Ste. Genevieve Le Réveillon 2011

December 11, 2011

Le Réveillon

Felix Valle House State Historic Site

French Christmas Celebration

Traditional foods, historical music, French customs

Early Ste. Genevieve inhabitants held a night long celebration after midnight mass on Christmas Eve. They refered to this celebration as Le Réveillon. The activities included a meal of turkey, tortiere (a pork pie), boudin noir (a sausage), and vegetables and concluded with the traditional 13 sweets representing the 12 apostles and Christ.

Local residents served traditional French specialties such as Pain d`épice (gingerbread), Croquembouche (cream puffs), and Sablé Normand (sugar cookies) as well as locally inspired treats such as sugared pecans, mincemeat pie and the Bűche de No'l or Yule log cake.

Ste. Genevieve still celebrates this tradition, which is open to the public, on the second Sunday in December at the Felix Vallé House State Historic Site.

Ste. Genevieve Department of Tourism

66 South Main St.

Ste. Genevieve, Missouri 63670

Call Toll Free: 800-373-7007