Père Noël is the French equivalent of the British Father Christmas and the American Santa Claus. In general, France has not adopted the modern garb of Santa Claus in jacket and trousers, but keeps to the older version with a long red hooded robe, edged with white fur. His presents are carried not in a sack, but in a basket or hotte on his back, like those carried by grape harvesters. Children do not put out a stocking, but their shoes. A popular Christmas song for children is Petit Papa Noël.
In Eastern France there is a parallel tradition of le Père Fouettard, existing also in Germany (Krampus) and Holland (Zvart Piet). Le Père Fouettard is a sinister figure dressed in black who accompanies le Père Noël and whips children who have behaved badly.
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