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Aréveillon (French:[ʁevɛjɔ̃]ⓘ) is a long dinner held onChristmas Eve orNew Year's Eve. Its name descends from the wordréveil (meaning "waking"), because participation involves staying awake until morning, as the meal finishes.
The practice is observed inBelgium;France;Brazil;Romania;[1] the Canadian provinces ofQuebec,Manitoba,Ontario,Alberta andNew Brunswick; the US city ofNew Orleans;[2] and some otherFrench-speaking places. In Portuguese-speaking countries, it is also a designation for the party precedingNew Year's Day. In theUnited States, theréveillon tradition is still observed inNew Orleans due to the city's strong French-Creole heritage, with a number of the city's restaurants offering specialréveillon menus on Christmas Eve. It is also observed by manyFranco-American families throughoutNew England.[3]
The term is first documented in 18th-century France,[4] and was used by the French as a name for the night-long party dinners held by the nobility.[5] Eventually the word began to be used by other courts (amongst them the Portuguese courts) and after theFrench Revolution it was adopted as a definition of the New Year's Eve.
The food consumed atréveillons is generally exceptional or luxurious. For example, appetizers may includelobster,oysters,escargots orfoie gras, etc. One traditional dish isturkey withchestnuts. Réveillons inQuebec will often include some variety oftourtière.
Dessert may consist of aYule log, known as abûche de Noël. InProvence, the tradition of thethirteen desserts is followed: 13 desserts are served, almost invariably includingpompe à l'huile (a flavoured bread),dates, etc.
Quality wine is usually consumed at such dinners, often withchampagne or similar sparkling wines as a conclusion.
There are certain traditional differences of character between the Christmas and New Year's Dayréveillons.
Christmas is traditionally a Christian occasion, celebrated within the family, and this family character is retained even among non-believers.
TheNew Year's Eve, orSaint-Sylvestre,réveillon, on the other hand, is commonly a party with friends, etc. People may also go out to acabaret show, or watch live relays of such shows on television.
