The traditional French New Year's Eve midnight feast is called Réveillon.
In France, a réveillon is a long, celebratory meal associated with Christmas Eve or New Year's Eve. A New Year's réveillon may include multiple courses, seafood, oysters, foie gras, desserts, champagne, and regional specialties, although the menu varies greatly between families and restaurants. The word can refer to the meal, the evening gathering, or the celebration surrounding it.
The term comes from the French verb réveiller, meaning “to wake” or “to awaken,” reflecting the idea of staying awake for a late-night meal. Réveillon is therefore broader than a single required dish or recipe. It describes a festive occasion built around eating and socializing late into the night.
In English-language coverage, Réveillon is sometimes used for Brazil's New Year's celebration as well, because Portuguese adopted the French word. The shared term does not mean the customs are identical: French réveillon emphasizes the feast, while Brazilian Réveillon commonly refers to nationwide New Year's festivities.