| Holiday |
Date |
Jour de l’An/New Year’s Day
The first of January is a national holiday and is traditionally observed by visits and exchanges of gifts with relatives and friends, accompanied by the French greeting of a "bonne et heureuse année". New Year’s Eve celebrations are indulged in (in a similar way to that practised in Australia) with an added emphasis on the entertainment available, especially the theatres. Traditionally, the New Year’s supper includes the famed "soupe à l’oignon" and the "dinde rôtie". At home, the festivities begin with a lavish supper, and the dining room is decorated with mistletoe, the sacred plant of the Gaula. It is the custom, on the stroke of twelve midnight, for all the guests to kiss one another under the mistletoe. |
January 01, 2008 |
Fête des Rois - Epiphany/Twelfth Night
The religious character of the fete is marked by the fact that only at this time are the figures of the three wisemen placed in the mangers of the churches and homes. The custom on this day is to share among family and friends the "galette des rois" or king’s cake, which contains a bean or a little porcelain doll. The person who finds it in their portion of cake becomes king (or queen) of the evening and must choose a companion from the group to become his queen (or king) to whom he must give a gift. They sometimes have to buy another "galette des rois" which can make this tradition last for the whole month of January. |
January 06, 2008 |
La Chandeleur/Candlemas
Originally, Candlemas, or the Candle Feast, is a Christian celebration in the memory of a triple mystery (also called "Feast of God’s secrets"), the Purification of the Virgin Mary, the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple, and the meeting with the aged Simeon and the prophetess Anna. On this day, it is the custom in the countryside to bring home from the church a blessed candle which will protect the home during the coming year. It is traditionally observed by the making of "crêpes" or pancakes. Flipping the pancakes while holding a gold coin in the left hand assures happiness and riches for the entire year. The farmers say that to toss the first pancake successfully over the wardrobe portends a great abundance of wheat for the coming harvest. |
February 2 |
Mardi gras/Shrove Tuesday
This is the day of the "poisson d’avril" ("April Fish"), for it coincides with the sign of the zodiac which is Pisces (the fish). The origin of this holiday goes back to a statute of Charles IX which restored January 1 as the official beginning of the year instead of April 1 as it had been heretofore. This changing of the calendar confused many people at the time and gave rise to exchanges of funny greetings and gifts. April 1 has lost much of its importance and is now principally an opportunity for children to play pranks and to receive sweets and chocolate fishes. |
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1er avril/April Fool’s Day
This is the day of the "poisson d’avril" ("April Fish"), for it coincides with the sign of the zodiac which is Pisces (the fish). The origin of this holiday goes back to a statute of Charles IX which restored January 1 as the official beginning of the year instead of April 1 as it had been heretofore. This changing of the calendar confused many people at the time and gave rise to exchanges of funny greetings and gifts. April 1 has lost much of its importance and is now principally an opportunity for children to play pranks and to receive sweets and chocolate fishes.
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April 01 , 2008 |
Mi-Carême/Mid-Lent
This holiday, which always falls on a Thursday, breaks Lent fasting and is an occasion for popular celebrations comparable to those for Shrove Tuesday, with disguises, parades and costumes balls.
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Dimanche des Rameaux/Palm Sunday
Palm Sunday, the Sunday before Easter is largely observed by religious ceremonies during which palm are blessed and distributed after mass. These will be placed either in the homes or on the graves in the cemeteries. |
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Pâques/Easter Sunday and Monday (public holiday)
Easter is essentially a religious holiday. The church bells which have remained silent since Good Friday, again ring out joyously. Tradition says it is because they are returning from Rome laden with many gifts: Easter eggs and chocolate objects which they have hidden in the fields, gardens and in the homes. As soon as the bells begin to ring, the children rush out in search of the gifts fallen from heaven. The general holiday outside of Easter Sunday is observed in Australia on Good Friday, whereas it is officially observed on Easter Monday in France. |
Le Premier Mai ou Fête du Travail/The First of May or
Labour Day (public holiday)
This is a holiday with several meanings: the first day of the month devoted to the Virgin Mary; Labour Day devoted to the workers who in turn hold marches and manifestations relative to their industries; Day of the Lilies of the Valley, a flower which, when presented on this day, brings good luck to all and is sold everywhere on the street corners. |
Le Huit Mai/The Eighth of May (public holiday) and Le Onze Novembre/The Eleventh of November (public holiday)
Both days recall the signing of the armistice of World War II (1945) and World War I (1918) respectively and are commemorated by special church, official ceremonies and military parades services to the fallen are held throughout the country. The President of the Republic attends a special ceremony at the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. |
Sainte Jeanne d’Arc/Joan of Arc Day
This holiday commemorates the memory of Joan of Arc who was beatified in 1909 and canonised in 1920. The second Sunday in May was chosen to become a national holiday in 1919, it is cause for pilgrimages to wherever a monument to Joan of Arc has been erected, but especially in Rouen, Orléans, Paris and Vaucouleurs. There is also a statue of Joan of Arc in Melbourne opposite the State Victorian Library which is visited each year by members of the Victorian French-Australian Association. |
Pentecôte/Whit Sunday and Whit Monday (public holiday)
A religious holiday which has recently become the occasion for an annual pilgrimage to Chartres by thousands of barefooted students from Paris in memory of the dying wish of the poet Charles Péguy, who fell in World War I. |
Jeudi de l’Ascension/Ascension (public holiday)
A religious holiday commemorating the ascent of Jesus Christ, in presence of the apostles, into heaven on the 40th day after his resurrection. It is celebrated on the Thursday of the fifth week after Easter. |
La Fête des Mères et La Fête des Pères/Mother’s Day and Father’s Day
These days are celebrated on the last Sunday in May and June respectively. This is a recently-inaugurated holiday and is primarily the occasion for gift-giving by children to their mothers and fathers. |
La Fête de Saint John/June 24, Saint John’s Day
This holiday recalls many traditions: the birth of St John the Baptist and the commemoration of the ancient rites of sun worshippers. June 24 is the longest day of the year; it is celebrated by bonfires and dances in the countryside and in the mountain districts. Custom requires that engaged couples and newlyweds jump over the fires to ensure a year of happiness. This is also shepherds’ holiday and, in certain regions of France processions are organised and led by a little boy dressed as St John in a sheepskin leading a ribboned lamb and followed by children dressed as shepherds and shepherdesses with crooks in their hands.
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June 24, 2008
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Bastille Day (public holiday)
France’s national holiday. Historically, this day commemorates the rising of the French population against royalty by the capture of the Bastille (the French royal prison) on 14th July 1789 and the creation of a republican form of government with the reaffirmation of the principles of the motto: "Liberté, Egalité and Fraternité". It has become a day of rejoicing that is observed all over France with impressive military parades and illumination of public buildings and monuments. The municipalities provide fireworks displays, street dances are organised on public squares and processions are led by the local brass band followed by the villagers carrying lanterns and torches. |
July 04, 2008 |
Assumption Day (public holiday)
This feast day commemorates the ascension of the Virgin Mary into heaven and is observed by religious ceremonies and processions. The most important religious ceremomy is to be found at the cathedral of Notre-Dame-du-Puy (Haute-Loire Department) where, for twelve centuries, the ceremony has been maintained since Charlemangne first came there.
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August 15, 2008 |
All Saints Day (public holiday)
This is a day of commemoration for all those Saints not included in the liturgical calendar and is primarily religious. All Saints’ Day is followed by "La Fête des Morts" (the "All Souls’ Day") when everyone goes to visit, refurbish and decorate the graves of their loved ones with flowers and it is commemorated by both municipal and military ceremonies at the Arc de Triomphe. Since World War II, ceremonies have also held at the various execution sites of the victims of the Nazi occupation. The First Sunday of November is one of contemplation during which children are taught to respect their forbears. |
November 1, 2008 |
La Sainte Catherine - 25 novembre/Saint Catherine’s Day - November 25
Essentially a Parisian holiday in honour of all the young girls who have reached the age of twenty-five. The legend is that Saint Catherine bestows her graces on these young girls in order that they may find a husband in the coming year. This holiday is principally observed by the many Parisian fashion houses and dress-making establishments. The young seamstresses celebrate it by a mass of the "Catherinettes", followed by various receptions and dances at which they wear the famous fancy bonnets mad especially for the occasion.
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November 25, 2008 |
Saint Nicholas’ Day
This feast day is especially celebrated in Eastern France where it has gradually replaced Christmas in so far as the giving of sweets and gifts to children is concerned. It is the day when the good little children receive toys from Saint Nicholas and the bad ones receive a scolding from "le Père Fouettard" ("the Bogy man").
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December 6, 2008 |
Noël/December 25- Christmas (public holiday)
This holiday is principally celebrated by religious ceremonies and family dinners. The towns and cities are all decorated with Christmas trees. The shop windows of the big department stores compete with one another in fabulous displays of animated figures.
Celebrations begin on Christmas Eve with the decorating of the Christmas tree with toys, gifts and coloured lights; and with the preparation of the Manger with small figures representing Jesus, Mary, Joseph, the cow the donkey and the shepherds.
In some regions and particularly in Provence, the manger is also furnished with little painted clay figures called "santons" representing not only the biblical characters but also the people of the village: the mayor, the priest, the policeman, the butcher, the baker, the miller, the farmer, etc...Mangers are also placed in all the churches.
At midnight, many people attend Christmas masses, then return home for a late supper called "réveillon" (Christmas Eve) during which it is traditional to slice a cake in the form of a yule-log made for the occasion. In the morning children get up to see the gifts which "le Père Noël" (Father Christmas) has left in their shoes placed the night before in front of the fireplace. The whole family gathers around the tree for the exchange of gifts and packaged sweets from the decorations.
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December 25, 2008 |
Holidays in France
