Réveillon

Origins and history

The custom first appeared among French nobles during the eighteenth century as an all-night banquet. Aristocratic households hosted lavish dining events that continued until dawn. In time, the fashion travelled to foreign royal courts, including the nobility of Portugal. After the upheaval of the French Revolution, the concept shifted from courtly privilege into a widespread civic custom, eventually becoming a common way to welcome the arrival of the new calendar year.

The festive table

Banquets for réveillon feature prized and luxurious ingredients. Diners frequently begin with plates of oysters, escargots, foie gras, or lobster. Traditional main courses often showcase roast turkey paired with chestnuts, while regional variations include savoury meat pies known as tourtière in Quebec. Desserts conclude the meal, notably the rolled Yule log known as bûche de Noël. In Provence, hosts lay out thirteen individual sweet items, which feature dates alongside flavoured bread called pompe à l'huile. Fine wines accompany the meal, culminating with sparkling wines or champagne.

Two holiday nights

The celebration takes on distinct tones depending on the occasion. At Christmas, the dinner retains its historical Christian grounding and centres primarily on family gatherings at home, a custom followed by religious and non-religious people alike. By contrast, the New Year gathering, often linked to Saint-Sylvestre, functions as a lively party shared with friends. Many people spend that evening going out to cabaret performances or gathering in living rooms to watch entertainment broadcasts on television before toasting the new year.

Global customs

Beyond France and Belgium, the custom thrives across diverse regions. French-Creole traditions maintain a presence in New Orleans, where local restaurants offer dedicated seasonal menus, and Franco-American families in New England observe similar gatherings. In Brazil and Portugal, winter feasts carry names like Ceia de Natal, while the wider New Year festivities in Brazil are widely referred to as réveillon or virada do ano. Similar holiday meals appear in Romanian dining customs and in Canadian provinces like Manitoba, Ontario, New Brunswick, Alberta, and Quebec.

How Réveillon is kept

Participants gather late in the evening around a lavishly prepared dining table. The meal begins with decadent starters such as shellfish, snails, or foie gras, followed by substantial courses like turkey with chestnuts or savoury tourtière. Conversation and wine flow continuously as diners stay awake through the night. After midnight, tables are cleared for special desserts such as the bûche de Noël or thirteen sweets. The night concludes in the early morning with toasts of sparkling wine or champagne.

When and where

The meal takes place overnight on two distinct dates: the evening leading into Christmas Day on December 24, and the final night of the calendar year on December 31, known also as Saint-Sylvestre.

The tradition is observed across France, Belgium, and Romania, as well as several Canadian provinces including Quebec and Ontario. In the Americas, it remains strong among New England Franco-Americans, in New Orleans, and throughout Brazil and Portugal.

What Réveillon means

The term itself derives from the French word for waking, reflecting the deliberate act of remaining alert until dawn. Staying awake together transforms the evening into an endurance of fellowship. While the Christmas meal celebrates domestic togetherness and family ties, the New Year feast represents joy, hospitality, and communal renewal as friends welcome another year.

On the table

• Lobster
• Oysters
• Escargots
• Foie gras
• Turkey with chestnuts
• Tourtière
• Bûche de Noël
• Pompe à l'huile

Days Réveillon is marked

Questions people ask about Réveillon

See also

ChristmasA festival of Jesus's birth, kept on 25 December with gifts, lights and shared mealsHalloweenAn annual observance on 31 October marking the eve of All Saints' Day, rooted in Christian tradition and Celtic heritageChristmas treeA decorated evergreen or artificial tree placed indoors to mark the Christmas season.HanukkahAn eight-day Jewish festival marking the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem and the miracle of a single day'

Good reading and sources

• Ano Novo: a raiz africana dos rituais de Réveillon do BrasilBBC, Article
• Ano Novo: a raiz africana dos rituais de Réveillon do BrasilBBC, Article

• Réveillon on WikipediaEncyclopedia
• More photos on Wikimedia CommonsPhotos and video
• Wikidata recordOpen data

It may contain mistakes. Traditions differ from one family, village and community to the next, and the people who keep them know them best. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-04.