In Paris, the first Christmas window displays always herald the return of the holiday season! And this year, it's once again the Printemps Haussmann that kicks things off, sometime in November 2026 (date to be announced), ahead of its neighbor, the Galeries Lafayette! The department store in the 9th arrondissement invites us to follow the thread of "A Christmas Well Knitted", a whimsical tale in which balls of yarn run wild, cats try their paws at knitting, and magic is made by hand.
It all starts with a curious cat and a massive red ball of yarn… As the thread is pulled, the cat drags along his fellow felines and a band of tiny mice into a madcap adventure through the rooms of a house. The yarn ball rolls, slips, and scatters a merry mess in its wake. Plenty to keep our whiskered heroes on their toes!
In the animated window displays along Boulevard Haussmann, the house comes alive piece by piece. In the attic, the cats uncover a knitting kingdom, complete with giant needles and Christmas decorations. In the hallway, the ball of yarn rolls on amid family portraits, while the veranda becomes a weaving workshop where mice buzz around a grand loom. Until the final flourish: the whole troupe gathered around a knitted Christmas tree!
And behind this menagerie, what a craft of tiny hands! No fewer than 160 characters, handmade and embroidered, fill the shop windows. Playful cats, musical mice, and other house residents each display their own costume and personality. It’s a meticulous job in which, notably, Valérie Cuter, a seamstress and longtime collaborator of Printemps, and Sylvain Dulucq, a puppeteer tasked with bringing these quirky creatures to life, participate.
Embroidery also takes the spotlight! For this edition, Printemps teams up with Atelier Montex, the house founded in 1949 and proudly bearing the Living Heritage Company label. A dozen characters and their accessories have been specially crafted by its artisans, highlighting a craft where every stitch counts.
Inside, the Christmas thread keeps unraveling. The decorations extend this universe of wool, felt, crochet and embroidery along the store’s aisles, paired with a selection of gifts for the season. And for skating enthusiasts, the ice rink at Printemps Haussmann is making its return this year as well!
So, ready to follow the thread?
Location
Le Printemps Haussmann
64, bd Haussmann
75009 Paris 9
Route planner
Accessibility info
Prices
Free
Recommended age
For all
Official website
www.printemps.com