Noël

Noël is the French word for Christmas. It derives from Old French noel, from Latin natalis, meaning birth, and originally referred to the Nativity. In modern usage, Noël denotes the Christmas holiday in Francophone regions and is also used as a given name.

As a given name, Noël is typically masculine in French-speaking areas. It may appear with diacritics in some spellings, and the feminine form Noëlle exists. In English-speaking contexts, Noel can be a surname or given name, and the accent is often dropped.

Celebrations and traditions associated with Noël vary by country but share common themes of family, gift-giving, and religious observance. In France and many Francophone countries, the réveillon—an extended Christmas Eve feast—is followed by a midnight Mass (messe de minuit) in some communities. Typical Christmas foods include regional specialties, pastries, and, in modern practice, the bûche de Noël, a log-shaped cake. Nativity scenes (crèches) and Christmas markets are common, and the holiday period may include additional regional customs and songs.

Cultural and linguistic usage extends Noël beyond a holiday designation. It appears in music, literature, and media as a title or motif associated with Christmas. The term also serves as a personal name in various cultures, illustrating its enduring association with the season of celebration.