France celebrates Réveillon as a traditional New Year’s Eve feast and party.
In French usage, “réveillon” means a festive meal that runs late into the night. The New Year celebration is commonly called “le Réveillon de la Saint-Sylvestre,” referring to Saint Sylvester’s feast day on December 31. It may be a relaxed dinner with family and friends or a formal dancing party and banquet.
Typical French New Year menus can include oysters and other seafood, foie gras, and champagne. The food is festive rather than a single mandatory national menu, so celebrations vary by household, region, and budget. In Paris, large public festivities have traditionally centered on landmarks including the Champs-Élysées and the Arc de Triomphe.
“Réveillon” is not exclusively French: the term and related customs also appear in several French-speaking or historically French-influenced places, as well as countries such as Brazil and Portugal. It can also describe the late-night Christmas Eve feast, so context matters when identifying the New Year tradition.