Every December, Parisians and visitors step off Boulevard Haussmann, look up beneath the stained-glass dome, and wait for the tree to wake up. That small ritual—arriving, tilting your head, sharing the same intake of breath with strangers—is a big reason the Galeries Lafayette Christmas tree became a Paris icon. This guide opens up the tradition: where it comes from, how it changed over time, and what each year brought to the stage under the dome.

How a Paris icon was born

The store’s holiday story began on the façade and in the windows in the early 20th century. The decisive change came in 1976, when Galeries Lafayette moved the spectacle indoors and suspended a monumental tree beneath the 1912 glass Coupole. The atrium became a winter stage: balconies as galleries, the dome as a lightbox, and the tree as the show’s vertical spine. Since then, the Galeries Lafayette Christmas tree has appeared every year, with a new theme and scenography that makes the familiar space feel different without losing its ritual.

Two ingredients keep the experience consistent. First, the architecture: the dome rises high above the floor and frames vertical compositions from every level, so even a modest tree reads as grand. Second, the rhythm: in recent years a short sound-and-light sequence runs at regular intervals (about every 30 minutes), so you see the tree twice—once calm, once animated—often within a single visit.

What to expect this season

Expect a clear theme, decorations that continue into the windows, and a concise light show that gives the atrium a shared beat. Crowds ebb and flow; weekday mornings are quieter, late afternoons feel festive, and evenings build toward the show cycles. Food halls, cafés, and elegant streets outside make it easy to turn this stop into a full December outing.

Every year at a glance (2025 → 2012)

Below is a compact tour of recent editions, newest to oldest. It shows the range—fashion, fantasy, nature, nostalgia—while keeping the through-line of an annual Galeries Lafayette Christmas tree under the dome.

2025 — “The Best Gift of All” (Jeanne Detallante)

A ribbon-wrapped present beneath the dome: roughly 16 metres tall, with bold red bows, kilometres of LEDs, and Detallante’s playful characters echoing through the store. A bright, graphic year with a clean silhouette that reads instantly from the ground floor and balconies.

2024 — “130th Christmas” (Kevin Germanier)

A luminous, sustainable-minded concept for the store’s 130th Christmas. Refined lines and thousands of programmable light points created a calm, contemporary sculpture that came alive during the short show cycle.

2023 — “Mon Noël de Rêve” (Charles de Vilmorin)

A fashion-inflected dream world: saturated colour, whimsical faces and freehand shapes. The tree, windows, and visuals spoke the same language, making the whole store feel like one coherent set.

2022 — “Planète Sapin”

A gentle eco-story in cool, blue-green tones. Think fir on a “planetary” journey, unusual objects tucked into branches, and an educational thread that still felt playful during the light sequence.

2021 — “1,2,3… Noël”

Toys take over the dome: a mischievous rabbit, an astronaut Santa, and bright primary colours. Families loved this one; the animation cycle punctuated the day and kept the crowds moving.

2020 — “Le Voyage de Noël”

A whimsical travel tale with aviation winks to house history. A curious little explorer circled the tree during the show, and the mood leaned storybook rather than fashion.

2019 — “La Ruche de Noël” (The Beehive)

Warm golds, honeycomb geometries, and a queen bee perched above. When the lights dimmed for the animation, “bees” seemed to fly beneath the glass, giving the atrium a warm, honeyed glow.

2018 — Children’s constellation

A child’s-eye universe with starry accents and a constellation that animated during the cycle. Light, bright, and easy to pair with the boulevard’s festive windows.

2017 — Funfair of sweets

The famous “candy” year: oversized treats and balloons swirling around the trunk. High-colour, high-delight, and one of the most photographed editions of the decade.

2016 — Paper Arctic (Lorenzo Papace)

A poetic white paper tree with a tiny Ferris wheel and cable cars, polar bears, and a crisp arctic palette. Delicate but striking from every level.

2015 — Cosmic minimalism

A pared-back look built from celestial cues—gold and silver “meteorites,” clean lines, and starbursts. Calm after the candy years, and a good reminder that restraint can fill the dome beautifully.

2014 — Upside-down showstopper

A headline-maker: a towering tree hung upside down, visually rhyming with the glass canopy above. Familiar space, new reading—proof the tradition still had surprises to offer.

2013 — Storybook village

A warm, family-centred mood with a tiny village at the tree’s foot—clocks, owls, mice, and classic characters—balanced by a soft, festive palette.

2012 — Swarovski centennial (Hilton McConnico)

For the dome’s 100th anniversary, a glittering Swarovski composition reached toward the stained glass: around 21 metres tall, lined with crystal ornaments, and crowned by a spectacular chandelier. A pure “look up” year that still circulates widely in winter photo roundups.

How the tradition stays fresh

Each year begins with a story—anniversary, fashion collaboration, nature theme—and grows into a full set: tree under the dome, windows outside, sometimes pop-ups or rooftop moments. The creative direction shifts, but the stage never changes. Designers lean on suspension and layering to make elements float beyond the trunk, lighting teams choreograph brief cycles that feel theatrical without blocking the aisles, and the dome’s height ensures the composition reads from the ground floor and from the rails above. The result is familiar and new at once.

When to go (and what to expect on site)

• Timing. Mornings just after opening are calmest; early evenings bring the glow and the buzz. The show runs at regular intervals (about every 30 minutes), so plan to stay for one cycle.
• Flow. The atrium fills and empties in waves. If the ground floor is packed, step up one or two levels; the view changes and the edges clear.
• Comfort. You’ll be indoors, but a light layer helps when moving between exterior windows and the atrium. Weekends near Christmas are busiest; weekdays offer shorter waits at the rails.

Photography tips (simple and effective)

You don’t need special gear. A phone is enough if you use it deliberately. These tips help you bring home the feeling without fighting the crowd.

1. Catch two moods. Take one photo during a quiet interval (steady lights, easier exposure) and one during the show (movement and colour). The Galeries Lafayette Christmas tree reads differently in each.
2. Work the levels. Ground floor for the full height against the dome; then move up one or two balconies for symmetry and cleaner edges. From above, frame the tree central and let the dome’s ribs guide your lines.
3. Use a modest zoom. A 2× phone lens (or a short telephoto) compresses verticals slightly and reduces distortion, especially from balcony rails.
4. Mind reflections. Polished floors and glass balustrades flare during the show. Tap to expose for the brightest part of the tree so the colours hold, and take a second shot exposed for the dome.
5. Add scale (without blocking others). If you’re with someone, step them two metres ahead and keep them small in the frame. It gives the tree context without creating a bottleneck at the rail.
6. Try the centre line. On the level just below the dome, find a central bay and align the tree with the chandelier axis. A tiny left-right adjustment can straighten the dome ribs in your composition.
7. Be a good neighbour. Shoot, step back, adjust, step forward again. Everyone gets the view, and you’ll get more angles in less time.

Why the Galeries Lafayette Christmas tree endures

Three reasons.
Continuity: since the move indoors in 1976, the tree has returned every year and created a dependable rhythm for the season.
Craft: the staging blends scenography, lighting and safe rigging under a historic dome, so it feels considered rather than cluttered.
Shared moment: the regular show cycle gives everyone, on every level, the same cue to look up together. That’s rare in a busy city, and it’s why people come back.

Make it part of an easy December route

This stop pairs naturally with the boulevard’s animated windows, a short lights walk after dusk, and a warm-up break in a nearby café. If you like skating, some seasons add a small rooftop rink; if you prefer music, churches across the centre host compact holiday concerts. The Paris For You app helps you discover the best places, and the Paris Top Insta Spots map points you to the strongest Instagram shots to capture. It works in 26 languages, includes short audio guides, and runs offline—no Wi-Fi needed.

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