The French celebrate Christmas in a unique way, with a mix of religious and secular traditions. On Christmas Eve, families gather for a special dinner that typically includes oysters, foie gras, and other gourmet dishes. In some regions, children receive gifts on the evening of December 24th, but in others, they wait until the morning of Christmas Day. On Christmas Day, families gather for a church service, and then they exchange gifts and enjoy a festive meal. During the season, children also leave milk and cookies for le Pere Noel, or Santa Claus.