This is our first holiday season here in France and we have been wondering about local customs for holiday tipping. In particular, we would like to know whether people typically tip their gardener and handyman. If so, what is typically the amount given? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
Are you holidaying in the area (if so do you own or are you renting) or the owner of a home you are renting to others?
Never been in a position to have a gardener or handyman. 
I can only speak as someone who lives here full time.
Generally during December it is quite normal for āla posteā ( your local postman/woman) to arrive and ask if you want to select one of their calendars. I usually choose one and a couple of days later give a greetings card with what I am comfortable with inside.
You are also likely to receive a visit from the pompiers with their calendar, do please ābuy oneā as they do sterling work locally. You give a sum that you are comfortable with, you receive a receipt that you can declare on your tax form.
As the ābin menā only pass every 15 days I donāt generally see them, however in Summer if I am around I give them a few bottles of beer to take back to the depot for when they have finished.
Apart from that the only tip I give is the young apprentice in the hairdresser where I pass once a year.
A couple of friends helped me a lot with removing some large trees from my property, I took them out for a lunchtime meal at our local resto, it didnāt break the bank at 13,50 for a 4 course meal with wine
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Frankly, I donāt think there is any customā¦ about holiday tippingā¦ or tipping at all.
Everyone gets paid for what they do.
and even Restaurants include āservice chargeā in the cost of the mealā¦
At Christmas, maybe some chocs for a friendly neighbourā¦ or a homemade conserveā¦ but, the exception rather than the ruleā¦
For a Handyman/Gardenerā¦ mmmā¦ if you know them well, almost as friendsā¦ it might be pleasant to hand over something low-keyā¦a bottle of wineā¦ a few beersā¦ nothing expensive. If you donāt really know them (but just pay the bill)ā¦ no need for anything other than a cheery Seasonās Greetingsā¦
As Ann has saidā¦ the Postman and the Fireman are not allowed to accept tips, but can sell a calendarā¦ 
The football club (and almost any club) will also try and sell their calendarā¦ I often have 4 or 5 calendars on the go each yearā¦ 
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If you are holidaying and renting and the gardener turns up, cuts the grass, and leaves again why would you think a tip should be forthcoming? He (or she) will be paid by the owner to do that job probably at a rate set by themselves.
Similarly a handyman (presumably you would have to point out some deficiency to the owner who would then engage the handyman).
If they, say, take the time to offer some other service - chat about the local area, washes the car, whatever then a tip might be appropriate.
If you own the house and engage a gardener or handyman through the year I would see no need to add extra when they do a job - but if service has been good, the rapport good etc I would certainly offer something at Christmas.
Not sure if that makes me a mean old scrooge.
Ćtrennes for postman, fireman, and dustmen are pretty traditional. Usually as others have said in āpaymentā for a calendar, and the profits go to their christmas party. I usually give 10 euros to the fireman, but a neighbour who they saved when she had a heart attack gives a 100 - understandably!
Also concierges, and personal services like nannies and cleaners - but often at a more generous level. When we lived in Paris we were warned to make sure we gave the concierge a generous Ć©trenne if we wanted to make sure our post got in our post box.
But professionals paid for a service donāt fall into this category.
I have a cleaner for times when Iām ill, and I give her a present not cash.
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Around here the cleaners etc get paid using cheque dāemploi and never ever get given cashā¦ even at Christmasā¦
Mine is a very nice young women, basically earning peanuts, and who sometimes goes above & beyond. Very few of my friends have cleaners, but those people tell me they give at least 50ā¬ cash. (I have no idea how they employ the cleaner - I guess most are cheque dāemploi too). I know cash would actually be of more use to her, but I find that uncomfortable. So I give her a present instead.
But as ever it depends on your own personal circumstances and your relation with the person.
Paul, Ć©trenne are not the same as a tip. Different custom/tradition. And specific to new year.
OK
If I ever get a gardener or handyman I will remember 
Surely itās just the posh name given to a tip given at the end of the year.
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I understand what you are sayingā¦ but rule of thumb is not to give cashā¦the Tax Man frowns on such thingsā¦
Does he actually frown on a cash gift or rather that people tend to forget to include it in their annual return 
If you like. Itās the same as a christmas box I suppose, and I imagine it will fall out of use in the same way. I think of tips as being more general.
It would be a bit sad if the variety and breadth of descriptive words all vanished.
The French Tax Man does not like the idea of āunaccounted-forā funds going into someoneās pocketā¦
Someone accepting cash can find themselves in hot water ā¦ if the Tax Man gets a sniffā¦ he will turn their world upside down.
Hence the calendarsā¦ which are sold at Christmasā¦ you donāt have to ābuyā one if you donāt want toā¦ but all cash is accounted for.
Neither does the English one and he can be equally determined to get his share.
Iām sure quite a bit of work done on the noir is never declared.
In France, that is becoming more and more precariousā¦ both for the person who paysā¦ and for the person who acceptsā¦ (on the black).
I did post a link, which showed the fines and possible prison sentences to which folk might be subjectā¦ scary stuffā¦
I would have thought the UK are equally stern ā¦
Yep
The difference in the UK is that if I engage someone to do some work and they do not declare what I pay them I am not even in for a slap on the wrist.
It is entirely the individualās responsibility to declare thair income correctly.
People are much more wary these days. Instead of buying Christmas and birthday presents for a friend Iāve contributed a bit towards a piano she has bought. She asked me if I could write my cheque out to the shop selling the piano as she didnāt want an āunexplainedā payment appearing in her bank account.
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