Paris: November? December?
 

My husband and I are going to Paris for two weeks late next year. (This is our fourth trip to Paris; we've been once in September and twice in May.)

The original idea was to celebrate my birthday (11/30) there. Now that we're actually choosing dates, I'm wondering if we should stick so closely to having my birthday fall within the trip, or whether we should be guided by other things....

Weather: I know it's a crap shoot, but generally speaking is there a big difference between, say, early to mid-November and mid-December?

Christmas decorations: If we go in from mid- to end-of November, do we completely miss out on everything except the Champs Elysees market (which, I believe, starts around 11/19 this year)? Does anyone know approximately when other decorations go up?

Nothing is a deal-breaker here: We are over the moon to be going to Paris at any time of the year. But if veering a week or two (or three... ) in either direction would make a big difference, we'd be willing to veer.

And: I know you can't haver everything and it's all subjective. I'd just like to hear what people think.

Thanks!

Some of the decorations go out at the end of November. Last year the Champs-Elysees was lit beginning Nov 23. The big stores also have decorated windows starting more towards the first or second week of November.

Quite a few Christmas markets start from Nov 20th to end of November, you aren't going to miss anything, you can't go to them all (would you really want to). The ones at Montparnasse and La Defense are during the last week, St Germain might be up the last few days, such as Nov 27th and later, as that is a Saturday. That's the one at place St Germain, there is another at pl St Sulpice which is probably later, in December.

In terms of weather, there is not much difference between November and December. A Siberian front or a warm push from the Azores can come through at any time.

Did not know there where so many different dates that Xmas stuff was put up in Paris. Will be there in a few weeks and look forward to seeing them.

Thank you! I'm already excited!