Le Jour des Étrennes: Day of New Year’s Presents: People exchange presents and greeting cards. People began sending fake gifts on April first (which originally culminated the New Year feast) as a joke on those who previously had received their étrennes or New Year’s gifts, on that day. Poisson d’avril: April fish, is the name French people apply to one who is fooled or mocked on April first. Confectioners’ windows display chocolate fish on this day and many friends anonymously send each other humorous postcards imprinted with pictures of fish. France adopted the reformed calendar in 1582 which changed the beginning of the New Year from March 25 to January first.

Le réveillon du nouvel an: Foods: brioche, oysters, chicken, eggs, wine, bonbonnières filled with chocolate, sweets, flowers, candied fruit.(6)