The Gentleman’s Christmas of Jean-Michel Dufaux

For the holidays, we wanted to hear from some of Gentologie’s friends and collaborators. We asked them how they celebrated their Christmas. We called this ‘The Gentleman’s Christmas of…’ because Christmas is all about being a gentleman (if you’re wondering how, we have some tips here). We continue this series with The Gentleman’s Christmas of Jean-Michel Dufaux, author, host and world traveller, who introduced us to Switzerland in this article, and the entrepreneur behind the Siège Hublot website (in french).

The Gentleman’s Christmas of Jean-Michel Dufaux

What does Christmas mean to you?

It’s mostly associated with childhood memories and the excitement of waiting until midnight on the 24th to unwrap presents. It’s the decorated Christmas tree in the living room. The immediate family. My two parents were immigrants to the Québec province, so we weren’t part of a big clan.

How is Christmas spent in your family?

We always see each other at Christmas. Because of everyone’s schedules, we don’t always necessarily do it on the 24th or 25th. Usually, it’s my big brother who hosts. This year, I’ll be hosting at my place.

What does your family eat at Christmas?

It’s pretty varied, but it changes all the time. Every year, we have a big meal. It used to be that whenever my mother could, she’d make her homemade chocolate mousse, which was a classic for all of us.

What does your family drink at Christmas?

We drink mostly wine. White and red.

What would you like to receive for Christmas?

I love receiving books. I think it’s a nice gift; there’s a thought behind the choice of book by the person giving it. And I love books.

 What do you like to give at Christmas?

I try to think of something that would really please, but that the person wouldn’t necessarily have thought of. This gift may seem superfluous, but, as someone once pointed out, “The superfluous is that essential thing.”

What are your Christmas wishes for Gentologie readers?

I wish Gentologie readers a holiday season spent with family and friends. There’s a lot of loneliness among men these days. The holiday season is the time we can give ourselves to reconnect with loved ones and get away from the isolation created by our too-many screens.

We hope you enjoyed The Gentleman’s Christmas of xxxx. To read his best spots in Switzerland, click here.