What is the French traditional holiday fare? You'd be surprised... While the classic turkey with chestnut stuffing is still on the menu, some people are getting off the beaten track, pairing classic dishes with ethnic food. Foie gras samosas, anyone? Or how about imitation caviar truffles?

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.

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.

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)!

In keeping with northern European traditions, Saint Nicholas visits local French schools to bring good cheer and some treats! Luckily, his partner Père Fouettard, who usually hands out coal to naughty children, is away looking after his sick donkey today.

For New Year's Eve, come join the mountain people of the Savoie region at the O’Communailles restaurant where good local food is being served with a twist in a convivial atmosphere. Then watch the happy locals dance the night away.

The square around Paris's city hall, the Hôtel de Ville, is much more than a purely bureaucratic area. It features one of the city's most renowned department stores, the BHV, and even turns into an ice-skating rink in the winter.

In his song "Le monde est beau" (The World Is Beautiful), Oldelaf's ironic take on social networking is bittersweet and not without humor.

Daniel Benchimol walks us through the "Coulée Verte," a peaceful passageway that cuts through Paris's twelfth arrondissement and offers a nice break from the hustle and bustle of city life. Along the Coulée Verte, you'll find a lot of green spaces, some art galleries and craft workshops, and even a nifty sundial!

Meet the members of IAM, a very popular French rap group originating from Marseille. They discuss their successful career and their latest album, Arts Martiens (Martian Arts).

Meet Geneviève Morissette, a singer-songwriter from Montreal whose smart lyrics and beautiful compositions make her stand out on stage.

Have you ever wondered where the wool from your luxurious angora sweater comes from? At the Ferme de la Croix, a lovely lady breeds angora rabbits and goats on her farm. She explains the shearing process and how she cares for her pets. We learn that one rabbit can yield forty balls of angora wool every hundred days. That's a lot of sweaters!

Daniel Benchimol walks us through a fun neighborhood in Paris: Le Marais. It's a great place to visit, with the Beaubourg Museum (also known as the Georges Pompidou Museum) and distinctive medieval streets.

Oldelaf turned his abhorrence for rough stucco walls that scrape your skin into a funky song, "Le crépi" (Stucco).

A former bobsled champion created an ice chapel in Leysin, Switzerland. As you might expect, this unusual place of worship is only available during the cold winter months. If you're interested in visiting, make sure to do it before it melts away!