Christmas in France ..

For them, Christmas means family reunion, countless Christmas presents and, of course, the most delicious Christmas dinner. For example, Li Beilei, deputy manager of the Beijing office of French Tourism Bureau, is 39 years old. She hasn't spent Christmas at home for three years in her life, and for the remaining 36 years, she will go back wherever she is. In France, the four weeks before Christmas are called "Christmas prelude". During these four weeks, people will make full mental and material preparations for Christmas. At this time, the fragrance of various spices and wine filled the streets, and the Christmas market was crowded with people who came to buy it. Even when night falls and the weather is cold, people's enthusiasm will drive away these chills. Here, Christmas seems to be not just a religious festival, but the most thorough enjoyment in life. Shopping is still the hottest thing in France during Christmas. You can buy many Christmas presents for your family and friends. Among them, what you should buy most is something called "Christmas manger", which is a model to commemorate the birth of Jesus. Every French family will have one, and some even serve as family heirlooms. Besides, you should eat the biggest Christmas dinner, and most French families will make great efforts to prepare it. If you go to Provence, you will have a chance to taste a very special Christmas menu with 13 dishes, all of which are excellent. Also, remember to taste a kind of chocolate called "truffle", which can only be bought during Christmas. Truffles are called "black gold" by the French, and the price per kilogram exceeds 500 euros. They are the most expensive ingredients in Europe and are highly respected by French chefs because of their rich aroma.