What better way to kick off the holiday season, then with some holiday windows, lights, games, cartoons and a letter to Santa? The French postal service has a section of its site dedicated to kids wanting to do just that. (For English instruction on writing to Santa in France, go here. The Champs-Elysées is illuminating Paris with an entirely new display along the boulevard called “Tree Rings.” The Christmas windows are lit at Galeries Lafayette in the theme of rock and roll. Chanel and Karl Lagerfeld are featured in Printemps’ windows with flight attendants, photographers, and ballet dancers.

Start planning your holiday sightseeing with the Ferris wheel, merry-go-rounds, decorated streets and the festival/carnival at the Grand Palais. The list is long for holiday fun in Paris with holiday concerts and church services, Christmas markets, and Christmas decorations with a Paris theme.

One hundred and seventy-five chalets are set up along the Champs-Elysées, which is expecting 14 million visitors until January 3, 2012. The lights along the  Champs-Elysées turn on this Monday. The Ferris Wheel will turn at Place de La Concorde until February 19.

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