture, architecture, icons, stained glass....all shown with background music from the grand organ of the cathedral and the choir of the Notre-Dame de Paris.... translated from l'officiel des spectacles magazine

Wednesday and Saturday at 4:30 p.m.; Monday and Thursday at 8:30 p.m.

Crèche à Notre-Dame for 2007 information

Saturday December 1 - First Sunday in Advent
Nativity scene opens
Christmas tree placed on the cathedral plaza (Parvis de la cathédrale

Friday, December 7
3 p.m. : Veneration of the crown of thorns and other relics of the Passion

5 :30 p.m. Installation of the new canons of the cathedral - On the eve of the celebration of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary.

5:45 p.m. Immaculate Conception vespers ; will be transmitted as well over KTO, catholic television

6 :30 p.m. Mass – Cardinal André Vingt-Trois, archbishop of Paris celebrating

Tuesday, December 18, 8 :30 p.m. Christmas concert and children’s concert
(Francis POULENC, Quatre Motets pour le Temps de Noël, Christian VILLENEUVE, Noëls populaires, Polyphonies médiévales et de la Renaissance, Par la Maîtrise Notre-Dame de Paris, Chœur d’enfants, Jeune Ensemble, Chœur d’adultes, Direction Lionel SOW et Sylvain DIEUDONNE
Orgue de chœur, Yves CASTAGNET
Grand-Orgue, Philippe LEFEBVRE)

This is a free concert for pilgrims and visitors. The only condition is a pass. The pass may be picked up at the information stand in the cathedral beginning December 8 between 9:30 a.m. and 6 p.m.

Monday, December 24
4 :00 p.m. Sound, image and light show – an opera and projection of the spectacle of Christmas – "Lumen de lumine, Lumière née de la Lumière" – Place du Parvis de la cathédrale
6 :00 p.m. Family mass (Monsignor Patrick Jacquin)
7:00 p.m. Children’s procession to the nativity scene to place the Infant Jesus
8:00 p.m. International Mass
10 :00 p.m. 22h00 : Christmas vigil Sound, image and light show – an opera and projection of the spectacle of Christmas – "Lumen de lumine, Lumière née de la Lumière" – Place du Parvis de la cathédrale
11 :00 p.m. Christmas vigil : Christmas carols – Children and adult choir
Midnight : Midnight mass (Cardinal André Vingt-Trois, Archbishop of Paris and chaplains of the cathedral

All events are free; no reservation is necessary; it is advised that you arrive 10 to 15 minutes before the event.

Tuesday, December 25
8 :30 Mass
9h30 : Laudes solennelles – sacred songs in the vernacular
10:00 a.m. Gregorian mass
11 :30 a.m. High mass (Cardinal André Vingt-Trois)
12 :45 p.m. Mass
4 :30 p.m. Organ concert (Jean-Pierre Leguay)
5 :45 p.m. vespers
6 :30 p.m. Evening mass (Monsignor Jerome Beau, auxiliary bishop of Paris

Friday December 28
8 :30 p.m. Gregorian chant concert « PUER NATUS EST » Medieval polyphonies and monodies

Saturday, February 2
Ephiphany – end of Chritmas liturgy

Saint-Eustache

How to find the church

Metro: Les Halles, line 4, exit rue Rambuteau (just north of Les Halles)

Christmas program (programme de Noël)
Monday, December 24: 7 p.m. Family Christmas mass
Monday, December 22: 10 p.m. Midnight mass activities begin
Tuesday, December 25: 11 a.m. Christmas day mass
Tuesday, December 25: 5:30 p.m. Organ concert by Maître Jean Guillou, on the Grandes Orgues de Saint-Eustache
Tuesday, December 25: 6 p.m. Evening Christmas mass

l'Eglise de la Madeleine - for all concerts and choir information, click on "actualités", then concerts/
December 24 and December 25, 2007
December 24: 10 p.m. Vigil service followed by Midnight mass (choir); no 6:30 p.m. mass
December 25: 11 a.m. High mass (choir)
December 25: 7 p.m. Mass (no mass at 9:30 a.m.)

Eglise de la Madeleine 75008
December 8, 2007 to January 21, 2008

Japanese nativity scene
Grande crèche japonaise

Eglise de la Madeleine 75008
December 8, 2007 to January 21, 2008

Exhibition : Nativity scenes from around the world

l'Eglise Saint-Germain des Prés

December 24: 7 p.m. (mass for families and the elderly)

December 25: 9 a.m., 10:30 a.m. and 7 p.m.

Concerts

List of all organ and choir concerts taking place at Saint-Eustache in November and December

Cathédrale de Notre-Dame

The concert agenda

The children's choir will perform  the Cathédrale Notre Dame de Paris on December 18 at 8:30 p.m.

Passes will be available beginning December 8 between 9:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. at the information kiosk.

There is no entry fee. PICK UP YOUR ENTRY TICKET THE DAY BEFORE AT THE INFORMATION DESK INSIDE THE CATHÉDRALE.

l'Eglise de la Madeleine - visit their website for the current concert and choral information for Christmas.

For additional concerts in the various Paris churches visit my concert page and Notre-Dame concert prices and Sunday organ information.

Ice skating in Paris

Ice skating in the winter in Paris

Hôtel de Ville Skating rink 75004
December 1, 2007 to March 9, 2008
Métro: Hôtel de Ville
 

Open: Monday to Thursday: noon to 10 p.m.
Friday: noon to midnight
Saturday: 9 a.m. to midnight
Sunday : 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Group lessons: Saturday and Sunday mornings: 10 a.m. to noon
December 24, 25 and 31 and January 1: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Bobsled open for children under 12 (under 6, children must be accompanied)
 

Open : Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday : 4 :30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Acces to the skating rink is free ; You are “invited” to bring your own skates
Skate rental are available (size 25-49 – European is 5 euros)
Size 27 and smaller are free

la Bibliothèque François Mitterrand skating rink

(Patinoire de la Bibliothèque François Mitterrand) 75013
December 22, 2007 to January 20, 2008
At the angle of the streets Grands Moulins and Olivier Messiaen (Quartier Paris Rive Gauche)
Métro: Bibliothèque François Mitterrand
 

Open every day 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Acces to the skating rink is free ; you are « invited » to bring your own skates
Skate rental are available (size 25-49 – European is 3 euros)
Size 27 and smaller 2 euros

Montparnasse skating rink 75014
Patinoire de Montparnasse
December 1, 2007 to March 9, 2008
Parvis de la gare Montparnasse –
Métro Montparnasse-Bienvenüe / Gaîté
 

Open : Monday to Friday noon to 8 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Group lessons: Saturday and Sunday mornings: 10 a.m. to noon
December 24, 25, 31 and January 1: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Admission to the skating rink and the bobsled is free
You are “invited” to bring your own skates
Skate rental are available (size 25-49 – European is 5 euros)
Size 27 and smaller are free
 

Museums open on Christmas day and New Year's Day:

Musée de la curiosité et de la magie (Museum of Magic)

Musée de l'erotisme (Museum of Erotica)

Musée Fragonard, 9 rue Scribe (closed Christmas, open New Year's)

Musée Grévin

Institut de monde arabe

Musée Jacquemart-André

Musée d'art et d'histoire du Judaisme (Museum of Jewish Art and History)

  (open Christmas, closed New Year's)

Musée d'histoire naturelle (Natural History Museum)

Musée d'art moderne et Centre Pompidou

Musée Salvador Dali

Tour Eiffel

Tour Montparnasse

Tours de Notre-Dame

Villette/Cité des sciences

l'Eglise Saint-Louis on the Ile Saint-Louis

I will have to check events for this church

Begun in 1664 based on the plans of le Vau, the church was built in 1726 and dedicated to Saint-Louis Louis_IX_of_France (b. 1215 d.1270).
The unusual clock tower houses a clock that hangs perpendicular to the street, which dates from 1741.
The church has many possesses many works of art dating from the 1700s.

Carrousels (Merry-go-rounds)

Wooden horses and illuminated carrousels for the big and small infants out there are available for free (except in the 1st and 2nd arrondissements) between December 22 and January 6 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

3rd arrondissement
Square du Temple
Métro : Temple

4th arrondissement
Place de l'Hôtel de ville ( 2 merry-go-rounds)
Métro Hôtel de Ville

5th arrondissement
Bordure square Saint Médard
Métro Censier - Daubenton

6th arrondissement
Place de l’Odéon
Métro Saint sulplice

7th arrondissement
Place Joffre
Métro Ecole militaire

8th arrondissement
Place de la Madeleine (derrière l'église de la Madeleine au début de la rue tronchet)
Métro Madeleine

Place de la Concorde
Métro Concorde

9th arrondissement
Place Lino Ventura (hauteur rue des martyrs)
Métro Pigalle/Anvers

10th arrondissement
Square Alban Satragne, 107 rue du Faubourg Saint-Denis
Métro Gare de l’Est

11th arrondissement
Place Léon Blum
Métro Voltaire

12th arrondissement
Avenue Daumesnil (hauteur mairie du 12ème)
Métro Dugommier

13th arrondissement
Place d'Italie
Métro Place d'Italie

14th arrondissement
Angle rue Didot / Rue d'Alésia
Métro Alésia

15th arrondissement
Place Raoul Dautry
Métro Montparnasse Bienvenue

16th arrondissement
Place du Trocadéro
Métro Trocadéro

17th arrondissement
Place Docteur Félix Lobligeois
Métro Rome ou Brochant

18th arrondissement
Square Louise Michels (ex-square Willette)
Métro Anvers

19th arrondissement
Place Armand-Carrel
Métro Laumière

20th arrondissement
Place Gambetta
Métro Gambetta