At the time Carl Haffner first translated the comic play entitled Le Réveillon, he realized that this peculiarly French custom would be lost on his intended audience. In France, the midnight service on Christmas Eve is traditionally followed by a meal called "Le Réveillon," during which many cafes and restaurants are open all night to serve their patrons. The meal is often made up of oysters, sausages, wine, ham, roast fowl, salads, fruits and pastries. The next day, all the family comes together to see what gifts Father Christmas left in the children's shoes. When the play was adapted for this particular opera, the French Christmas custom of Le Réveillon was replaced by something more familiar to Viennese audiences, a splendid ball!