les sabots de Noël

According to tradition, on Christmas Eve children leave their shoes or wooden clogs by the fireplace filled with carrots and treats for Père Noël's donkey, Gui (French for "Mistletoe") before they go to bed. Père Noël takes the offerings and, if the child has been good, leaves presents in their place. Presents are traditionally small enough to fit in the shoes; candy, money or small toys.^[1]

The apparel of Pere Noel is akin to the older garb of Santa Claus in a long red hooded robe, edged with white fur. His presents are carried not in a sack, but in a basket or hotte on his back, like those carried by grape harvesters. Père Nöel is said to travel with his stern disciplinarian companion Père Fouettard who reminds him how each child has behaved during the past year.  Le Père Fouettard, who is a sinister figure dressed in black, spanks children who have behaved badly.  He carries long thin sticks to leave for parents to discipline naughty children!  A popular Christmas song for French children is Petit Papa Nöel. Children write letters to Père Nöel in the hope of getting presents from him. Their wishes are fulfilled when they wake up in the morning to find not only their gifts but also sweets, fruit, nuts and small toys hanging somewhere closeby. Adults generally wait until New Year's Day to exchange gifts.