Les mois gastronomiques Décembre. Le réveillon
1877
Edmond Morin's lively 1877 illustration captures the chaotic joy of a French 'Réveillon,' the traditional feast held after midnight mass on Christmas Eve. In the background, a church steeple hints at the religious occasion, while the foreground bursts with a boisterous group of diners gathered around a table literally labeled 'REVEILLON.' Below this main feast, a whimsical underworld of culinary preparation unfolds, featuring a giant roasted bird and tiny figures wrestling with food, emphasizing the sheer abundance of the holiday meal. It’s a perfect snapshot of 19th-century French gastronomic culture.