by Camille, age 8 from Paris, France, asks Santa about the French tradition of Christmas shoes, the Seine River, and Pere Noel.
Dear Santa, my name is Camille, and I am eight years old. I live in Paris, France, where my grand-mere says our family has left wooden shoes by the fireplace for Pere Noel since she was a little girl.
Dear Camille, your grand-mere is describing one of my favorite old French customs, and Pere Noel always appreciates a well-placed pair of shoes.
Santa, I have three questions.
Do you like Christmas shoes? My grand-mere says we are supposed to leave ours out instead of hanging stockings.
I do, Camille, the French tradition of leaving shoes by the fireplace for Pere Noel to fill with small treats is a lovely old custom. There is also a well known, quite touching Christmas song and film with a similar name, though that one is a story for a slightly older audience and a quieter evening.
My teacher says the Seine River runs right through the middle of Paris. Is that true?
It is true, Camille, the Seine winds right through your city, past all sorts of beautiful old bridges and buildings. I always follow its glimmer at night, it makes finding your rooftop wonderfully easy.
My grand-mere says leaving shoes out for gifts is a much older tradition in France than hanging stockings. Is that true?
It is true, Camille, French children have traditionally left wooden shoes, called sabots, by the fireplace long before stockings became common elsewhere. Old traditions like that, passed down from your grand-mere and her grand-mere before her, are exactly the kind of thing worth keeping alive.
Merry Christmas, Santa.
Your friend,
Camille Laurent
Paris, France
P.S. Should I leave my regular shoes out, or special ones?
Any shoes will do, Camille, though I will admit the small ones are easier to fill completely.
