Holidays and Festivals in France

In France many of the national holidays are religious in origin, in keeping with the strong Catholic underpinnings of Frnech society. Apart from this, the revolutionary past of the country and its main historical events are commemorated on national holidays. Here is a bit about holidays and festivals of the country which are celebrated with a distinctly French color.

New Years Day

Like most of the world, France too prepares to ring in the New Year on the night of 31 December with lots of partying and feasting. Here the New Years’ Even is known as la Saint-Sylvestre and is usually celebrated with a feast, called le Réveillon de Saint-Sylvestre; the accompanying party can range from an intimate dinner with friends to a social extravaganza like a ball known as une soirée dansante. At the stroke of midnight, everyone kisses under the mistletoe and offers their best wishes for the New Year with the words, “Bonne Anne”. Interestingly in France, kissing under the mistletoe is a New Year custom rather than associated with Christmas as in other European countries.

Epiphany

The next important date is January 6 which is celebrated as the Feast of Epiphany. This day commemorates the visit of the three Magi to the infant Jesus. In France, one of the customs associated with the day is the baking of a special cake, known as la galette des Rois, which includes a small charm and the one who discovers it is believed to be blessed with luck.

Candlemas

Catholic festivities are continued in the next month with the holiday of Candlemas, on 2 February. This is a feast to commemorate the purification of the Virgin Mary and the presentation of baby Jesus. In France, this holiday is called la Chandeleur, Fête de la Lumière or ‘jour des crêpes’. Apart from stuffing themselves with crepes on this day, the French also indulge in a spot of fortune-telling while making them. It is traditional to hold a coin in your writing hand and a crêpe pan in the other, and flip the crêpe into the air. If you manage to catch the crêpe in the pan, your family will be prosperous for the rest of the year.

Mardi Gras

This is a large scale festival in February involving parades, costumes, street parties, music and food which though is mainly celebrated in Nice and is billed as the largest winter event in the French Riviera.  Like many Mardi Gras parades across the world, this marks the last major burst of festivities before the austerities of the Lent period set in. Mardi Gras literally means fat Tuesday in French, probably as a pointer to the indulgences that people would incur before the fasting of Lent began. Yet another event organized around this time is the Lemon festival in nearby Menton which is an annual celebration of citrus, featuring sculptures made of lemons and oranges.

Easter

Good Friday commemorates Christ’s crucifixion and there are processions and church services across France. The faithful make it a point to attend Easter services in the church after which follows a hearty meal involving all members of the family. In France, Easter Monday is a public holiday which people usually spend relaxing with friends and family.

Labor Day

May 1st is an important date for various reason in the country – it is both the Labor Day which honors workers of the world and also celebrated as Lily of the Valley Day when it is traditional to offer one's loved ones a sprig of lily of the valley, symbol of spring and of good luck, especially if the sprig has 13 bellflowers.

Ascension

This is yet another French religious feast, one which commemorates Christ’s ascension into heave and like others is marked by masses in church and religious processions. Still another Catholic observance in May is the Pentecost, a two-day festival which marks the coming of the Holy Spirit to Christ’s disciples, inspiring them in their mission to spread His teachings.

Fete Nationale

The most important secular public holiday in France is ‘Fete Nationale’ or ‘le quatorze juillet’, as it is often called which is observed on July 14. This event commemorates the storming of the Bastille which proved the starting point of the French Revolution. All across France there are parades, speeches including one by the President, fireworks as well as the singing of the national anthem. People take out processions and celebrate the values ushered in by the French Revolution and since then upheld in the national constitution.

Assumption

On August 15, the religious minded again observe the Catholic feast of the Assumption which celebrates the ascent of Virgin Mary into heaven. This feast day is a time for family celebrations and religious ceremonies.

The first of November is All Saints' Day. This Catholic holiday is a holy day of obligation and a public holiday in France. Families come together and usually go to the cemetery to honor their deceased relatives and put chrysanthemums on their graves.

Remembrance Day

This is observed on November 11, the day in 1918 when the Armistice was signed, thus bringing to end the first horrifying large-scale war that the world saw. All over France on Remembrance Day, people hold ceremonies or remembrance and lay wreaths at war memorials. In the national capital, Paris, the President lays a wreath at the grave of the unknown soldier at the Arc de Triomphe.

Christmas

Christmas is the perfect fusion of religious observance and social festivities which is ushered in by consumerist fervor with stores putting up lavish decorations and launching special holiday offers. Families begin preparations by putting up a Christmas tree and decorating it on Christmas Eve and then attend midnight mass in the Church. This is followed by a festive supper known as ‘revillon’ which though varying according to region usually includes a huge spread of oysters, cold meats, goose, turkey, salad, cheese and a Yule log cake. The actual Christmas Day celebrated on 25th December is again very much a family holiday in France with families exchanging presents and wishing each other ‘Joyeux Noel’.