Festivals in France
- Noël (Christmas, 25 December): le réveillon is the big dinner on Christmas Eve (and on New Year's Eve), often with la bûche de Noël (a chocolate log cake).
- le jour de l'An (New Year's Day), la Chandeleur (2 February, when people eat crêpes), Pâques (Easter, with chocolate eggs), le poisson d'avril (April Fool's Day).
- le 14 juillet (Bastille Day, la fête nationale): un défilé (a parade) and des feux d'artifice (fireworks).
- la fête des Rois (6 January): families share la galette des rois, and whoever finds la fève (a small charm) wears the crown.
- la Fête de la musique (21 June): free concerts in the streets all over France.
Festivals around the world
- l'Aïd (Eid) comes at the end of le Ramadan, a month when many Muslims fast in daylight hours (jeûner means to fast).
- Diwali (the festival of light), Hanoukka (Hanukkah), le Nouvel An chinois (Chinese New Year).
- le Carnaval, for example in Nice or Quebec, when people dress up (se déguiser), and Mardi gras (Shrove Tuesday).
- Personal celebrations: un anniversaire (a birthday), un mariage (a wedding), la fête des mères (Mother's Day).
Useful phrases
- fêter / célébrer (to celebrate), offrir des cadeaux (to give presents), recevoir des cadeaux (to get presents), envoyer des cartes (to send cards), décorer le sapin (to decorate the tree).
- se réunir en famille (to get together as a family), manger un repas traditionnel (to eat a traditional meal), aller à l'église / à la mosquée / à la synagogue / au temple.
- Joyeux Noël! (Happy Christmas!) Bonne année! (Happy New Year!) Bon anniversaire! (Happy birthday!)
- Ma fête préférée est… parce que… (my favourite festival is… because…).
Grammar to use
- The imperfect for what used to happen: quand j'étais petit(e), j'ouvrais mes cadeaux le matin (I used to open my presents in the morning).
- The perfect for one event: l'année dernière, nous avons fêté Noël chez mes grands-parents.
- On (we / people) takes the same verb form as il and elle: on mange de la dinde (we eat turkey), on danse.
- Dates: le premier janvier, le quatorze juillet, le vingt-cinq décembre. Only the first of the month uses premier.
Key terms
- la fête
- festival (also party)
- fêter
- to celebrate
- Noël
- Christmas
- Pâques
- Easter
- le réveillon
- Christmas Eve or New Year's Eve dinner
- les feux d'artifice
- fireworks
- le défilé
- parade
- offrir
- to give (a present)
- le cadeau
- present
- se déguiser
- to dress up (in costume)
- jeûner
- to fast (go without food)
- l'anniversaire
- birthday
- le jour férié
- public holiday