French history and traditions in Paris: Christmas window displays in department stores

For the festive season, Paris shines with a thousand lights, with its decorations, its big Christmas trees, its markets and its Christmas windows, in a magical atmosphere. Speaking of Christmas windows, do you know their history and how they came to be so indispensable? Nowadays, they're a real rendez-vous for families, where people marvel at imaginative creations.

Classic, magical or extravagant, Christmas windows display products but above all tell stories, like miniature theaters. The first window displays for the occasion were created by Le Bon Marché in 1909, before becoming a tradition and a marketing tool for Parisian department stores. By the 1950s, window displays had become so popular that a veritable rivalry had developed between stores. They had to compete with each other in terms of ingenuity, hiring specialists and creating the universe that would attract the most curious passers-by.

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At Galeries Lafayette, the window displays are prepared a year in advance and designed to make you want to go inside the store. Each year has a new theme, revolving around fantasy and magic, not forgetting winter. As works of art in their own right, window displays require the skills of scriptwriters, stage directors, architects and sculptors to stand out and appeal despite the passage of time.

And it's a tradition that is unlikely to fade away anytime soon, since nearlyten million visitors come to admire them every Christmas! Discover this year's 2025 displays in Paris:

Christmas Window Displays in Paris 2025: Discover the department stores' program
When do the 2025 Christmas window displays start and where can you see them in Paris? From Printemps to Galeries Lafayette, discover what Parisian department stores have in store for us as the holiday season approaches, to delight young and old alike! Bon Marché, BHV, Samaritaine—every year, we enjoy the beautiful window displays that come to life for our greatest pleasure. With family, children, loved ones, or simply with those close to us, this is an essential part of Christmas in Paris. [Read more]