Printemps Haussmann Christmas Window Displays: An Overview
Each holiday season, the Printemps Haussmann department store in Paris unveils animated Christmas window displays that draw visitors to the boulevard Haussmann shopping district. The displays are free to view and form part of a broader Parisian tradition of department-store holiday windows, a genre in which Printemps is closely associated with its neighbor, Galeries Lafayette. The two stores are located next to each other, and their windows are often compared; Galeries Lafayette is noted for featuring a giant Christmas tree, while Printemps does not.
Origins and Character of the Tradition
The animated Christmas windows at Printemps are described as a seasonal tradition at the store, comparable in reputation to those of Galeries Lafayette. The displays are built around a new theme each year, and the store has employed specialist craftspeople to create them over many seasons. For the 2025 season, the windows were handmade by seamstress Valérie Cuter, who has worked on Printemps Christmas windows for many years.
The 2025 Displays: "Christmas in New York"
The theme for the 2025 season was "Christmas in New York," depicting a pack of dogs touring New York City. The theme was tied to Printemps opening its first American store in New York a few months earlier. The display featured 125 stuffed dogs, all handmade by Valérie Cuter.
In-Store Attractions During the Season
The 2025 Christmas season at Printemps Haussmann extended beyond the windows, with several New York-themed attractions inside the store:
- Bleu Coupole restaurant — located on the 6th floor of the "Printemps de la Femme" building, offering a New York menu of burgers and American classics with a French twist, created by chef Xavier Pistol.
- Ice rink — on the 7th floor, sponsored by Ferrero Rocher. The rink is small and free to use, in contrast to the paid rink at Galeries Lafayette. It is open daily from 1pm to 7pm, and time booking is required.
- Santa's photo studio — on the ground floor of the "Printemps de la Femme" building, open on weekends as well as on 22, 23, and 24 December.
Visiting: Practical Details
For visitors planning a trip around the displays, the store's published hours during the 2025 season were as follows:
- Open daily from 10am to 8.30pm.
- Open Sundays from 11am to 8pm.
- Closes at 6pm on 24 and 31 December.
- Closed on 25 December and 1 January 2026.
The store's buildings each carry individual names, such as "Printemps de la Femme." Further information is available through the store's website and its Facebook and Instagram accounts; the location can also be identified via the What3Words address ///overnight.shoppers.pace.
How the Displays Fit into the French Christmas Season
In France, the Printemps Haussmann windows are a seasonal attraction rather than a fixed calendar holiday: they belong to the run-up to Christmas, when Parisian department stores present animated windows for the public to enjoy free of charge. The tradition is a commercial and civic spectacle rather than a religious observance, and it sits alongside the broader holiday customs of the season. The 2025 edition illustrates how the displays are renewed annually with a new narrative theme, supported by in-store food, family activities, and photo opportunities, and how they connect the store to its international ventures.
Regional Variations
It does not provide information on how Christmas window displays are staged elsewhere in France or in other French cities, so no regional variations within the country can be stated on the basis of these sources.