Twenty-one thousand letters to Santa Claus were sent this year in Marseille. As if he didn't have enough on his plate, Saint Nick will send a handwritten response to each one, as long as their senders are on his "nice" list (and indicated their return address)!

Despite the cold weather, people are flocking to the opening of the Colmar Christmas market in Alsace. In this video, tourists talk shopping and vendors explain why they like to work at the Christmas market.

It takes a lot to decorate the 31-meter high Christmas tree on Strasbourg's Place Kléber: ten technicians, two bucket lifts, 75 thousand lights. Luckily, the operation is being managed by Antoinette Pfimlin, who has 20 years of experience decorating giant trees in a hard hat.

Some Alsace residents take Christmas decorating very seriously. From two men who go all out with phantasmagoric light displays to a woman who opts for a subtler, 1940s décor, you'll find some different takes on what it means to be in the "Christmas spirit" in this video.

The Musée des Abattoirs (Slaughterhouse Museum) in Toulouse devoted an entire exhibition to dub music, a subgenre of reggae. The exhibition featured a selection of Jamaican-style sound systems and culminated in a big dub concert.

The Lille Piano Festival is taking place in a subway station, where pianists bring music to the train commuters for their enjoyment and perhaps a gentle introduction to jazz and classical music.

In an archaeological park in Aussois, you can find some fascinating, mysterious rock engravings dating from sometime between the Neolithic Period and the Iron Age. Do the "armed dances" carved in the rocks represent a battle or a ritual? The tour guide in this video speculates on their possible meanings.

A new photography studio in Marseille combines traditional and contemporary printing techniques to make beautiful photos. It's a great spot for both amateurs and professionals alike!

The Quai Branly Museum in Paris is devoted to the indigenous art of Africa, Asia, Oceania, and the Americas. The building is surrounded by a massive plant wall and features a gorgeous anthropology library. Make sure to check it out during your next visit!

Nîmes is experiencing a revival thanks to extensive renovations of its main street, Allée Jean Jaurès. People show up en masse for its inauguration despite the rainy weather.

A group of high school friends from the Haute-Savoie town of Scionzier are trying to stop the destruction of a small farm building they discovered and restored. One of their efforts is the organization of a community yard sale for the town.

Margaux and Manon recite "The Crow and the Fox," a famous fable by the French poet Jean de La Fontaine, and explain some of the more difficult lines for us. It's a good poem to memorize to improve your French!

When a film shoot comes to town, it often brings a lot of jobs along with it, from hiring locals as extras to enlisting the services of caterers, hotels, and other businesses. The numerous film shoots near the town of Saint-Cyr-du-Gault have supported the area's economy and put many people to work.

Nicolas introduces some specialties of the Alsace region at the Alexandre Dumas Catering, Hospitality, and Tourism College. In this episode, pastry chefs bake some delicious cookies called "mannele" and "bredele." It's never too early to start planning your next New Year's fête!

This video describes a Christmas celebration at the Secours Populaire, an organization in France that helps underprivileged children and families, without passing judgment on their plight. Here they are celebrating Christmas with a big snack, gifts, chocolates, and a magic show.