Christmas in France: New Year and Epiphany

Adults exchange gifts on New Year’s Day. The French word for new year’s gift, étrenne, comes from the Latin word strenae, which also means "new year’s gift.” The ancient Romans offered these gifts to one another at their new year festival, Kalends. The Christmas season in France closes on January 6 with Fête des Rois, Three King’s Day, or Epiphany.