His and Hers Parigi: From Paris to Parenthood: Christmas in the City of Lights

Everything that is said about Paris in the springtime is true, but Paris in December is just as special. The City of Lights doesn’t dare to skimp on this time of long evenings and fewer tourists. In the last month (since the arrival of all the Christmas lights), it feels like the city has wrapped itself up like a beautifully decorated present, just enough for those who call this place home to spend chilly December evenings here.

With the approach of the holidays, Parisians also get very serious about their seasonal cuisine. While not for the faint of heart or even possibly most American palates, for foodies, this is as good as it gets.

Foie gras, oysters, scallops, game, special holiday teas, special cheeses, special cakes—it's all here at seemingly every turn. The local grocery store even brought in two large temporary refrigerator cases devoted entirely to foie gras and caviar, with both ranging in price from 8 to 100 euros!

The butcher shops are fascinating and a little disturbing since now it seems that every type of bird and rabbit are hanging from the ceiling. Nothing says Christmas like birds and rabbits, I suppose! There is a part of me that thinks it can’t really be Christmas without Polish sausage, but just this once, I’m finding if I hum “I’ll be home for Christmas” while eating some foie gras, somehow it's easier.

Tonight, Josh and I are heading out on a Christmas date. We leave tomorrow for the mountains of Corsica, where we will be spending Christmas, but we couldn’t resist a Saturday night on the town admiring all there is to see.

A trip to the department stores to see the windows feels like a perfect addition to the Marshall Field’s Christmas window-gazing tradition of my childhood. The chance to stroll down the Champs Elysees with Josh while surrounded by Christmas lights feels one of like the most romantic walks I could imagine. A few Christmas markets are still open and we can’t help but think there is a little treasure there to be discovered. Maybe if we’re lucky, we might even find a glass of vin chaud or a little café with enough room at the counter for us.

And so, with Christmas music playing in our apartment, our “Holiday Lamp” all aglow and a cup of warm tea beside me, I’ll leave you until after the New Year.