🎄🇫🇷 1 hour REAL French conversations about CHRISTMAS and NEW YEAR EVE in FRANCE #frenchconversation

Sous-titresSynchronisé avec la vidéo

0:00Mathieu, are you coming to make the video with me? Yes. I have prepared a little... ...a little hat.

0:07Wait for it. Your ears don't fit. You sound like Santa Claus himself. That's it.

0:19Hi everyone, hope you are well. We hope you are well. We are doing this video today with Mathieu.

0:26We're going to talk about Christmas and New Year's Eve too.

0:33I hope you're comfortable, that you're warm. In Paris, it's really starting to get cold.

0:39So I made myself a little tea to keep warm and comfortable for this video.

0:45I put on my little slippers and off we went, Mathieu?

0:49We're off. We will speak as we speak in everyday

0:52life, so it will be in rather colloquial French, everyday language.

0:57If you have difficulty understanding, of

1:00course, feel free to activate the French or English subtitles if you need help.

1:07So already, right next to Elisabeth, you

1:09can see the Christmas tree that we installed a few days ago.

1:13It is too beautiful! And here it is, we decorated it. We are very, very proud of it.

1:16And generally, in France, people put up

1:19their Christmas tree three weeks before Christmas or a month before Christmas. Is that right?

1:25Yes, that's about right. So on top, you can see, we put balls, we

1:31put garlands, lights and we put a Christmas star on top.

1:37So also, sometimes people put up a nativity scene. Yes, yes, it's true that people are

1:43setting up nativity scenes, but it's less and less frequent, I feel.

1:46In the nativity scenes in general, there is the baby Jesus, Mary, Joseph, the

1:51donkey and the ox and we see the wise men arriving, I think too.

1:55It's true that at home there were more cribs. You probably know that I grew up in

2:00Belgium and the Catholic religion is a little more present than in France.

2:04In France, it's secular, so it's true that

2:07in Belgium it's perhaps more common to have nativity scenes?

2:11Maybe, yeah. People put up a tree in their homes, but

2:16also usually in the cities, every city puts up a big tree.

2:20In our city, it is a giant tree, it is very beautiful. They put it up long before Christmas.

2:27And also, there are Christmas markets everywhere. Yes. And then there are also trees.

2:33Sometimes there are contests between people or companies or whatever.

2:39We, for example, our janitor, she tries to make the most beautiful tree in the

2:45different buildings and she is very proud of it. And so she installs a beautiful tree every

2:51year, she spends a lot of time and energy to have a beautiful tree.

2:55And as a result, when we go downstairs, we have a beautiful tree every time.

2:59Apparently this year she crocheted ornaments herself, like when you knit,

3:06she knitted ornaments for the tree herself. Yeah. It's true that it's pretty impressive.

3:14They have competitions between the different janitors, it's fun.

3:20And on Christmas markets in general, what kind of food can you find? In France.

3:29On the Christmas markets, there are often pancakes. Me, I see a lot of sweet pancakes.

3:35Pancakes with Nutella and all that. Love apples. Pomme d'amour, it's more in the fairs.

3:41Tartiflettes. On Christmas markets? Oh yes! You are because you don't like it.

3:54I think your brain doesn't want to. Ah, yes, on the Christmas markets there are many tartiflettes.

4:00With cheese, reblochon. Yeah, but... Bacon. Christmas market, you have hot chocolate.

4:07Yes, that's right, mulled wine too. Mulled wine. Yes, with spices like cinnamon.

4:11And what else is there? After that there are a lot of stalls selling Christmas gifts or crafts.

4:19Yes, yes. Yes, you have little jewels, you have little things like that. Stones too sometimes.

4:25Yes, it is true, very often there are some stones with energies.

4:29Yeah, stones with energy. Bracelets. But you said it, jewelry. Soaps. Yeah, soaps.

4:36Honey, some of the local products. Yes, artisanal. Yes, afterwards we can also buy a lot of

4:44things that we will eat at Christmas, for example terrine, foie gras.

4:48Yeah, chocolates. Yes, chocolates. So also, before Christmas, I bought this for Mathieu.

4:54Because I know that I have no chance to

4:57eat it because at 10 o'clock in the morning, it's already eaten. It's an advent calendar.

5:05So there are... how many? 24 boxes and we eat a little chocolate every day before Christmas.

5:11It makes you wait a little bit before Christmas arrives.

5:16So this is a Kinder calendar, but almost every brand makes them.

5:21Yes, yes. And even, well, when I was a kid, there

5:24were almost only chocolates, but now I see a lot of them. For example, brands.

5:31Beauty product brands. Who are going to make an advent calendar

5:37where every day you get a little sample of beauty products.

5:42I've seen even big brands, like Chanel, Louis Vuitton, they make calendars and

5:47often it's a bit of a scandal because they're so expensive and in fact it's a

5:52bit... well, there are almost only samples in them.

5:55But it's true that more and more brands are doing that. I don't know...

5:59L'Occitane en Provence, I had seen. Where it is small creams, small soaps, small perfumes.

6:05There I know there is a bank. So it's Boursorama, which has an advent

6:10calendar with a promotion every day at a merchant who is a partner of the bank. Ah yes. Yes.

6:18So it's also a marketing thing that can be used. Yes, yes.

6:22And even, there are an awful lot of companies on their Instagram accounts that

6:27will be giving away giveaways all month of December.

6:30Or influencers who partner with brands to run contests all December.

6:35It's true that the advent calendar has really expanded. Hello. Hi, beautiful, how are you?

6:41What's up? Can you hear me? Yes, are you in a HelloFrench video? Yes, it's perfect, it's great!

6:47It's for Christmas presents. Yes, it's fine, thank you very much, it's perfect!

6:52The gift Mathieu wanted is apparently out of stock. But you'll still get presents.

6:59I'll get a gift anyway. Ah yes, we were talking about Christmas markets, that's tartiflettes.

7:05It's also the season for something that you love, Mathieu, that looks a bit like tartiflettes.

7:09That you make at home with guests. A raclette? Raclette. Oh yes, yes yes yes.

7:15Mathieu likes to make raclettes at other people's houses, but not at ours because

7:20he doesn't like the smell to remain in the cushions, in the curtains. He hates it.

7:25So he likes raclettes, but not at our place. Yes, because we have a small apartment and

7:31so the smell, it remains impregnated everywhere.

7:35So yes, it's good in other people's homes and not here.

7:40And if you don't know what raclettes are, because it's very French...

7:46In fact, we use a device, we'll put the picture for you. You have like little pans, little frying

7:55pans and in them, generally, we put special cheese for the raclette.

8:02We put meat from the Grisons, ham and also potatoes. Sometimes a little bit of mushrooms.

8:09And we heat it up, it melts and then we eat it.

8:12And it's true that it's really something we do in winter, like tartiflette.

8:18Yes, it's very... it's friendly. So it's a nice moment. And it's greasy.

8:24It's greasy but it's also comforting. Après ça, c'est vrai que ça pue tout l'appartement. J'adore !

8:33En plus je ne mange pas de viande, donc j'aime bien mettre du fromage avec des morceaux d'ananas en conserve.

8:40Aahhh Mathieu déteste ça, donc la dernière fois il n'était

8:44pas là, j'en ai profité pour le faire toute seule. Non, mais elle met pareil avec les pizzas.

8:50Elle met de l'ananas sur les pizzas. Trop bon. Meilleure pizza.

8:54Bah, mon père italien, si il entend ça, je pense qu'il va me déshériter, mais

8:59Toujours dans la préparation de Noël, il y a bien sûr l'achat des cadeaux.

9:04Bah je pense que vous ne le voyez pas, mais pour le

9:06moment, il n'y en a pas sous le sapin, mais je suis quand même bien avancée dans mes achats de cadeaux.

9:12C'est juste que maintenant qu'on sort de la crise sanitaire, j'avais envie d'offrir des cadeaux plus

9:18liés à des expériences que des cadeaux physiques, que des objets.

9:22J'avais trouvé ça un peu plus sympa d'offrir des activités à faire que d'offrir des objets.

9:28Parce que maintenant qu'on est bien, on espère vraiment sortir de la crise sanitaire.

9:34J'avais trouvé ça sympa de pouvoir offrir des activités à nouveau.

9:39Et t'en es où toi avec tes cadeaux, Mathieu ? Tu as tout acheté ?

9:44Hier j'ai acheté un cadeau pour ma sœur, mais sinon non, je fais toujours ça à la

9:49dernière minute et ouais je le fais vraiment dans la précipitation.

9:53Ouais... Non, je n'ai encore rien fait. Bah, sauf un cadeau, mais sinon...

9:59Ça va, j'ai déjà... j'ai déjà pour mon père, pour mes frères, c'est bon, mais

10:04j'avais pris ça il y a longtemps et non franchement ça va.

10:08De toute façon, j'ai toutes mes idées, il y a

10:11quelques trucs que j'ai encore à acheter, mais sinon je suis bien avancée dans mes cadeaux.

10:15Il y a aussi autre chose.

10:17Avant je commandais presque pas sur internet, j'avais pas du tout cette habitude.

10:23Et là encore, depuis la crise sanitaire, je me suis un peu plus habituée à commander sur internet.

10:29Donc j'ai encore des cadeaux qui sont déjà commandés mais qui vont, qui vont arriver.

10:34Et c'est vrai que faire ses courses au milieu de la période de Noël c'est assez difficile.

10:40Enfin, les gens sont un peu fous.

10:43Mais après faire ses courses dans les magasins des fois c'est sympa parce qu'on a l'atmosphère,

10:49on a l'atmosphère de Noël, on a la petite musique.

10:53Ça peut être... ça peut être sympa, mais après il y a tellement de monde.

10:56C'est vrai que c'est la course, tout le monde se bouscule.

11:01C'est vrai que aux Galeries Lafayette c'est là où ils décorent les vitrines ?

11:05Ouais. Tu les as vues quand tu y es allée ? Il y avait des décorations, mais je ne me souviens pas.

11:10Mais il y avait un grand sapin au milieu des Galeries Lafayette ?

11:12J'ai pas regardé assez attentivement. Je ne sais pas si vous voyez... Les Galeries

11:15Lafayette, c'est un des grands magasins de Paris.

11:18C'est un des magasins emblématiques de la ville et c'est vrai que chaque année, ils

11:22font des décorations dans leurs vitrines qui sont magnifiques.

11:25Il y a des gens qui y vont juste pour voir les décorations.

11:29Et puis ils mettent aussi un énorme sapin au

11:31centre du magasin qui est très bien décoré et c'est vraiment sympa à voir. Oui, c'est très beau.

11:37Ouais, ils font de très, très belles décorations aux Galeries Lafayette. Sur la préparation de Noël.

11:43Je pense que... On a fait le tour. Ouais. Donc maintenant on va passer au jour de Noël.

11:57Est-ce que tu peux expliquer un peu vos traditions en famille et comment vous le fêtez ?

12:02Vous fêtez le 24 au soir ou le 25 ? Ouais. Donc c'est vrai qu'il y a un débat là-dessus.

12:10Certaines personnes le fêtent le 25,

12:13d'autres le 24 au soir et nous on avait le 24 au soir où on avait, on mangeait bien, on avait

12:20du saumon et tout, et on ouvrait aussi les cadeaux le soir. Parce que là, on est...

12:27Je sais que j'étais content quand j'étais gamin d'ouvrir mes cadeaux pour pouvoir jouer directement

12:32après sur la console parce que j'avais souvent des cadeaux liés aux jeux vidéo.

12:37Et puis après le 25, je profitais de la journée. Et puis je continuais à jouer à mes jeux.

12:42Mais le 25 vous faisiez un repas spécial ? Donc le 25, il y avait...

12:46Ouais, on mangeait un peu mieux, mais il n'y avait pas de repas spécial. C'était... Comment dire...

12:51C'était pas... Il n'y avait pas de deuxième événement. Le premier événement qui était lié à

12:56Noël c'était le 24 au soir et puis le 25. Après bien sûr on ne mangeait pas des pâtes

13:02au beurre, mais c'était pas... On ne faisait pas comme... comme on faisait le 24. Et chez moi.

13:10Donc en général le réveillon de Noël, le 24,

13:15on le fête avec la famille de mon papa et on le fait chez mes grands-parents.

13:25Donc ça c'est pour le 24 et puis à la maison

13:28c'est un peu particulier parce que j'ai grandi en Belgique et la famille de mon papa est italienne, donc

13:36c'est pas vraiment un Noël traditionnel comme en France.

13:41Bah, le gâteau pour nous c'était pas une bûche, c'était du panettone. Ah oui.

13:48Mais on reviendra là-dessus plus tard quand on va parler de gastronomie.

13:53Et puis sinon, le 25 en revanche, on le fêtait avec mes

13:58grands-parents maternels et mon oncle qui est aussi mon parrain et avec mes cousins.

14:04C'était le 25 à midi, le vrai jour de Noël. Donc c'est vrai qu'on avait des cadeaux deux fois.

14:11Ah oui, t'avais des cadeaux le 24 et le 25. Oui, des cadeaux dans la famille de mon père le

14:1724 et dans la famille de ma mère le 25. T'as de la chance.

14:22Alors cette année, Mathieu, qu'est-ce qu'on fait ? C'est une année exceptionnelle.

14:27On s'est mariés en juin, donc c'est vrai que ma maman voulait qu'on se retrouve tous.

14:34Oui, donc on fait un... Donc c'est le premier

14:37Noël où ma famille et sa famille vont fêter Noël ensemble.

14:43Donc, j'ai une famille plutôt petite, donc c'est

14:47limité à quelques personnes et on va tous en Belgique aller chez la famille d'Élisabeth

14:53pour fêter Noël tous ensemble. Mais c'est vrai que depuis qu'on s'est mariés,

14:59c'est plus logique de fêter Noël tous ensemble que chacun dans son coin. Ouais.

15:05Et donc le papa de Mathieu va prendre l'avion depuis Marseille. Oui, il était un peu paniqué.

15:11Probablement il va regarder la vidéo donc coucou !

15:14Et en effet prendre l'avion ça lui semblait assez... Comment dire...

15:20Être une épreuve assez difficile.

15:23Donc je me suis occupée de réserver le billet, de rendre tout ça très simple.

15:29Et donc il n'a plus qu'à aller à l'aéroport le jour J, monter dans l'avion et puis c'est

15:35la famille d'Élisabeth qui va le récupérer et ensuite on va tous chez Élisabeth,

15:41bah chez la famille d'Élisabeth pour fêter Noël. Oui, ce sera aussi l'occasion...

15:46Ton père est déjà venu en Belgique ? Non.

15:48Donc c'est vrai que ce sera l'occasion de lui montrer la Belgique.

15:52Bah, il va faire froid par rapport à Marseille, mais j'espère que le temps

15:56sera quand même... que ce sera sympa, mais ce sera une occasion.

16:00Je pense qu'on va lui montrer Bruxelles. Ce serait sympa d'aller dans une autre ville aussi.

16:04Surtout à Bruxelles le marché de Noël, il est vraiment magnifique. Il est très étendu.

16:11Donc je pense qu'il va aimer. On va aussi lui faire manger beaucoup de nourriture belge.

16:17Donc ce sera sympa. On a hâte en tout cas. Oui, oui, ça va être bien, ça va être un bon moment.

16:23Oui, on y va pour cinq jours je crois, donc ce sera l'occasion pour lui de découvrir la Belgique.

16:27Ah oui, par contre il y a un petit... j'ai oublié de te dire, il y a une particularité cette année.

16:33Dis-moi. En fait comme tout le monde commence à avoir des enfants, qui sont en couple et tout ça.

16:38Donc on va faire le 24 au soir et ensuite on va faire le 26. D'accord. Oui, c'est bien.

16:46Et le 25, je pense qu'on peut aller se balader dans une ville qu'on va montrer à ton père.

16:51Oui oui, c'est plus important d'être ensemble que de respecter le calendrier. Le planning strict.

16:59Maintenant la partie que vous attendez tous. La nourriture. Ah oui.

17:06D'abord, on va vous dire ce qu'on mange en général à Noël.

17:09Et puis bien sûr, on va vous parler des plats plutôt traditionnels.

17:15Comme Mathieu est un peu difficile sur la nourriture et moi

17:18je ne mange pas de viande et j'ai grandi dans une famille belgo-italienne.

17:22C'est pour ça qu'on va vous dire ce qu'on mange.

17:26Et ensuite on va vous dire les plats traditionnels en France. Toi Mathieu.

17:32Moi déjà le foie gras, je mange pas de foie gras, ça c'est sûr. Mais tu dois dire ce que tu aimes.

17:41Oui, j'aime beaucoup le saumon.

17:43Enfin moi le saumon, je pourrais en manger que avec des petits pains ronds.

17:48C'est quoi ? C'est des toasts ? Voilà, des toasts.

17:51Des toasts de saumon sans beurre, sans rien, juste le saumon et les toasts. C'est vraiment très bon.

17:59Après la dinde aussi, cuite au four avec la sauce et tout, c'est trop bon.

18:05Ça, ça pour moi c'est parfait.

18:07Et puis pour le dessert, juste la bûche, au chocolat ou aux fruits aussi.

18:14En fait, moi je suis à la fois compliqué et pas compliqué.

18:18Enfin, on me donne un peu de ce que j'aime et ça me va.

18:23J'ai pas besoin de diversifier, d'essayer plein de choses. J'ai du saumon, un peu de poulet et un

18:29dessert sucré, c'est bon, je suis l'homme le plus heureux du monde. Le message a été envoyé ! Oui !

18:38Et puis chez moi, le 24, c'est souvent une entrée de pâtes. Ah, d'accord.

18:50Parce que... ah oui, mais t'as jamais fêté Noël chez moi ? Ah oui, c'est vrai.

18:55Ben tu verras, parce que les Italiens ont souvent des primi piatti.

18:59Enfin c'est... c'est tellement bon. J'aime les pâtes.

19:04Donc ce sera soit des raviolis, des cannellonis ou des pâtes au four. C'est souvent le premier plat.

19:12Et puis pour le plat principal, on fait souvent...

19:15ma grand-mère, elle fait une pièce de viande avec un légume pour accompagner.

19:21Je sais plus ce qu'elle fait... des champignons parfois.

19:25Et oui, et à l'apéritif, on fait aussi souvent... elle fait des champignons farcis avec

19:31du fromage et des petits toasts au saumon aussi elle aime bien.

19:35Mais on mange pas trop de foie gras chez moi. Ouais, ben c'est bien !

19:38Et puis pour le dessert, panettone, souvent panettone avec limoncello. Avec une crème au citron.

19:47Et parfois même des bûches glacées. Mais je sais même pas si j'ai déjà mangé une bûche pâtissière.

19:55Chez toi, c'est une bûche pâtissière ou une bûche glacée ? Non, non, c'est une bûche glacée.

20:02Mais tu aimes les bûches pâtissières ? Oui, oui, j'aime bien.

20:04Oui, du moment que c'est... du moment que c'est sucré ! Ah oui. J'adore ! Il y a pas de risque.

20:08Moi, sur les desserts, il y a jamais de risque. J'aime tout. Et puis chez mes autres grands-parents,

20:16le 25, c'était un peu plus traditionnel.

20:20Souvent ils faisaient de la dinde ou du poulet et avec des accompagnements comme le gratin

20:26dauphinois ou des petites... comment ça s'appelle ?

20:30Tu sais, c'est des petites pommes de terre comme ça surgelées, un peu soufflées.

20:37Des pommes dauphine ? Oui, des pommes dauphine. Des haricots verts beaucoup.

20:41Et aussi ce qu'on aime bien en Belgique.

20:45Je sais pas si je t'ai déjà dit, c'est de la compote de pommes, mais chaude.

20:50Ah non, tu m'as pas dit. Et aussi parfois une sauce aux cranberries.

20:54Mais c'est pareil en France, non ?

20:56Je crois que c'est pas mal de faire une petite sauce aux cranberries.

21:00Vous voyez, c'est rouge. Je sais pas si vous voyez ce que c'est. C'est un fruit rouge comme ça.

21:05C'est un peu... Je pense que si je le vois, je vais savoir. Mais là comme ça, ça me dit rien.

21:12C'est un peu un mélange sucré-salé.

21:14Et puis, pour le dessert... c'est vrai que très souvent on mangeait de la Viennetta.

21:18Je sais même pas si ça existe en France. Tu sais ce que c'est ? Non.

21:23Je vais mettre une photo pour vous.

21:25C'est comme une bûche glacée, mais je me demande si on peut pas en avoir même toute l'année.

21:30C'est franchement très industriel, mais

21:32c'est très bon parce que j'ai ce souvenir quand j'étais enfant.

21:37Oui. Oui, souvent nos souvenirs biaisent un peu les choses

21:40parce qu'on a souvent l'impression que ce qu'on mangeait était très très bon.

21:44Et en fait, quand on le regoûte, je sais pas... 15 ou 20 ans plus tard on est déçu,

21:49on se dit "ah finalement c'était pas si bon que ça". Oui, ou on trouve ça très bon, mais seulement

21:56parce que c'est le souvenir et pas le vrai goût du produit.

22:00Et en tout cas cette année, ma maman m'a dit que ce serait de la dinde.

22:06Parfait. Je sais pas ce que moi je mangerai mais... Tu peux avoir une petite salade verte !

22:16Avec des petites carottes.

22:18Avec une vinaigrette et du sel et du poivre, quelque chose de vraiment festif.

22:25Après, ce qu'on fait souvent pour le Nouvel An, c'est quelque chose qu'on aime tous les deux.

22:31C'est du poisson au four. On va chez le poissonnier acheter un beau poisson entier.

22:38Du bar ou de la daurade, et on le fait au four. Et c'est délicieux.

22:44C'est vrai qu'on fait souvent ça quand c'est pour le Nouvel An. Oui, oui, oui.

22:49Oui, c'est facile à faire et c'est très bon. Donc c'est vraiment le combo parfait. Oui.

22:56Et sur la nourriture, maintenant on va

22:59vous parler un peu de ce qui est plutôt traditionnel en France.

23:04Le plat principal c'est souvent soit de la dinde soit du chapon. Oui. Ouais, le chapon.

23:09Moi quand j'étais petit, j'en mangeais chez mes grands-parents et c'était vraiment très bon.

23:15Mais je savais pas. En faisant des recherches pour la vidéo, tu

23:17savais que c'est en fait un coq le chapon ? Non.

23:20Ben, la dinde c'est la fille et le chapon c'est le coq. Ouais le chapon c'est vraiment bon.

23:30Je n'en ai jamais mangé, mais en fait je découvre que ça existait en regardant des séries en France.

23:35C'est dans "Plus belle la vie" je crois, où j'avais vu pour le repas de Noël que

23:39ils mangeaient du chapon parce qu'en Belgique j'ai jamais vu ça.

23:42Mais je sais que là où j'ai grandi, dans le sud, mes grands-parents en faisaient souvent pour Noël.

23:48J'avais oublié, là tu me fais penser à ça et c'est vrai que c'était très très bon.

23:54C'est plus moelleux que la dinde, non ? Ouais. Mais je crois que la dinde, parfois les gens

23:59disent que c'est un peu sec et le chapon apparemment, c'est hyper... beaucoup plus juteux.

24:03Mais je crois que c'est très cher quand même. Ah ouais, je sais pas.

24:06Je crois que c'est très cher, mais on verra bien.

24:09Mais de toute façon, c'est bien d'y penser parce que j'ai vraiment envie d'en manger un jour.

24:14Un chapon c'est énorme ! Tu peux pas prendre un chapon pour toi tout seul.

24:18Non, c'est vrai que c'est énorme. Mais dedans ils mettent quoi ? Des marrons ?

24:22Oui, il y avait... oui, c'était farci mais je sais plus ce que c'était.

24:27Mais oui, parfois c'est farci au foie gras, non ?

24:29Oui, ça peut être farci au foie gras, mais c'est pas bon. Tu aimes pas.

24:33Tu peux pas dire c'est pas bon, tu dois dire j'aime pas. T'as raison, c'est vrai.

24:37On dit souvent ça aux enfants quand ils mangent quelque chose et qu'ils disent "ah c'est pas

24:41bon", les parents les reprennent et disent on dit pas c'est pas bon. On dit j'aime pas.

24:47Parce que c'est pas à ton goût, mais c'est pas pour ça que c'est mauvais.

24:51C'est vrai. Toi tu trouves beaucoup de choses mauvaises. Oui, oui, non, je suis compliqué.

24:56Mais le foie gras c'est vraiment difficile. Ben, j'en ai jamais mangé, je crois.

25:01Et bien sûr, les huîtres, pour les fêtes de fin d'année, pour Noël et le

25:06Nouvel An, c'est vraiment un des produits phares. Oui, oui, c'est la base du truc.

25:11C'est vrai que beaucoup de gens mangent des huîtres pour Noël.

25:13Mais toi tu aimes pas. Moi non plus j'aime pas. Moi non plus j'aime pas.

25:16J'en ai goûté pour la première fois, j'étais peut-être encore à Bruxelles, donc c'était peut-être il y a 8

25:20ans et je me souviens finalement, mes amis disaient "allez, goûte !"

25:24And really, I put it in my mouth and I

25:27couldn't swallow the oyster and I thought nobody was watching me.

25:31And I really spit it back into the shell.

25:33Except, of course, everyone had seen me, so everyone laughed at me. But no, it's not for me.

25:40And every year, in December, I have lots of girlfriends who suggest that I go to

25:45bars that specialize in oysters to drink a little wine, white wine and oysters.

25:51And already I hate white wine too. But I can't eat oysters.

25:57So I'd rather stay at home with Mathieu than have to eat oysters.

26:03Otherwise, well the foie gras, we said it. Chestnuts. I love it, I love it!

26:08And there's something quite fun about vocabulary. You know that, right?

26:13That chestnuts aren't really chestnuts. No? In fact, there are chestnuts and sweet

26:21chestnuts, which are two different fruits, and in reality, chestnuts are poisonous.

26:27If you eat a chestnut, you die! Well, you die, I exaggerate. But it is toxic for the human being.

26:35And what we eat are chestnuts. But we call them chestnuts in the kitchen.

26:41We say glazed chestnuts, hot chestnuts.

26:44But in reality, we are talking about chestnuts and not real chestnuts. Here it is.

26:50Well, listen, thank you for this particular course. But yes, I know because when I was a

26:56child, we used to go with my grandfather to pick chestnuts and cook them.

27:01In the oven, and it's so good. I know you don't like it. Yeah, I don't really like it. I love them.

27:05We cook them, we cut a little with the knife so that they don't explode in the

27:09oven, and we cook them in the oven afterwards, it's all hot.

27:12It's really good, it's grilled, I like it too much.

27:19There's that, then there's what else? The truffle. The truffle, yeah.

27:23The truffle is really... I'm very happy because I really like it. But it's true that it's expensive.

27:30But every year, in the supermarkets, you can find dishes flavored with truffles.

27:36Here, I bought some truffle ravioli. I also bought - you didn't see it.

27:40A puree flavored with truffle. Ah, you saw it! Because Mathieu hates mashed potatoes.

27:45The truffle, it's true that there are many

27:47things, but even mushrooms in general for Christmas, a little chanterelle. Yes, that's good.

27:53But the truffle too, in fact. Do you like truffles?

27:56In fact, I like truffles, but when there is just a little truffle aroma.

28:00When it's too heavy, I don't like it. Yeah, me neither. When it's too much, it's kind of sickening.

28:05It smells a little like gasoline. It's sickening.

28:08Yes, I can't take truffle pizza or truffle pasta either. I really can't.

28:14With a sauce, cream, it is quickly disgusting. And then... We haven't talked about drinks,

28:21but for the end of the year celebrations, it's champagne. Yes, champagne! Sometimes wine too.

28:31Yes, the wine. Then wait. There's the champagne. Yes, it's really the drink.

28:37Yes, champagne is the basic drink for the aperitif. When the meal opens.

28:42Yes, it is sure that it starts with champagne. Besides, we don't have any champagne flutes. No.

28:49On the food, I think we're a little bit out of the loop. Yes. Now the gifts. Gifts.

28:57We talked a little bit about it earlier, where we were in the gift buying.

29:01So can you explain a little bit? Because I have a little problem.

29:05Well, I don't have a little problem. In Belgium, it's a lot of Saint-Nicolas

29:12for the children's gifts, it's really Saint-Nicolas and less Santa Claus. Okay.

29:19So it's true that I have more... Well, in Belgium and I think even in Lorraine, in

29:24the north of France, it's a lot of Saint-Nicolas too. And in France it's really Santa Claus.

29:30Can you tell us a little bit about how it goes?

29:34If you have to wear - I don't know - shoes the night before? Socks? How does it work?

29:40How do you send your list to Santa? Oh yes. How do they do it? How do the children do it?

29:45You write your letter to Santa when you're a kid. And in fact, it's funny because the French

29:52post office has a system where if you write "le Père Noël", well, they actually

29:58collect everything and send it to a destination.

30:02Everything is done to really make the children believe. Ah, they say no?

30:06And there are answers too, I think, yeah. Oh yeah, it's so cool that they're doing this.

30:10Yes, there is that. Afterwards, obviously, it's business, but afterwards...

30:18I remember that in my time, there were

30:21telephone services where you could talk to Santa Claus, and of course it cost... It cost

30:27I don't know how much, but it was around 0. 30€ for a minute and they made the thing

30:33last by saying "can you repeat the gifts you would like to have?" And everything.

30:39And that meant huge phone bills for the parents.

30:43Have you called yet? And I called often, and in fact it was

30:46because I called too much that I was told that in fact, Santa Claus...

30:51And because it was expensive in the end.

30:54And so there's this, so you make your list, you say, I'd like this, this, this.

31:01And then, in general, we had a part of the

31:04list, I had a part, and then there are some who have the whole list.

31:08Afterwards, it depends on whether they were wise or not. And also the means of the parents. Yes.

31:16If they have been good and if their parents are rich. That's it, you have to be rich.

31:20So what happens after the day itself?

31:22Well, it's true that there are some who will really pay attention to traditions.

31:27We didn't have to worry about socks or anything.

31:32It was... On the evening of the 24th, we had presents under the tree.

31:40So the presents, we thought that it was

31:42Santa Claus who had brought them in the meantime, we don't know when.

31:45But it's true that in some families, it's more developed, we'll say. The children go to bed.

31:51Of course, Santa Claus comes by at that

31:53time, and then they wake up the next day and there are all the presents.

31:57There are several organizations that are

32:00done, but in my case, it was more an organization of the 24th in the evening

32:04with Santa Claus who passed like that in emergency. Yes, it can't go everywhere at once.

32:10It is strong, eh. He is obliged to dispatch.

32:14In some families he has to come on the 24th and in others on the 25th. Yes, that's it. That's why.

32:20So we didn't go on the 24th anymore. And apart from that, no.

32:24Then there's also... I know that in supermarkets, it's always business, but...

32:29There are Santas who come to take pictures with the children so that at the same time

32:35the parents buy presents here, well in the place where there is Santa Claus.

32:41So there's a whole business around that in France too.

32:44Yes, we have that, but with Saint-Nicolas more. There are a few Santas, but Saint-

32:49Nicolas, as I said, is really the flagship holiday.

32:51And there was... When I was a kid, so I guess it's still the same. But there was Saint-

32:55Nicolas everywhere.

32:57In supermarkets, in fast food restaurants, at Quick, at McDonald's, there was Saint- Nicolas.

33:04And by the way, I can tell you an anecdote about Saint-Nicolas. You know what I'll tell?

33:08When my parents, they made a mistake? No. But if you know her. I think I know it.

33:14But go ahead and say it and it will come back to me.

33:18My parents, they worked for - well, they still work for the state.

33:23And so every year, the public services organized a big St. Nicholas party for the children of the

33:31employees, and we would come and get a present. And thus they rented a huge room in

33:38Brussels where all the children were there, we received a small gift, here it is.

33:44And so, on the planned day, we go by car. My parents, they lived one hour from Brussels.

33:50We made the trip by car. I don't know how old I was. Four, five years.

33:57Sorry if I'm wrong, I think they'll watch the video. And when we get there, we want to open the

34:03doors of the building and everything was locked.

34:06And so there, my parents realized that they had the wrong date.

34:10But when you promise your child - your child of, I don't know, four years old - that

34:15you are going to see Saint-Nicolas and that you are going to get presents, when

34:21you arrive and everything is closed, the child becomes a little crazy.

34:25So we had to drive for another hour and

34:28they took me to Quick, which is a Belgian fast food restaurant.

34:36They took me to Quick and Saint-Nicolas was there. And so they told me: "You understand, he

34:44couldn't be in Brussels and at the same time at the Quick in Namur". So the city where we come from.

34:53So obviously, I understood. Yes, yes, you actually thought it was normal that it was closed, what.

35:00I thought it was normal. They took advantage of my naivety and innocence to trick me.

35:07And to get their mistake across. It's a cute story. That's okay.

35:14I remember, you told me about it not long ago.

35:16It's a good story. Because in fact, it has left such an

35:19impression on me that in my head, I think it's because my parents told me.

35:23I have a memory of my parents trying to

35:25open this door in the building and they can't, and seeing their faces decomposed.

35:29But I think it's just I recreated the memory in my head. So there you go.

35:34So that was a little aside about St. Nicholas, who is very popular in Belgium

35:39and in other countries, also in the Netherlands. I think in Romania too.

35:45I know that in France, I was surprised when we met in France that you talked to

35:50me about Saint-Nicolas and not so much about Santa Claus.

35:54I really thought that in Belgium, it was Santa Claus like in France.

35:59And in fact no, it's - well, it surprised me.

36:03Well, at Christmas, children get a very small gift, but it's true that when I was

36:09a child, we didn't talk too much about Santa Claus.

36:13In France it is Saint-Nicolas, except in the North perhaps. Yes, in Lorraine.

36:18But where I grew up, in the south. Even in the schools I went to, we never talked about it.

36:23It was really Santa Claus. It was the main event, it was Christmas, it was not St.

36:28Nicholas at all. But then, I think that St. Nicholas is really linked to - it's religious.

36:33Whereas Santa Claus is more of a commercial holiday. It's kind of made up. Yeah.

36:39Yeah, it's more the Coke thing. It's like Valentine's Day.

36:43On the subject of gifts, do you all give gifts to each other at home?

36:49Everyone gives a gift to everyone else. Yes.

36:52Because I know there are families where they do a "Secret Santa".

36:57So they draw a person in the family and they have to give a gift just to that person.

37:05So that we don't have an accumulation of gifts, or so that everyone has to spend money for everyone.

37:13But then, as in small families... Yes, it's true that we have a very small

37:17family, so it's true that if we did that, in the end there would be nothing.

37:22So yes, we all make gifts for each other.

37:26And also the "Secret Santa", I don't know how they call it in French, but in Belgium

37:32they say "faire une cacahuète" like the fruit. A peanut - it's called to make a peanut.

37:38In France I never heard. But in France, we say Secret Santa, we say it in English, right?

37:42Well yes, maybe, some people say the Secret Santa, but well, I guess it's more

37:47in Quebec that we would say something like that. But in France the "Secret Santa" was made at work.

37:53Yes, at work, it happens a lot. In groups of friends too. Yes. I've done it at school itself.

37:58And yes, at work we had done it. But it's true that it's fun.

38:02But then sometimes you run into people, either you don't really know or you don't

38:07like very much, because there are always colleagues you don't like as much.

38:12I have a friend there, she fell - she works

38:15for a big media in France and she fell on the boss of the channel.

38:21It's true that she didn't know what to do. She didn't know what to buy. It's a bit tricky.

38:29And especially often in the "Secret Santa", one fixes a sum.

38:35Yes. It is a gift of 5€, 10€, 15€ depending on - if it's at work, it's more like 5 or 10€.

38:42I had already done it when I was a journalist, I worked in a small editorial office in Brussels.

38:49And it was 1 euro I think, we said. 1€? 1 euro is a bit difficult.

38:55So I know someone had received canned ratatouille or things like that.

39:001€ - it's true that I don't see what you can offer for 1€.

39:02Then you have to do it yourself... You have to... And I don't even remember what I did.

39:09Yeah, it could be something you do though. Yes, I think, one of my colleagues, she

39:14had made cookies that she had put in a - not a box, but a jar. Yes, it's true that it's not so bad,

39:23because at least it forces you to really produce something.

39:27Whereas if you have a lot of money, you go on Amazon, or another site, and then you

39:32take it and then you don't really ask yourself any questions.

39:36But if you have a very limited budget... But it's true that it really forces you to -

39:42to rack your brains. Yes, it was fun to do that at work. What about presents, what did you ask for?

39:52What did you ask Santa for this year? So - well, it's true that for Christmas, I'm always...

39:58Well, I'm not simple because as soon as I want something, I buy it.

40:03As soon as I want something, I go on a

40:05website, I buy it, I don't really give time to the desire to be born, whereas

40:10when I was little, it's true that we are not independent.

40:14So I wanted a video game, I had to wait two months, three months to get it.

40:19And now it's not the case anymore. So it's very complicated to get something.

40:25In addition to the clothes. I'm still - I'm not simple, there are few things I like.

40:31Well, I'm not - I myself am not a gift. If you are the best gift!

40:39And so what I asked for for Christmas this

40:41year was a pair of running shorts because I'm running a lot right now.

40:48I'm preparing the Paris Marathon, I did

40:50several marathons before, so I wanted to get back into it because it's been a lot

40:54of years, it's been seven or eight years since I really ran.

40:57I have not really run, that is to say I have done long races, and so I am doing the

41:01Paris 2023 marathon and so I am preparing myself.

41:04And now in Paris it's quite cold and I need to wear shorts to be able to continue

41:11running even when it's zero degrees or negative temperatures. So that's what I asked for.

41:18What else did you ask? I didn't ask for anything else.

41:24Didn't your sister and father ask you anything? No. No, I didn't ask.

41:32Afterwards, someone asked me for a plant. Oh yes, I did.

41:37It's true that we don't really have a green thumb. Oh yes, we do.

41:40The green thumb - in French, when we say that, it means that we are not gifted with plants.

41:47So as soon as a plant enters our apartment, it dies. She dies. Almost instantly.

41:53However, frankly, we are careful, we will water it, we will try not to water it too much.

42:00We follow the standards of what to do, but the plants, they all die. It's true that it's incredible.

42:08So there, we said to ourselves, come on, this time we will take maybe, a big plant, almost a tree.

42:14To be sure. Quite robust. Well, let's see. By the way, maybe in the background, just

42:21behind me there, you can see maybe a plant that is at the end of its life.

42:26And well, we'll probably... The worst thing is that we have a lot of pots.

42:32Because we still keep the pots after the plants have died. And so in fact, when we see the number of

42:37pots we have, we know the number of plants that died because of us.

42:40And frankly we laugh but we are not proud. No, not proud. We're not proud.

42:47We asked that, what did we ask? Oh yes, we asked for a plaid too, for... I forgot to ask.

42:53I have to write it down. So if you look, we are going to buy a

42:58plaid, a plaid to protect the sofa because we are going to adopt a little dog and so

43:05it will be new for us and we will try to protect the stuff as much as possible.

43:12I already had a lot of dogs when I was

43:14little and so here in an apartment, so it's the first time we're going to have a

43:19dog in an apartment, so we're quite careful. First of all, don't leave things lying

43:24around on the floor so that he doesn't eat them, so that he doesn't choke on them.

43:28And also to protect the furniture a little bit. So we're going to put a little plaid on

43:34the couch so it doesn't scratch the leather. Because that would be a shame.

43:39It would be a shame if he destroyed everything.

43:42But he's a little dog so I think that's going to be okay. We're really excited.

43:47We'll show you when we get it. He is super handsome. He is a little fat but he is beautiful.

43:56He is not fat. No, he's fat for his race but otherwise he's not fat.

44:01In absolute terms, he's 10 pounds, right?

44:05Yes, in fact I think we'll make a video dedicated to this little dog. We'll explain why it's so big.

44:15Yes, it is true that there is a story

44:17around that and so we have a next video with the dog in store for you.

44:22With the dog. Why is it too big at three kilos three?

44:27Here we are, after, what else is there as a gift? Well, no, there's the plaid. Plants, and you?

44:35Me, wait, I'll come see my small list that I sent.

44:39I made a list and I put a lot of things in it so that my parents and my brothers can

44:46choose according to their tastes and that it remains a little surprise.

44:53In it I had put a book that I want to read. I think you might like it.

44:58It's about... I think it's about someone who was on reality TV and then got into

45:03YouTube and kind of how she exposed her kids. It's a bit of a thriller I think.

45:10But is this a true story? No, no, it's not a true story. It's a fiction. It's a fiction, yeah.

45:15I asked, well on my list rather. I put a book by... You'll hate it.

45:20Recipes for making soups. Oh, okay. Yeah. There was a bag I had seen, that I like,

45:28that I've been looking at for quite some time.

45:32Blank photo albums so we can put our wedding photos in them.

45:37We still haven't done either the wedding photo album or the honeymoon photo album.

45:43Besides, there is a video... We are waiting for a video of the wedding.

45:46Yes, we are still waiting for a video of the wedding.

45:50I put in the list a puzzle with a nice illustration. A phone case with a cord like this, it's easy.

45:58I can put it around me and no one steals my phone. Also, we had put an engraved dog tag. Yes.

46:07Oh yes, that's right. With his name and our phone number.

46:10That way, if he gets lost, we hope to get a call. Yes, that's a few gifts though.

46:15It was a bit of a suggestion, it gave me some ideas because my brother said if you

46:20don't give me an idea, I'm going to buy something stupid and that will be stupid.

46:26I should also be able to think about how to simplify people's lives.

46:33In fact, I think you have to write it down a little bit as the year goes on once you get an idea.

46:40Yeah, yeah. Then yeah, I'm still... Yes, you buy directly because you need it at the moment. Yeah.

46:44Yes, to run, I bought my water bottles, my stuff. But it's true that I could have waited a bit.

46:49And sometimes I see a promotion or something and I say okay, I'll take it right away.

46:53Well yes, there was Black Friday too, there were things I had to buy and I

47:00wanted to buy them at that time because it was 30% cheaper.

47:05There is also the oven that we could have bought.

47:07But after the oven, if you got it as a Christmas present... Yes, we got the oven as a gift.

47:10In fact, one day, without any warning, we

47:12wanted to turn on our oven and it blew up all the fuses in the apartment.

47:17So the electricity went out. Besides, we forgot to turn on the electricity.

47:23Well, no. We put it back. Otherwise it wouldn't work. Did you put it back? Yes. Oh wow! But why?

47:34Ah yes, the fridge! I was afraid of the fridge. Oh yes! No, no, I put it back. Okay, sorry.

47:39And yes, we had... When we went to the United

47:41States, we had cut off the electricity and so our fridge was... Oh yes. I was thinking about that.

47:49It was very, very, very complicated. The fridge and freezer. Three weeks, no electricity.

47:55It was the San Diego Zoo when we got back. We'd rather not talk about it.

48:01We'll talk about it on maybe a next video. Yes, no, we won't talk about it! And what did we say?

48:08Oh yes, an oven. So yes, it was my grandfather's Christmas present because our oven blows out the

48:15electricity, so we couldn't use it anymore. I tried to clean it.

48:20I tried to do a lot of things and unfortunately it doesn't work anymore. There was a way to fix it.

48:27In fact, you need a whole device to test all the resistors and everything.

48:32It's a device we don't have. And the oven was old. The oven is very old.

48:36We thought, well, we have to replace the

48:38part, it will cost us I don't know how much and maybe it won't work.

48:42So we took the easy way out and bought a

48:45new oven, so that we would have peace of mind when it came to promotions and could

48:49start again with a ten or fifteen year old oven. Keeping your fingers crossed.

48:54And last topic of the video, we're going to talk about the New Year.

49:00So we've talked a lot about Christmas. After all the gastronomy, food, it's quite

49:07similar what we eat for the New Year compared to what we eat at Christmas.

49:14But more in the traditions. There are some that are different.

49:20For example, the kiss under the mistletoe. Oh yes!

49:25Yes, yes, the kiss under the mistletoe that brings good luck if you do what.

49:32So... We hang a sprig of mistletoe. That's it, it's mistletoe, right?

49:39Ah oops, there is a light that has failed. It's ok, I think you can still see us well.

49:43Yes, you see us anyway. The tradition is to hang a sprig of mistletoe and to kiss under it.

49:54Well, to kiss... with the person we love. The people we love, yes, yes.

50:02We kiss each other on the mouth and it brings good luck for the coming year.

50:06This is one of the traditions of the New Year. Also, of course, to celebrate it on the 31st.

50:14Often we have a party, then we count 10, 9, 8... 3, 2, 1. Happy New Year!

50:27And every year, it must be the same in every country.

50:30The telephone network is saturated because everybody tries to call each other at 00:

50:3701 to wish each other a happy new year and best wishes.

50:41But I think that now it's not so much the case. No, I think now it's less so.

50:44Because now you can send messages on WhatsApp or messages on Facebook, whereas

50:49before it was all on the SMS network, the phone network, and now it's scattered in

50:54the data and everything. I think there is no more that...

50:58It's true, you're right, it's more when we were young. Yes.

51:03And then for New Year's Eve, unlike Christmas, New Year's Eve is more with

51:08friends, while Christmas is more with family in general. Yes, yes, yes.

51:13So people either organize small meals at home or go to a restaurant.

51:18It's true that a lot of restaurants have special menus for the New Year.

51:23When I was a kid, I loved it. I used to go with my grandparents sometimes.

51:29Well, there's no light at all. We hope you see us, but I think you do. You see a changing light.

51:35But do you want me to turn on the light there? No, but it's okay! No, no, don't worry.

51:40And it's true that I loved going to restaurants with my grandparents.

51:44And because, from a certain hour, the tables were moved, they put music and we

51:49danced on the dance of the ducks and the caterpillar which starts again.

51:55But today, I still have friends who sometimes go to nightclubs for New Year's Eve.

52:00It's true that it's not really our style because you don't go to nightclubs.

52:05No, that's not my style. And I actually find that you can go there

52:09every day of the year, and that day, I find it too full. There are too many people.

52:17Yes, then in addition in these events... In general, the prices are inflated.

52:24It costs much, much more. And so we might as well do something between us and go to another venue.

52:34But it's true that sometimes they abuse the prices a bit.

52:38And we, this year, for the New Year, we welcome my best friend, her companion and

52:46the son-in-law of my best friend, therefore the son of her companion.

52:53And he's going to see the little dog. So we hope that... Yes, we love him very much and he's going

52:58to be six, so I think we're going to have a lot of fun. The five of us are going to spend New

53:03Year's Eve here and it's going to be a lot of fun.

53:06Yeah, totally. Yeah, I think we're going to make some

53:10good food, have a good drink, we can play some games. Yes, yes, we have little games as well.

53:16To play with the little one, it will be great. But we don't like... We don't like to go out

53:25that day, we prefer to do it at home, quiet. Yes, then there's a... I think there is also a...

53:34How to put it. It depends on the age too. There is a time for everything.

53:40And it's true that when I was younger, I was perhaps more motivated to go outside.

53:47Still, it was only average. But now it's dead. I really prefer to stay here.

53:53Yes, but even I, frankly, even though I liked going out a lot.

53:56I never liked New Year's Eve because every time there were too many people everywhere.

54:00And afterwards, I think we can watch the fireworks. Yes. Maybe we can go to the park.

54:06Actually, there's a park in our city where

54:09there's a great view of the Eiffel Tower, but it's pretty far away and it's secluded

54:15so I don't think there will be too many people. Yes, it's true.

54:20It can be nice to watch the fireworks from the Eiffel Tower normally.

54:25Yes, so it's true that this is a good idea. Completely.

54:30After, on the good year, generally in France, we can wish it until January 31.

54:36That's what we say. Yes, the whole month, January.

54:39Happy New Year, yes you can tell when you meet people. A happy new year, best wishes.

54:43Happy New Year, best wishes. Finally, all this is said without any problem.

54:47In emails too. Happy New Year! We can. Yes, we say the tradition is you can wish until January 31.

54:53After, me, I find that after the 20th... Yes, it's true that it's a bit late. It's a little late.

54:58Once the galette des rois is over, it's a

55:01little late to wish... I love the galette des rois, I can't wait. Yes, that's good. We love that.

55:08Both of us love to make the cake with frangipane. That we like very much. Yes. I love frangipane.

55:16There, we talked a lot together, we spent a good hour.