5 Popular French Christmas Carols to Bring you Holiday Cheer

0 Comments

Last Updated: August 30, 2022

Follow Us Now

Learn French on Your Own with…

Sign up below to get started:

Christmas season is here again; the happiest time of the year, or so the song says. If you are learning French and want to get into the holiday spirit, what better way to do it than to listen to traditional French Christmas carols?

Christmas Carols

Here on this article, I’ve listed down five of the most catchy carols enjoyed by French children (and adults) during the holidays. Some of the tunes may already be familiar to you, but it would be fun to learn the French version of those songs.

You can also find the English translations plus videos so you could truly appreciate the lyrics and the melody.

Enjoy the carols!

1. Petit papa Noël

Lyrics:

C'est la belle nuit de Noël,

La neige étend son manteau blanc

Et les yeux levés vers le ciel,

À genoux, les petits enfants,

Avant de fermer les paupières,

Font une dernière prière.

Petit papa Noël,

Quand tu descendras du ciel

Avec des jouets par milliers,

N'oublie pas mon petit soulier.

Mais avant de partir

Il faudra bien te couvrir,

Dehors tu vas avoir si froid,

C'est un peu à cause de moi.

Il me tarde tant que le jour se lève

Pour voir si tu m'as apporté

Tous les beaux joujoux que je vois en rêve

Et que je t'ai commandés.

Petit papa Noël,

Quand tu descendras du ciel

Avec des jouets par milliers

N'oublie pas mon petit soulier.

Et quand tu seras sur ton beau nuage,

Viens d'abord sur notre maison,

Je n'ai pas été tous les jours très sage,

Mais j'en demande pardon.

Petit papa Noël,

Quand tu descendras du ciel

Avec des jouets par milliers,

N'oublie pas mon petit soulier.

Petit papa Noël

English translation:

It's a beautiful Christmas night

Snow spreads its white coat

And eyes lift toward the sky

On their knees, small children

Before closing their eyelids

Say one last request

Little Father Christmas

When you come down from the sky

With toys by the thousands

Don't forget my little shoe

But before leaving

You must cover yourself well

Outside you will be so cold

It's a little because of me

I can't wait for it to get light

To see if you have brought me

All the lovely toys that I see in dreams

And that I ordered from you

Little Father Christmas

When you come down from the sky

With toys by the thousands

Don't forget my little shoe

And when you are on your beautiful cloud

Come first to our house

I wasn't always very well behaved

But I ask for your forgiveness

Little Father Christmas

When you come down from the sky

With toys by the thousands

Don't forget my little shoe

Little Father Christmas

bilingual French-English Stories with Audio

  • Enjoy reading and listening to ten short stories with a delightful fantasy element.
  • Read the stories in parallel text. Written in both French and English for easier comprehension.  
  • Learn new vocabulary and grammar structures naturally.
  • Perfect for kids ages 6-12 years old; great for adults, too!

2. Vive le vent

Lyrics :

Sur le long chemin

Tout blanc de neige blanche

Un vieux monsieur s´avance

Avec sa canne dans la main

Et tout là-haut le vent

Qui siffle dans les branches

Lui souffle la romance

Qu´il chantait petit enfant :

{Refrain:}

Vive le vent, vive le vent

Vive le vent d´hiver

Qui s´en va sifflant, soufflant

Dans les grands sapins verts...

Oh! Vive le temps, vive le temps

Vive le temps d´hiver

Boule de neige et jour de l´an

Et bonne année grand-mère...

Joyeux, joyeux Noël

Aux mille bougies

Quand chantent vers le ciel

Les cloches de la nuit,

Oh! Vive le vent, vive le vent

Vive le vent d´hiver

Qui rapporte aux vieux enfants

Leurs souvenirs d´hier...

Et le vieux monsieur

Descend vers le village,

C´est l´heure où tout est sage

Et l´ombre danse au coin du feu

Mais dans chaque maison

Il flotte un air de fête

Partout la table est prête

Et l´on entend la même chanson :

{au Refrain}

Boule de neige et jour de l´an

Et bonne année grand-mère!

Vive le vent d´hiver!

English translation:

on the long way

everything is white of snow

an old mister moved forward

with his stick in his hand

and there's nothing but the wind

which whistles between the branches

inspires him with romance

that he sings little child :

(chorus)

live the wind , live the wind

live the winter wind

that goes whistling , breathing

between the big fir trees

oh! live the time , live the time

live the time of the winter

a snow ball and a day of the year

and happy year grand-ma!

merry merry christmas

for a thousand candles

when it sings towards the sky

the night's bells

oh live the wind , live the wind

live the wind of the winter

that brings to the old children

their memories of yesterday

and the old mister

coming down towards the village

that's the hour where everything is wise

and the shadow dances on the corner of the fire

but inside every house

floats the air of the party

everywhere the table is ready

and we listen to the same song

(chorus)

snow ball and day of the year

and happy year grand-ma !

live the wind of the winter

3. Mon beau sapin

Lyrics:

Mon beau sapin, roi des forêts

Que j'aime ta verdure

Quand par l'hiver, bois et guérets

Sont dépouillés de leurs attraits

Mon beau sapin, roi des forêts

Tu gardes ta parure

Toi que Noël planta chez nous

Au saint Anniversaire

Joli sapin, comme ils sont doux,

Et tes bonbons, et tes joujoux

Toi que Noël planta chez nous

Tu répands la lumière.

Mon beau sapin, tes verts sommets

Et leur fidèle ombrage

De la foi qui ne ment jamais

De la constance et de la paix.

Mon beau sapin tes verts sommets

M'offrent la douce image.

Mon beau sapin, roi des forêts

Que j'aime ta parure

Et quand la neige blanchit tes traits

Que ta verdure disparaît

Mon beau sapin, roi des forêts

Tu brilles dans l'Azur.

English translation:

My beautiful pine, king of the forests

That I like your greenness

When by the winter woods and fallow lands

Their attractions are totally stolen

My beautiful pine, king of forests

You keep your decoration

You that Christmas planted at our home

The holy birthday

Nice pine, like their sweet

And your candies, and your toys

You that Christmas planted at our home

You spread the light

My beautiful pine, your green peaks

And their loyal shadow

The faith that never lies

The constancy and the peace

My beautiful pine, your green peaks

The peaks offer the soft sensation.

My beautiful pine, king of the forests

That i like your decoration

And when the snow whitens your lines

That your greenness disappear

My beautiful pine, king of the forests

You shine in the Azur.

4. Noël des enfants du monde

Lyrics:

Enfant de Palestine ou enfant d'Israël

D'Amérique ou de Chine, en ce jour de Noël

Que ton regard se pose

Sur la Terre ou le ciel

Ne retiens qu'une chose

Il faut croire à Noël

Matin couleur de cendre ou matin d'arc-en-ciel

Qu'importe; il faut attendre en ce soir de Noël

Que les fusils se taisent et répondent à l'appel

De cette parenthèse

Qui s'appelle Noël

Enfant de Palestine ou enfant d'Israël

D'Amérique ou de Chine, en ce jour de Noël

Que ton regard se pose

Sur la Terre ou le ciel

Ne retiens qu'une chose

Il faut croire à Noël

Un jour viendra peut-être

Un jour au goût de miel

Où l'on verra paraître un oiseau dans le ciel

Aux plumes de lumière

Un oiseau éternel

Colombe pour la Terre

Un oiseau de Noël

Enfant de Palestine ou enfant d'Israël

D'Amérique ou de Chine, en ce jour de Noël

Que ton regard se pose

Sur la Terre ou le ciel

Ne retiens qu'une chose

Il faut croire à Noël

English translation:

Children of Palestine or children of Israel

Of America or China, on this Christmas day

Fix your gaze

On Earth or to the sky

And just remember one thing

You must believe in Christmas

Ashen sky or rainbow in the morning

No matter - on this Christmas night we must wait

For shotguns to fall silent on the occasion

Of this break

Named Christmas

Children of Palestine or children of Israel

Of America or China, on this Christmas day

Fix your gaze

On Earth or to the sky

And just remember one thing

You must believe in Christmas

Perhaps a day will come

A day sweet as honey

When a bird will be seen appearing in the sky

With feathers made of light

A perennial bird

A dove for the Earth

A Christmas bird

Children of Palestine or children of Israel

Of America or China, on this Christmas day

Fix your gaze

On Earth or to the sky

And just remember one thing

You must believe in Christmas

5. La marche des rois mages

Lyrics:

De bon matin

J’ai rencontré le train

De trois grands rois qui allaient en voyage.

De bon matin

J’ai rencontré le train

De trois grands rois dessus le grand chemin.

Venaient d’abord

Les gardes du corps,

Des gens armés avec trente petits pages,

Venaient d’abord

Les gardes du corps,

Des gens armés dessus leurs justaucorps.

Puis sur un char

Doré de toutes parts

On voit trois rois modestes comm’ des anges

Puis sur un char

Doré de toutes parts

Trois rois debout parmi les étendards.

L’étoile luit

Et les rois conduit

Par longs chemins devant une pauvre étable.

L’étoile luit

Et les rois conduit

Par longs chemins devant l’humble réduit.

Au fils de Dieu

Qui naquit en ce lieu

Ils viennent tous présenter leurs hommages

Au fils de Dieu

Qui naquit en ce lieu

Ils viennent tous présenter leurs doux vœux.

De beaux présents

Or, myrrhe et encens

Ils vont offrir au maître tant admirable,

De beaux présents

Or, myrrhe et encens

Ils vont offrir au bienheureux enfant.

English translation

Early in the morning

I came across the procession

Of three great kings going on a journey.

Early in the morning

I came across the procession

Of three great kinds on the great road.

First there came

The troop of guards,

Armed men, with thirty little pages;

First there came

The troop of guards,

Men armed atop their tunics

Then, on a chariot

Gilded on all sides,

One sees three kings as modest as angels.2

Then, on a chariot

Gilded on all sides,

Three kings standing amidst the standards.

The star shines

And leads the kings

By long roads before a poor stable.

The star shines

and leads the kings

By long roads before the humble shed.

To the Son of God

Who was born in this place

They come to present their respects.

To the Son of God

Who was born in this place

They come to present their dear prayers.

Fine presents,

Gold, myrrh, and incense,

They are going to offer to the master so admirable.

Fine presents,

Gold, myrrh, and incense,

They are going to offer to the blessed child.

Do you have any other favorite French Christmas songs that were not included in this list? Share your thoughts in the comments!

Speak, Listen, and Write French like a Native with Talk in French Complete Courses

  • Learn French on your own terms with our comprehensive, self-paced beginner, intermediate, and advanced courses, each with a step-by-step plan tailored to your level.
  • Master French pronunciation and sound like a native with our pronunciation course.
  • Receive personalized feedback and guidance from a dedicated French teacher.

About the author 

Frederic Bibard is the founder of Talk in French, a company that helps french learners to practice and improve their french. Macaron addict. Jacques Audiard fan. You can contact him on Instagram

{"email":"Email address invalid","url":"Website address invalid","required":"Required field missing"}

>

Get our Free French Study Guide

The ultimate (& free) roadmap to master the French language. Save countless hours of ineffective study. Designed to keep your motivation high.