If traveling in France during the Christmas season, it is interesting to
note that different dishes and dining traditions reign in popularity in
different parts of the country. In south France, for instance, a Christmas
loaf (pain calendeau) is cut crosswise and is eaten only after the first
part has been given to a poor person. In Brittany, buckwheat cakes and
sour cream is the most popular main dish. In Alsace, a roasted goose is the
preferred entrée. In Burgundy, turkey and chestnuts are favored. In the
Paris region, oysters are the favorite holiday dish, followed by a cake
shaped like a Yule log.
