February 2, what a holiday in france. French holidays: unique traditions and age-old customs. Climate in France
What holidays are there in France? How, what and when do the French celebrate? What interesting traditions are there? Which holiday will be interesting for tourists, and which one should not appear in France? Read the answers in this article.
Calendar for 2019 and 2020
| 2019 year | 2020 year | |
| 1st of January | 1st of January | |
| Good Friday* | April 19 | April 10th |
| April 21 | April 12th | |
| Light monday | April 22 | 13 april |
| Labor Day | 1st of May | 1st of May |
| V-E Day | May 8 | May 8 |
| May 30 | May 21st | |
| June 10th | June 1st | |
| the 14 th of July | the 14 th of July | |
| August 15 | August 15 | |
| Nov. 1 | Nov. 1 | |
| 11th of November | 11th of November | |
| Christmas Eve*** | December 24 | December 24 |
| December 25 | December 25 | |
| Saint Stephen's Day * | December 26 | December 26 |
* - Day off only in Lorraine and Alsace
** - The holiday falls on Sunday
*** - Working day, but shortened
Public holidays in France are NOT: Epiphany, Epiphany, Feast of the Body and Blood of Christ, Day of the Immaculate Conception. In many Catholic countries, these days are declared public holidays, in France they are not.
Postponing Holidays
The transfer of days off in France is rarely practiced. If Bastille Day falls on Sunday, then they definitely give an additional day off on Monday. In the case of other holidays, the decision is entirely up to the government and the president, and they rarely appoint additional days off.
Faire le pont (Bridge)
The phrase "faire le pont" refers to the situation when the holiday falls on a Thursday or Tuesday. People take a day off at their own expense on Friday or Monday, make themselves 4 days off in a row.
This phenomenon is very common in France. Keep in mind that if the holiday falls on Thursday, then the next Friday is semi-working, many shops and businesses may be closed. Likewise, if the holiday falls on a Tuesday, then the Monday before it is half-working.
January 1 - New Year
In French "Nouvel an" ("Noyel he") or "Premier de l" an "(" Premier de lon ")
In France, New Year is the main "street holiday"; most French people celebrate it on the streets or at a festive dinner in a restaurant. New Year's programs are organized by two famous cabarets in Paris - and Lido de Paris.
The big official fireworks display on the Champs Elysees is sometimes held, sometimes not. In 2018, there was a fireworks display, you can watch it in numerous videos on YouTube. Will there be fireworks in the coming years? Wait and see.
There are a lot of people who want to visit the Champs Elysees on New Year's Eve, so you have to take places opposite the Arc de Triomphe even in the daytime. After the fireworks, spend another couple of hours to get out of the Champs Elysees. works all night. People walk the streets until morning. Everyone congratulates each other with the words "Bonne année!" ("Bon Annie", trans .: "Happy Year").
It is customary for the French to eat and drink for the New Year. And they are trying as qualitatively as possible, and not quantitatively. The main products for the New Year are oysters and foie gras. They drink expensive champagne. By the way, our tradition of drinking champagne for the New Year came from France.
Children in the New Year receive gifts, but traditionally they are presented by grandparents. Parents probably run out of money at Christmas. They give toys and envelopes with money, called "leurs étrennes" ("leurs etren").
January 1 in France is a "dead" day, one might say - a "hangover day". All shops and catering establishments are closed at least until lunchtime.
Dates changing - Good Friday, Easter, Bright Monday
Easter is Sunday. Bright Monday is a day off, a national holiday. Good Friday is a day off only in Alsace and Lorraine.
In French Good Friday - "Vendredi saint", Easter - "Pâques" ("Pak"), Bright Monday - "Lundi de Pâques" ("Landy de Pak")
The Easter date changes every year. Catholics and Orthodox Christians celebrate Easter at different times. France is a Catholic country.
In 2018 - 30 March Good Friday, 1 April Easter, 2 April Bright Monday. In 2019 - April 19, Good Friday, April 21 Easter, April 22 Bright Monday. In 2020 - April 10, Good Friday, April 12 Easter, April 13, Bright Monday.
The traditions of celebrating Easter in France are not very different from other European countries. There are both Easter bunny and Easter eggs - decorative and chocolate ones.
In France, chocolate is very fond of, in pastry shops before Easter you can buy chocolate eggs up to 1 meter in size and with any decor imaginable. In addition to eggs, they make figurines of rabbits, chickens, bells. The fantasy of confectioners on Easter is working at full capacity. And this is logical, because even if they do not sell these eggs and figurines, the chocolate will not disappear, the chocolate will simply be melted into something else.
A very interesting French tradition is called the Egg Hunt. In gardens and parks, adults hide chocolate eggs and figurines in advance. On Easter, the children are looking for them. Often such events are paid for by the municipalities, sometimes the parents are "thrown off". If the French live in a private house, then they arrange the hunt in their own garden.
The largest egg hunt takes place in Paris around the Eiffel Tower. The event is sponsored by the City Hall, hiding about 20,000 chocolate figurines, the hunt starts at 10:00 am. Another famous "egg hunt" takes place in.
Children have adopted a game when chicken eggs are allowed to roll down the slope. Whoever survived the egg won. The victorious egg symbolizes the stone that covered the tomb of Jesus Christ.
But the most interesting tradition involving eggs is the preparation of a giant omelet in the city of Bessières. 40 chefs prepare an omelet from 15,000 chicken eggs. The omelet is eaten by 10,000 residents of the city and tourists who came to see this event.
A traditional Easter meal in France is a roasted leg of lamb with beans or potatoes.
For tourists, Easter in France is very interesting. This is an opportunity to visit Easter fairs, see and taste chocolate figurines, and participate in public events. The Champs Elysees are closed for cars on Easter, it is a pleasure to walk.
May 1 - Labor Day / Spring Festival
In French "Fête du Travail" or "Fête des Travailleurs" or "Fête du Muguet"
In France, May 1 is a double holiday. This is both the "Labor Day" familiar to us, and the traditional French "Spring Festival". Moreover, the celebration of spring for the French is incomparably more important, and they remember about Labor Day only thanks to the official name in the calendar.
Since ancient times, on May 1, the French have celebrated the onset of warm weather, the rebirth of nature and the birth of a new life. This tradition dates back to pagan times. This day has always been considered the most successful day for finding a "soul mate".
For acquaintances, special dances "Bal du Muguet" were arranged, to which girls and young people were allowed, but parents were not allowed. The tradition of these dances is now almost forgotten. It is customary for spouses to give flowers to each other. It is customary for unmarried men to give a bouquet to a girl they like.
The main flower in France on May 1 is the lily of the valley, which is called the "lily of the valley" here. The sale of lilies of the valley in France is tax-free. Earlier, the unemployed were engaged in collecting lilies of the valley and selling them on May 1, it was something like social support. Now it is a full-fledged business, sales of lilies of the valley on May 1 in France are estimated at 25 million euros.
The tradition of giving lilies of the valley was born in 1561, when King Charles IX was presented with a sprig of lilies of the valley as a talisman for good luck. Then the tradition of giving lilies of the valley to court ladies was established.
May 1 does not feel like Labor Day in France; no demonstrations or parades are held here. But Labor Day was born in France, the holiday was proclaimed at the 1st Congress of the Second International in Paris on June 20, 1980.
For tourists, May 1 is an ideal time to walk around Paris, but we do not recommend going to the sights, there will be queues and crowds. Prepare for a shortage of tables in restaurants and cafes, because many French people want to dine or dine in a restaurant with their loved ones.
May 8 - Victory Day in Europe
Day off, national holiday
In French "Fête de la Victoire" ("Fête de la Victoire")
Celebrates the surrender of Nazi Germany in World War II and the end of hostilities in Europe. The surrender took place on May 8, 1945 at 23-00 CET. Accordingly, at 1 am on May 9 Moscow time. Therefore, we celebrate May 9, Europeans on May 8.
Recall that at the beginning of the war (1940), almost all of France was occupied by Germany. After that, the surviving French troops and immigrants from the colonies fought on the side of the allies. In total, about 550,000 French soldiers and several hundred thousand partisans and underground fighters took part in the defeat of Germany. Therefore, the French have every right to celebrate, their contribution to the victory is significant.
On the morning of 8 May, the Champs Elysees is closed to visitors. The President and the military leadership of the country hold ceremonies: laying flowers at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the foot of the Arc de Triomphe, a minute of silence, laying flowers at the foot of the monument to Charles de Gaulle.
Previously, military parades were held on the Champs Elysees, but now they are no longer. Now you can only see the mounted Republican Guards, they look very colorful, it's worth looking at. See the photo above, click on the photo to enlarge.
Ordinary French people hang flags of France on their houses. Believers attend solemn services in honor of all those killed in the war. Flags of other victorious countries are sometimes hung in the squares to emphasize the unity of nations in that war.
For tourists, Victory Day in Paris can be interesting, to look at the guards on horseback and the positive French on this day. In tourist places, all shops and cafes are open. Many establishments in the city may be closed. Small shops are almost all closed, large supermarkets are open.
Date changes - Ascension Day
Day off, national holiday
In French "Ascension"
A holiday in honor of the ascension of Jesus Christ to Heaven. Celebrated on the 39th day after Easter Sunday (40th day of Easter), respectively, the holiday always falls on Thursday.
The date changes every year as the Easter date changes. In 2018 - May 10, 2019 - May 30, 2020 - May 21, 2021 - May 13, 2022 - May 26, 2023 - May 18, 2024 - May 9, 2025 - May 29.
For Catholics, this is one of the "days of commitment" when it is compulsory to attend Mass in the church. Many French people spend their mornings at church and have a festive dinner at home. In Paris, the traditional food for Ascension Day is chicken or any other poultry. In other regions of France, this can be: lamb, asparagus, potato salad or mushroom soup.
The French love to have picnics with friends on this day. It is not customary to travel outside the city here, the French prefer public parks. Rarely are public events held in parks.
Many French people prefer to take a day off at their own expense on Friday in order to arrange a four-day weekend. Therefore, the Friday following Ascension Day is actually a half-work day.
Ascension Day does not bode well for tourists. There are no additional entertainments, but there are queues and crowds, because many French people are not averse to seeing the sights on this extra weekend. Half of the stores are closed, while the other half have a special schedule. Some cafes and restaurants are closed and open ones are overcrowded.
Date changes - Pentecost
Day off, national holiday
In French "Lundi de Pentecôte"
Celebrated on the 50th day after Easter Sunday, respectively, the holiday always falls on Monday. On this day, the Holy Spirit descended on the apostles, taught them to speak in different languages, and the apostles were able to carry faith in Jesus Christ to other nations.
The date changes every year as the Easter date changes. In 2018 - May 21, 2019 - June 10, 2020 - June 1, 2021 - May 24, 2022 - June 6, 2023 - May 29, 2024 - May 20, 2025 - June 9.
In 2005, the holiday of Pentecost was abolished by a government decision. Then, after the death of more than 15,000 elderly people in 2003 during a terrible heat wave, the government decided to introduce the Day of Solidarity instead of Pentecost, when the whole country worked for free, and the money earned went to help the disabled and the elderly.
It was an interesting social experiment that ended in failure. In France, they like to conduct social experiments, as, indeed, in Russia. The people were against it, less than half of the workers went to work, each one “excused himself” from work as best he could. The government under Nicolas Sarkozy has brought back Pentecost since 2008.
On Pentecost, the French go to Mass in church, have picnics in parks, and visit friends and relatives. This is a purely family holiday, large mass events are not arranged.
Nothing good for tourists. There are crowds and lines at the sights, half of the shops are closed, and free tables in taverns are in short supply.
July 14 - Bastille Day
Day off, national holiday
In French "Fête Nationale"
The French call it "National Day" or "Holiday of July 14". This is the main secular holiday in France. Celebrates the anniversary of the 1789 uprising in Paris. The uprising began on July 12, and on July 14, the rebels stormed the famous Bastille prison and successfully took it.
According to legend, when King Louis learned about the uprising, he shouted: "But this is a riot!" The king was informed of this by the Duke of Liancourt, who served as the manager of Louis' wardrobe. The Duke replied to the King: "No, Your Majesty, this is a revolution."
And it really was a revolution - the Great French Revolution. The king was forced to recognize the authority of the Constituent Assembly (Parliament). The era of absolute monarchy ended, the system changed to a constitutional monarchy, and a little later (in 1792) to a republic.
On July 17, the king received from the deputies a cockade of three colors - blue, white, red. White was the symbol of the monarchy, red and blue were the colors of the coat of arms of Paris, under which the rebels fought. This is how the flag of France was born.
The main event on July 14th is the big military parade. It has been held annually since 1880. Even during the Nazi occupation (1941-1944), it was still held, but not in Paris, but in London under the leadership of the leader of the Free French, Charles de Gaulle.
The parade takes place on the Champs Elysees, the military marches from the Arc de Triomphe to the Place de la Concorde, where the columns are met by the President of France and invited leaders of other countries.
The French word for parade is Le Défilé. Indeed, the French parade is somewhat reminiscent of a fashion show. Horse guards in beautiful helmets and camisoles begin the parade. The infantry does not lift their legs at 90 degrees, as is customary in our country, but keep pace and calmly. The main thing here is the beauty of the military uniform and coherence.
You can watch the parade for free, but it is advisable to take a place for viewing along the Champs Elysees in a few hours.
The culmination of the holiday is the evening fireworks and light show at the Eiffel Tower. It is best to watch it from the Champ de Mars.
For tourists, July 14 is fraught with both huge pluses and minuses. Pros: the opportunity to watch the parade and fireworks, go to. Cons: queues, crowds, public transport works with restrictions, in pubs there is a chronic lack of places.
August 15 - Day of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary
Day off, national holiday
In French "Assomption"
Unlike most Christian holidays, the day of the Assumption of the Virgin has an exact date according to the Gregorian calendar - August 15th. Celebrate the day the Virgin Mary died and ascended into Heaven. The Pope officially adopted the holiday only in 1950, it is the youngest Catholic official holiday.
Believers attend a solemn mass in churches. But most French people now do not attach much importance to religion, for them an extra day off is already good. People try to meet with friends, visit relatives, arrange gatherings. For gatherings, it is not customary to leave the city; the French love picnics in parks in the city.
Many people want to go somewhere to have fun, including sightseeing. Expect crowds, queues, congested public transport. There may not be empty seats in cafes and restaurants.
Catholics on the day of the Assumption of the Virgin can arrange processions. Some tourists are interested in seeing this, and perhaps this is the only thing that may be interesting on this day.
November 1 - All Saints Day
Day off, national holiday
In French "Toussaint" ("Toussaint")
He's the well-known "Halloween". Day in memory of all saints and martyrs. Has a fixed date - November 1.
At the word "Halloween", many remember pumpkins and costumes of evil spirits. But this is an Anglo-Saxon tradition of celebration. The French do not like the English, and they do not accept these "pumpkin" traditions.
Although pumpkins and costumes are sold in stores. If you wish, you can get to the theme party in the "pumpkin" style, they are arranged in Parisian and Marseilles clubs and resorts.
In France, the holiday of All Saints Day is far from fun. The French go to the solemn service, and then go to the cemeteries. It is customary to bring chrysanthemums or artificial flowers to the graves of relatives, to light candles.
Chrysanthemum in France symbolizes death, in no case do not give them to people, it's like wishing death to a person!
The candles make the cemeteries look amazing. Some tourists even go to see this spectacle. Is it difficult to say how ethical it is to go to the cemetery as a sightseeing? By tradition, it is customary to visit cemeteries on November 2 - All Souls Day. But for most French people, November 1 is more convenient, since it is a day off.
On All Saints' Day, it is customary to arrange a dinner with a dish of lamb or venison. Dinner at midnight is also accepted, they eat bacon and pancakes, they drink cider in memory of the dead. These culinary traditions are now almost forgotten.
November 11 - Day of Reconciliation
Day off, national holiday
In French "Armistice"
Celebrate the end of the First World War. Anniversary of the signing of the armistice on November 11, 1918 between France and Germany. The ceasefire went into effect at 11 am.
"Holiday on November 11" was introduced in 1922. It could not be called "Victory Day", since de facto there was no winner in the war. The French were nominally victorious, but not a single French soldier set foot on German soil. It has always been a day of remembrance for the dead.
After the Second World War, November 11 became a day of remembrance also for those who died in this war. And now it is considered the day of remembrance of all the French who died on the battlefields. It is customary to spend a minute of silence at 11 in the morning.
The military on this day hold parades, but not as large as on Bastille Day. The most famous parade on November 11 takes place under the Arc de Triomphe, and groups of military from other countries often participate in this parade.
In general, there is no general grief on November 11 in French cities. People are resting: someone walks with children in the park, someone in a tavern, someone in amusement parks.
Wait for lines and crowds, for a tourist there is nothing good, except for the opportunity to watch parades.
December 24 - Christmas Eve, December 25 - Christmas Day, December 26 - St. Stephen's Day
Christmas Eve is a working day, Christmas is a day off, St. Stephen's Day is a day off only in Alsace and Lorraine
In French: Christmas Eve - "La veille de Noël" ("La veille du Nuel"), Christmas - "Noël" ("Nuel"), St. Stephen's Day - "Deuxième jour de Noël" ("Dusem jur de Nuel") or "Saint Étienne"
The traditions of celebrating Christmas in France are not original. This is a Christmas tree and presents for children underneath. The French Santa Claus is called "Père Noël" (Father of Christmas), and children write letters to him. Large Christmas markets open in cities a few weeks before Christmas. The French have already started congratulating each other with the phrase “Joyeux Noël” (transl.: “Merry Christmas”) already in a week.
In France, it is customary for Christmas Eve to host a festive dinner called "Réveillon", the main dishes: roasted turkey or goose with chestnuts, oysters, foie gras, venison and cheese. First they have supper in the evening, then they go to church for a solemn service, after the service they continue supper. There is no tradition of walking the streets at night, the streets are empty at night.
For dessert, a bûche de Noël chocolate roll is prepared, the name translates as “Christmas log”. It used to be a common tradition to burn a special cherry wood log in the fireplace at Christmas. This log was impregnated with wine for flavor. Nowadays, few residents of French cities have fireplaces, so instead of burning a wooden log, they eat chocolate.
In many countries there is a tradition when children hang socks to the fireplace, in which the parents put sweets. In France, it is customary not to hang out socks, but to expose shoes to the fireplace. Moreover, not some kind of one bought in advance for this, but the most common one, which is worn every day. Parents put sweets, chocolates, fruits in their shoes, and the children then eat it. We will not comment on how this tradition complies with sanitary standards.
For tourists, Christmas can be interesting. First, go to Christmas markets, where you can see and buy dozens of types of holiday sweets, miniature figurines, and delicacies. Secondly, to see the stunning illumination of the streets of Paris.
However, the holiday itself on the night of December 24-25 is unlikely to be felt. After all, Christmas is a family holiday, the streets are empty. If you decide to watch Christmas in Paris, then remember the problem of hotel rooms. Some hotels are fully booked by early December, room prices are going through the roof.
More holidays without days off
In France, they are considered holidays, but without the appointment of days off:
Mothers Day- the last Sunday in May. It is customary to make pleasant surprises, to give gifts and flowers to their mothers and wives.
Father's day- 3rd Sunday in June. It is customary to make pleasant surprises, to give gifts to your fathers and husbands.
St. Nicolas day- December 6. Celebrated in the east of France. On this day, it is customary to give gifts to children, since St. Nicholas is the patron saint of children.
Have a nice trip to France and read our interesting articles about this country ( list of articles below).
A religious holiday celebrated in all countries with the Orthodox and Catholic faith, dedicated to the remembrance of the death (dormition) of the Mother of God.
In different countries there are similar and unique traditions of the holiday, for example, in Germany, the holiday is called Ascension of Mary and he opens 30 women's days in the Catholic Church - from August 15 to September 12, during which Mary's services are held. Particularly celebrated are the days of the Ascension of Mary (August 15), Queen Mary (August 22), Mary's Birth (September 8, this is a small women's day) and Mary's Day (September 12).
For the Ascension of Mary, seven different herbs are gathered in Catholic churches (the number symbolizes the seven wounds of Mary). These herbs should protect against diseases and ailments. Bouquets are placed in the house on the walls. Used in the form of tea, decoctions and infusions, thrown into an open fire to drive away misfortunes. In addition, the first harvest of hazelnuts and pine nuts falls on this day.
In France L "Assomption the second most important religious holiday after Christmas. On August 15, the French attend church services and take part in Christian celebrations. The French remember the holiday as a joyful one, dedicated not to the death of the Mother of God, but to Her bodily ascension to heaven.
The feast of the Assumption dates back to the first centuries of Christianity and in the IV century is already celebrated everywhere. Since 595, the holiday began to be celebrated on August 15 in honor of the victory won on that day by the Byzantine emperor Mauritius over the Persians. The holiday is preceded by a two-week Dormition Fast, celebrated throughout the Christian world. He reminds us that death is not the destruction of being, but only a transition to eternal disembodied immortality.
In Spain La Asunciondela Virgen very often called the Feast of the Holy Virgin of August or the Mother of God of August (Virgen de Agosto)... During the holiday, there are church services, religious processions, festivities, sometimes performances are given in the form of religious mysteries. In the city of Elche, in the Basilica of St. Mary, a traditional religious and theatrical performance is given - auto (misterio) with an impressive finale of the coronation of the Virgin Mary. The young men in suits represent the 11 apostles in the cathedral, and one of them, a 10-12-year-old teenager, is dressed like a Madonna and sings a hymn. The next day, a statue of the Madonna is carried through the streets.
Throughout Spain, religious mysteries dedicated to the August Virgin have been organized. In La Al Berca (Salamanca), the performance is played out in the open air in the square, and in Vinuez (province of Soria), a comic battle is played out for the possession of the image of the Virgin Mary.
In general, a lot of purely folk traditions are associated with this holiday. Some researchers believe that the roots of this holiday are associated with ancient agricultural rituals, with the harvest, and that the Virgin Mary replaced another more ancient image of the goddess of fertility.
France is a country that, like any other state, has its own history, unique culture and unshakable traditions. All of these heritage elements reflect French holidays, which can truly be called a unique phenomenon. They are full of variety and combine provincial cultures that originated in antiquity and the Middle Ages.
The French celebrate a lot of national secular and religious holidays. And it is no coincidence, because the civil calendar was first established in France back in 1582.
So, here is a list of the holidays most revered by French citizens:
- January 1 - Jour de l'An (New Year).
- January 6 - Fête des Rois Epiphany (Day of the Three Kings-Magi-Baptism of the Lord-Epiphany).
- February 10 - Fête du Mimosa (Mimosa Festival).
- February 11 - Carnaval de Nice.
- February 14 - Saint Valentin (Valentine's Day or Valentine's Day).
- February 17 - Fête du Citron (Lemon Festival).
- March 4 - Journée nationale des grands-mères (National Grandmothers Day).
- March 8 - Journée internationale des droits de la femme (International Women's Day).
- April 1 - le Premier avril (April Fool's Day-April Fool's Day).
- March / April - Pậques (Catholic Easter).
- May 1 - Fête du Travail (Labor Day).
- May 7 - Fête (de) perroquet (Feast of the parrot).
- May 8 - Victoire 1945 (Victory Day).
- May 16 - Festival de Cannes (Cannes Film Festival).
- June 21 - Fête de la Musique (Music Day).
- July 14 - Fête nationale (Bastille Day).
- August 15 - Assomption (Dormition of the Virgin).
- October 16 - Fête du livre (Reading Feast).
- October 20 - Fête de la châtaigne (Chestnut Festival).
- October 31-November 1 - Halloween + Toussaint (Halloween + All Saints Day).
- November 11 Armistice 1918 (Armistice Day - the end of the 1st World War).
- November 15 - Fête du Beaujolais Nouveau (Feast of the "New Beaujolais").
- November 25 - le jour de la Sainte Catherine (St. Catherine's Day).
- December 25 - Noël (Christmas).
The French honor art
The reading festival was first organized in 1989 by the French Ministry of Culture. The French public met this idea with great enthusiasm and soon the festival was included in the calendar of cultural events that take place annually in the country. The three-day festive program includes meetings with writers, book fairs, exhibitions, book presentations, scientific conferences and seminars. People donate books to libraries and to each other. This holiday is completely unique, since no other country in the world can boast of such a large-scale event dedicated to literature and books.
Day of music. This red calendar date with romantic notes appeared in 1982 at the initiative of the French Minister Jacques Langreau. On the summer solstice, music sounds everywhere: in apartments, in concert halls, on the streets. People play musical instruments, sing and dance. Silence on this holiday in France is absent not only during the day, but even at night, as the fun lasts until the morning.
The Cannes Film Festival is a celebration of cinema. It is the most prestigious, oldest and most widely reported event in the world. The venue was the resort town of Cannes. The success and rapid development of the festival made it a real "metropolis" of stars and simply connoisseurs of cinema. With 10,000 accredited professionals and some 4,000 journalists, it's easy to get lost. The gathering of stars, film professionals and big screen fans from all over the world lasts in Cannes for 10 days.
Delicious Holidays
A distinctive feature of France is the celebration of a huge number of events dedicated to national gastronomy. So, at the end of October, the whole country is enveloped in the incomparable smell of roasted chestnuts: the French celebrate Chestnut Day. The fruits of chestnut trees are cooked outside. Their aroma is so captivating that it is impossible to deprive yourself of the pleasure of trying this dish. The unusual taste of this delicacy is difficult to describe. Chestnuts are among the main ingredients of all dishes on this day.
The Lemon Festival, which takes place annually in Menton (a city on the French Riviera), attracts hundreds of thousands of guests. Lemons from Menton are considered to be the kings of lemons: thanks to the warm climate characteristic of the French Riviera, they are grown all year round. About 130 tons of citrus fruits are used to decorate the city on a holiday. On this day, I decorate Menton with incredible figures, skillfully made from lemons, as well as other citrus fruits - oranges and grapefruits. Magic orange castles, fairy tale characters and huge lemon trees grow in the city for several days.
And on the night of November 15, the French land is celebrating the "New Beaujolais" holiday - a holiday of young wine, which is made in Beaujolais, one of the regions located north of Lyon. Fête du Beaujolais Nouveau in France began to be celebrated in the middle of the twentieth century. This holiday is based purely on the commercial interests of winemakers. Wine made from the grape variety "game", traditionally grown in Beaujolais, is inferior in quality to the wines of Burgundy and Bordeaux. Aware of this shortcoming, Beaujolais winemakers cleverly got out of the situation by dedicating one of the November days to the wine of the new harvest.
Such an advertising and marketing move brought incredible success, and now, when Beaujolais Nouveau is on sale, this event is celebrated not only in France, but all over the world. Today in France, on the third Thursday of November, they celebrate the "day of the winemaker", on this day the whole country walks and evaluates how successful the harvest was this year.
Holidays of flowers
During the flowering period of mimosa, symbolizing the end of winter, a flower parade is held in San Rafael. Similar festive processions in San Rafael began to be held back in the 20s of the last century. From year to year, they are becoming larger and more colorful. Processions decorated with mimosas are walking along the streets of the city. All this is accompanied by music. The festive program includes exhibitions-fairs, presentations of "Roads of Mimosa", a costume ball, the choice of Miss Mimosa.
On May 1, France, along with the Labor Day, celebrates the holiday of the lily of the valley. Scented lilies of the valley are sold everywhere. People buy and give them to each other. The presented lily of the valley flower is preserved, because it is believed that it brings happiness. In ancient times, there were beliefs that it was on May Day that plants and objects acquire magical properties. For example, it was believed that the dew collected before sunrise on May 1 softens the skin and prevents the appearance of skin diseases.
Significant historical dates
On May 8, France celebrates the victory over fascism. On this day, which is officially declared a day off, all veterans come to the ceremony. The President of the country traditionally exchanges a friendly handshake with each of them. The leading French newspapers publish photographs and interviews with "Paul" - this is how the front-line soldiers were fondly called during the war years. Also, witnesses and heroes of historical events take part in various television programs.
Bastille Day, celebrated on July 14, is one of the most important national holidays. Moreover, it is celebrated both in France and around the world, since the siege and capture of the Bastille is a grandiose event in the history of all mankind. This historical event symbolizes the political liberation achieved by revolutionary means, while the very word "Bastille" has long become a household name.
Even celebrating the New Year is unlikely to compare with what is happening on July 14 in Paris. The program of the celebration includes a series of balls: balls for firemen, Big Ball in the Tuileries Garden. On Bastille Day, a solemn military parade is organized, which takes place on the Champs Elysees. At 10 o'clock in the morning, the parade moves from the Place de l'Etoile towards the Louvre, where it is received by the head of state. The celebration ends with a big fireworks display and a stunning fireworks display that illuminates the night sky at the Eiffel Tower, as well as on the Champs de Mars.
May 30 - Day of St. Joan of Arc, patroness of the military and all of France. By the decree of Pope Benedict XV in 1920, Joan of Arc was canonized, although people had worshiped her for many centuries before.
Religious holidays
The Dormition of the Virgin Mary is a religious holiday celebrated on 15 August. On this day, they remember the death of the Mother of God and her ascension to heaven. It should be noted that the cult of Our Lady is quite strong in France. The Dormition of the Virgin Mary is the second most important religious holiday after Christmas. The French attend services held in churches on August 15, and take part in various Christian celebrations.
On November 25, the French celebrate St. Catherine's Day - a very interesting holiday, which is not only a religious celebration, but an unusual secular holiday with ancient traditions. On this day, young, still unmarried French women aged 16 to 25 put on hats (usually hats) of green or yellow colors and parade through the streets of their cities, giving smiles to all passers-by.
In France, Christmas is celebrated on December 25th. Every French house is decorated with garlands and Santa Claus climbing the stairs somewhere. Just before Christmas, the owners of the houses construct nativity scenes - installations that reproduce the birth of Jesus Christ.
Among the traditional Christmas dishes, there is “macaroni” - a dessert made from egg whites mixed with grated almonds. The French sometimes replace the Christmas turkey with a castrated rooster. Castrating a bird immediately after birth, farmers feed it intensively, thanks to which the bird grows to incredible sizes and displaces the turkey, which is familiar to everyone, from the table.
In addition to pasta, Buche de Noel, a traditional pie reminiscent of a log, is served for dessert. In the old days, many believed that putting a log of a fruit tree in the fireplace on a festive evening would ensure a good harvest in the coming year. Years passed, fireplaces began to disappear from the usual apartment, and the "Christmas log" remained, but already in the form of a pie on the festive table.
Since Christmas is still a religious holiday, on the evening of December 24, Christmas Mass is held in every cathedral, as the main religious event of the year.
Another touching holiday in France is Epiphany, when, according to the Gospel tradition, three eastern kings-sorcerers came to the newborn Christ and brought gifts. On this day (January 6), people usually make donations and gather at the family table, the main decoration of which is the Galette de Roi almond cake. A golden paper crown is placed on top of the confection, and a small toy is hidden inside. The one who comes across the crown when cutting the pie becomes the King or Queen of that day.
Catholic Easter is a popular holiday in France. The French spend this day on picnics. With families and friends, the French gather on their backyards and prepare grilled dishes and a variety of omelettes. Everyone gives each other red eggs, which later become the main attribute of different games. However, in France traditional eggs are not given as much importance as Easter bells.
On Easter, the bell serves as a symbol of joy and fun, its ringing is heard everywhere. Parents build installed chocolate egg nests in the trees for their children. Children must find these nests themselves. Chocolate coins are very popular in France, which are presented with the wishes of a comfortable life until next Easter.
Holidays for the sake of holidays
On May 7, the Parrot Festival is held in Haute-Garonne; it gathers annually about 40 archers, who wear medieval clothes on this day. According to tradition, archers have to hit an artificial parrot weighing seven kilograms with an arrow, hoisted to the very top of a height of 45 meters. An archer who can shoot down a bird becomes the king of the holiday.
On the night of October 31 to November 1, a bright holiday is held in France - a masquerade, which is replete with a set of fascinating traditions borrowed from a pagan holiday. It's about Halloween or All Saints Day. On the streets of all French cities, the heads of monsters, made of pumpkins of all stripes, look with empty and luminous eye sockets.
Violent festivities continue in restaurants and cafes until the early hours of the morning. Young people in unthinkable costumes of witches and ghosts walk the main streets with noisy companies. In bakeries and pastry shops, the main product is the "pie of all saints", which is decorated with images of saints. Meanwhile, this cheerful and comic holiday refers, to a greater extent, to the youth of France.
New Year's Eve in France, celebrated on the night of December 31 to January 1, is associated with Saint Sylvester's Day. Like Christmas, celebrating the New Year is a family celebration, but the French usually celebrate it outside the home: somewhere in a restaurant, cafe or in a nightclub. On this evening, the windows of such establishments are painted with appropriate drawings with good wishes. New Year's Eve dinner is accompanied by dancing, jokes, throwing streamers and colorful confetti at each other.
On New Year's Eve, the lottery becomes the favorite entertainment of the French. There is an opportunity to win prizes such as a turkey, chicken or even a piglet. The festive table is decorated with mistletoe, a plant that, according to the legend, brings happiness and good luck. Traditional food on this holiday is blood sausages, baked pork head, nuts, fried goose or fried turkey, legumes (lentils, peas, beans), chestnuts, cakes made with milk, and various sweets. Of course, among other dishes, there is also a goose liver.
In February (11th) Nice turns into a carnival, and one of the largest in the world after Venice and Rio. Flower parades (20 platforms decorated with fresh flowers) are marching along the streets of the city. Models (men and women), enchanting with their luxurious suits and extravagant headdresses, throw thousands of flowers into the crowd of spectators, parading along the Promenade des Anglais.
His Majesty Carnival is given a new name every year, which fully reflects the theme of the holiday, as well as the source of inspiration for the creation of compositions. So, for example, in 1953 the carnival was called "King of the Circus", "King of Gastronomy" in 1957, "King of Dance" at 64, "King of Laughter" in 1990, and in 1997 the holiday was called "King of Sports".
Celebrated in France and Valentine's Day or Valentine's Day. On this day, everyone whose hearts are struck by Cupid's arrow give each other cards in the form of hearts (valentines) with declarations of love, with good wishes, with a proposal of a hand and heart, or just with jokes. These messages are not signed, so that the recipient himself guesses who sent them. Couples in love present each other with chocolate, jewelry, flowers and other gifts in the shape of a heart, souvenirs depicting kissing doves and the winged angel Cupid, the symbol of Valentine's Day.
Cafes and restaurants are overcrowded that day: young couples cooing touchingly at the tables. And not very young people also enjoy the holiday. By the way, it was the gallant French who were the first to introduce love messages-quatrains, called "valentines".
Every year, on the first Sunday in March, residents of France celebrate the feast of grandmothers. All grandmothers and women over the age of 55 are given special honor and respect on this day. Elegant French grandmothers (though rarely looking like old women) drink liquor, feast on almond cakes and receive gifts from their grandchildren and children. On the Holiday, travel agencies offer special free tours to grandmothers and their grandchildren, in restaurants they create menus to match the holiday, and special sections open during the holiday in stores where only grandmothers can buy goods with discounts.
But the day of March 8 in France is proclaimed International Women's Day or the day of the struggle for the rights of French women. On this holiday, French women are not pampered with gifts and flowers, but various events dedicated to the struggle for women's rights are held throughout the country. The history of this holiday is associated with the centuries-old struggle of women for the right to take an active part in the life of society, not yielding to men. As a rule, on March 8 in Paris, meetings, seminars, discussions, screenings of films presented by women actresses are organized.
April Fool's Day in France, as in many other countries, is celebrated as April Fool's Day or Fools' Day. This day can be called a "fish day", as you can see fish on the backs of passers-by in the streets. Usually fish are made of paper, ceramics, cardboard, plastic and other materials. Such symbols of the holiday are attached to clothes with a hook. The key word of this action is the word "imperceptible", because the "victims" of jokes, walking with fish on their backs, do not even suspect why everyone around them laughs or smiles merrily when looking at them. The fish should dangle on the back of the "caught", and imperceptibly for himself, thus making others happy.
In France, Fools' Day is considered a holiday for the sake of a holiday. Gifts on this occasion are not given, they do not go to restaurants. The main thing on this day is to be vigilant so as not to be a fool or "not to remain in the fish", as the French themselves say.
The French in the art of resting more than working, perhaps, bypassed everyone. So be prepared for this national peculiarity if you suddenly have to face French culture. It should be noted that gifts remain the main attributes of any holidays. In the ability to pick up various cute and pleasant little things as gifts for the French, it is difficult to get around.
Easter, by the way, is also celebrated a week earlier - all shops are decorated with bells, fish, Easter eggs, and the streets are filled with bells.
January holidays
1st of January. New Year in France is called the day of St. Sylvester. His day falls on December 31. New Year, like Christmas, is a family celebration, but it is usually not celebrated in “their nest”. New Year is not as popular as Christmas. It is on this holiday that the main celebration and duration falls. Holidays, by the way, are not only for children, but also for adults. The French generously give each other gifts, referring to Peer Noel, who replaces our Santa Claus with them. New Year's Eve is celebrated with friends somewhere in a cafe, restaurant or nightclub, the windows of which are painted with attractive drawings and inscriptions. During New Year's dinner, they dance, joke, put on pointed caps and throw confetti or streamer ribbons at each other. One of the favorite New Year's entertainments of the French is the lottery. You can win a turkey, chicken, or even a piglet. The festive table is decorated with mistletoe. According to legend, this plant brings good luck. Traditional food ... Again, blood sausages, fried goose or turkey, baked pork head, peas, beans, lentils, nuts, chestnuts, milk cakes, sweets. It does not do without a goose liver. As for gifts, there is nothing concrete. You can never go wrong if you give any funny, graceful, stylish, original or just a nice little thing. For example, in 2002, when the euro was introduced in France, the French presented packages with fresh pan-European coins with a total value of 100 francs.
January 6-Catholic Epiphany. This is one of the most touching holidays, held on the first Sunday of January, when, according to the Gospel tradition, the three eastern kings-wise men brought gifts to the newborn Christ. On this day, it is customary to make donations and gather at the family table. The Galette des Rois almond cake is decorated with a golden paper crown; and a small toy crown (or other porcelain figurine) is hidden inside. Whoever comes across it becomes the King or Queen of this day. The cake is cut into several pieces. Usually for as many as there are people at the table, plus one more. This extra piece is called "Gods" or "poor man's piece." Previously, such pieces were given to the poor. The youngest of the children hides under the table, and they ask him: "Whose part is this?" The one who gets the piece with the figurine is declared the king. He solemnly drinks a glass of wine, and all those present clap their hands and say in chorus: “The King is drinking! The King is drinking! "
February holidays
February 2- festival of violets in Toulouse. Here these flowers have a special meaning, so the festival takes two days.
February 14 - Valentine's Day, as in many other countries.
February 15 - Carnival in Nice... It has been celebrated for several centuries.
February 16 - festival of lemons in Menton (near Nice). It is celebrated on a very large scale, it lasts about 2 weeks.
March Holidays
March 1... The first Sunday in March is celebrated annually in France grandmothers holiday... On this day, all grandmothers and women over 55 in general receive extraordinary honor and respect. Kind French grandmothers, rarely reminiscent of old women, dressed up, drink liquor on this day, eat almond cake and, of course, receive gifts. From year to year, French grandmothers are getting younger, half of them are just over fifty, and many continue to work actively. Apparently, this is why grandmother's day falls on Sunday. Although most French grandmothers see their grandchildren at least once a week, and a third of them devote more than half of their free time to them, they look forward to "grandmother's day" when all their children and grandchildren get together. Flowers and gifts from their beloved grandchildren and granddaughters await grandmothers on this day. Travel agencies on holidays offer grandmothers and their grandchildren free tourist bus rides, restaurants create special menus, and special sections are opening in stores where grandmothers - only grandmothers - can buy goods with discounts.
March 20 - Francophonie Day, everyone who knows this beautiful language participates in it.
March 31 - Catholic Easter... Easter For the French, Easter is not only a religious holiday. It is not necessary to observe all Christian ordinances to touch these events. The French congratulate relatives, loved ones, friends and acquaintances not so much on religious dates, but on something kind, spring and joyful. In many European countries, the rabbit that brings Easter eggs has become a popular Easter character. The explanation for this also goes deep into paganism. According to legend, the pagan goddess of spring Estra turned the bird into a hare, but he continued to lay eggs. Another explanation for this phenomenon is more mundane - when children went to collect eggs from the chicken coop on Easter morning, they often found rabbits nearby. Already a month before Easter, sales of chocolate eggs, chickens, roosters and rabbits begin in all shops in France. On Easter day, early in the morning, parents hide chocolate eggs in the garden, and children, waking up, find them under the bushes, in flowers, in the grass; they put the eggs they find in a basket and eat them at breakfast.
April Holidays
April 1 - April Fool's Day. It has been celebrated here for a long time. Not only the day of laughter is celebrated, but also the arrival of real spring.
May holidays
1st of May. In France, it is timed to the 1st of May lily of the valley holiday. On this day, everywhere they sell lilies of the valley, give them to each other, keep them, since it is believed that the lily of the valley flower brings happiness.
May 4th - parrot festival. An even more unusual holiday that takes place in Haute-Garonne on the first weekend of May.
May 8-Day of liberation from fascism. Here Victory Day is celebrated a day earlier than ours.
May 15 - Cannes Film Festival known all over the world. This is not a holiday, but it is celebrated more strongly than some.
May 24 - Bordeaux Wine Festival... A holiday in France dedicated to world famous wines.
Holidays in June
June 16 - Cannes Lions... International Advertising Festival.
Holidays in July
the 14 th of July... Perhaps even the New Year's Eve cannot be compared with what is happening in Paris on July 14th. The official program of the celebration includes a series of balls: balls for the firemen, the Big Ball, which takes place on July 13 in the Tuileries Garden. In itself Bastille day there is a solemn military parade on the Champs Elysees. The finale of the holiday is a big fireworks display and fireworks at the Eiffel Tower and on the Champs de Mars. This pyrotechnic show usually starts at 10 pm. Despite the somewhat modest official program of celebrations, there are incessant parties throughout the city - in discos, bars, nightclubs, in houses and just on the streets.
Holidays in August
August 15 - Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
October 16 - Reading Day, it's great that this day is especially celebrated in France.
October 31 - Halloween in France. It's All Saints' Eve. It is noted not only in France, but also in other countries.
Holidays in November
Nov. 1... On this day the French commemorate the dead and relatives, ancestors, loved ones. The Catholic religion considers the observance of the rituals of remembrance to be an important duty of all believers. The French spend this day in the church, then go to the cemetery, often with prayers and chants in general precession, tidy up the graves and put up burning candles. November 11 is Memorial Day, this is the day of the end of the First World War.
December 25.Christmas - this is the most important holiday of the year for any French family, so they prepare thoroughly for it, a whole month in advance. Whatever the religion, no one remains indifferent to this holiday. It is especially important for children who find their gifts by a Christmas tree decorated with sparkling lights. Shopping streets are brightly illuminated with huge snowflakes made from light bulbs, huge quantities of holiday trees stand not only in apartments and on the streets, but also in the entrances of houses, with shining lights, crowds of people feverishly grab everything that will fit as a gift, especially for children. According to the old custom, they put up their shoes at the hearth so that Santa Claus (Per Noel) can give them a reward for good behavior at night. A reveillion Christmas dinner under a decorated Christmas tree is a purely intimate family affair with a tradition-honored menu that must include seven dishes: sage and garlic soup, spinach or cod, green and black olives, fried fish, cauliflower , celery in anchovy oil, snails, a traditional delicacy - goose liver ... Before the coming holidays, geese and turkeys are fattened in advance, pigs are slaughtered, sausages are prepared. The process of exchanging postcards with wishes of a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year is obligatory. A special French tradition is the preparation of the Christmas log. This was done in order to increase and improve the quality of the crop. For the log, the tree was chosen, the fruits of which were preferable. It was believed that the cut down tree trunk has magical properties and can affect the harvest. Oak and beech, for example, were used mainly to secure the harvest of their fruits, which until the end of the Middle Ages were peasant food, and then for livestock. In some provinces, it is customary to hide gifts for children in the Christmas log, especially sweets and fruits. A few days before Christmas, evening concerts begin in all cathedrals. The main Christmas service takes place at Notre Dame de Paris. On the Champs Elysees, there is a massive celebration. It is as bright as day from a multitude of multi-colored lamps hanging on the trees. Spruce is a symbol of Christmas in France. Today, Christmas trees are a whole industry. Millions of trees are planted every year to meet the growing demand. It is impossible to imagine a French house without a Christmas tree, or a city where a festive tree has not been installed in the central square. Once upon a time, the spruce was decorated only with fruits, most often apples. In 1858, there was a very poor apple harvest. Then the glassblowers of Lorraine created glass balls to replace apples. This is where the tradition of Christmas tree decorations came from. An integral tradition of celebrating Christmas is the "nativity scene" (nativity scene), which depict the scene of the birth of Christ. They are installed in churches and in private homes. During the month leading up to Christmas, there are numerous fairs selling figurines of saints. Such fairs are organized in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region, for example, in the city of Marseille since 1803, in Arles, in Aix-en-Provence, in Oban, in Chamtersier, Sisteron, Carpentras, in Draguignan, in Moens-Sartou, and also in the Langdoc-Roussillon region, in the city of Garone near Nimes, or in Vandargur.
Arriving in France - any day will become a holiday, thanks to the extraordinary atmosphere of this wonderful country!