In France, the real party gets started on Christmas Eve with a celebration called Le Réveillon de Noël. This traditional celebration consists of copious amounts of food, staying up very late, and taking part in the joyous company that has gathered for this one night of the year. A second celebration, called le Réveillon de la Saint Sylvestre, is celebrated on New Year's Eve. For Christmas Eve, though, le Réveillon is an important part of French culture and tradition, with families and friends gathering in the same space to rejoice in the holiday season.

Related: The Royal Family Released Their Christmas Pudding Recipe... And It's Seriously That Good

Part of this celebration is the fantastic meal that's served. While many countries roast hams or whole chickens and turkeys, France puts out a spread that could make even the un-jolliest of people start believing in the spirit of Christmas. With almost every decadent food from France in attendance as well as plenty of drink, there's nothing not to love about this extravagant occasion.

The Most Luxurious Dishes Aim To Please

This rich celebration includes all the appetizers and small plates that France is known for. Usually, there will be a wide variety of different foods in order to appeal to a large number of people, as everyone has a favorite. Of those dishes, duck rillettes, foie gras, oysters, and Burgandy snails are some of the most popular. These are often paired with crackers and small pieces of bread and can be served alongside various cheeses as well. The oysters and snails are prepared with care and are both delicacies of France, but are also staples when it comes to special occasions. Escargot-stuffed mushrooms are also something that's seen at many tables and also eliminates the need to fish those slippery little snails out of their hard shells.

This meal is traditionally eaten after midnight mass at church when the entire family gathers back at one person's house and everyone takes part in eating, drinking, and being merry until the wee hours. This celebration is also centered around larger dishes such as a roast goose, usually paired with chestnuts. This is also where the tradition of the Bûche de Noël began, which is an edible yule log made with sponge cake and icing which is then decorated to resemble a fallen log in the forest. These can be as decorative or as simple as a person wants and are usually flavored with chocolate. The legend of the yule log came from the enormous trunk that would have been brought into houses during the early centuries in France and has continued to this day as an edible tradition. However, the logs that are burned in the fire today are usually cherry wood, in keeping with the theme that people would spill some red wine on them so that they'd have a sweet aroma while they burned in the hearth.

Along with the Bûche de Noël, it's common to serve at least 13 other desserts to represent Jesus and the 12 apostles. This might sound like a lot but with so many people to share these desserts with, it's not as much as one might think! The tradition is to take a little bit of each dessert so that everyone gets to try everything, and the entire meal follows the same routine - small plates are the best friend of le Réveillon. Some of these desserts can be anything from macarons to cannelés. Traditionally, champagne is also served on Christmas Eve for the adults, and it also doubles as a palate cleanser. With a little bit of sorbet scooped into a glass of bubbly, those celebrating will be able to come up for a breather while enjoying a drink and something a bit chilled. This is also how the meal is able to last for so many hours at a time; with so much to drink in between and so many plates to try, le Réveillon means that one is in for the long haul.

Related: Britain Is Home To Some Of The Best Christmas Traditions In The World

The tradition is one that's also incredibly splurge-worthy for the people of France, and it's no secret that a hefty budget is set aside in order to be able to afford all of the luxuries on everyone's plates and in their glasses. It's not the time to skimp on the food or find the cheapest option for champagne which is also why it's so much fun. In France, it's a time-honored celebration that runs on the love and compassion of others, and the beauty of being together to take part in such a joyous and meaningful holiday.

Next: Denmark Is One Of The Best Places To Celebrate Christmas, And These Traditions Are Why