essay about holiday in french

How Would You Describe Your Vacation in French?

By Anna Duncan

Are you planning to take a vacation in France? Do you want to impress your French friends by telling them all about your trip in their native language?

If so, then you need to learn how to describe your vacation in French. In this article, we will guide you through the process of describing your vacation in French using various vocabulary and phrases.

Vocabulary for Describing Your Vacation

Before we dive into the different ways of describing your vacation in French, let’s first look at some essential vocabulary that will help you talk about your trip:

• Les vacances – Vacation
• Voyager – To travel
• La plage – Beach
• Le soleil – Sun
• L’hôtel – Hotel
• Aller à la plage – To go to the beach
• Faire une promenade en bateau – To take a boat ride
• Découvrir de nouveaux endroits – To discover new places
• S’amuser – To have fun

Talking About Your Vacation in French

Now that you know some essential vocabulary words, let’s talk about how to describe your vacation in French.

Talking About Your Accommodation:

To describe where you stayed during your vacation, you can say:

“J’ai séjourné dans un hôtel à Paris.”

(I stayed at a hotel in Paris.)

You may also want to provide more detailed information about your accommodation, such as the location or amenities available. For example:

“Mon hôtel était situé près de la Tour Eiffel, et il avait une belle vue sur la ville.”

(My hotel was located near the Eiffel Tower, and it had a beautiful view of the city.)

Talking About Your Activities:

To describe what you did during your vacation, you can say:

“J’ai visité le Musée du Louvre et la Cathédrale Notre-Dame.”

(I visited the Louvre Museum and Notre-Dame Cathedral.)

You may also want to talk about specific activities you enjoyed during your trip. For example:

“J’ai passé une journée à la plage et fait une promenade en bateau sur la Seine.”

(I spent a day at the beach and took a boat ride on the Seine.)

Talking About Your Impressions:

To describe your overall impression of your vacation, you can say:

“J’ai adoré mes vacances en France. C’était très agréable et j’ai découvert beaucoup de nouveaux endroits intéressants.

(I loved my vacation in France. It was very enjoyable, and I discovered many interesting new places. )

Describing your vacation in French is an excellent way to impress your French friends and practice your language skills. Remember to use appropriate vocabulary words and phrases to accurately convey your experiences. With these tips, you’ll be able to describe your trip in perfect French!

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Telling your holidays in French

Drrriiiiiiing !!!

It is the start of the new school year, students and learners of French are back to lessons! 

How to restart the brain gently? Telling your holidays in French is an excellent back to school exercise to keep your mind on vacation a little longer.

Vacances Actives gives you the right tips to make the start of the new school year a pleasant one that refreshes your French as a Foreign Language (FFL) skills and stimulates exchanges!

Recounting  one’s holidays: a complete linguistic exercise

Holidays, a good subject to create an exchange and integrate.

At the start of the school year, the first lessons of the year can impress students and it is important to facilitate dialogue between them . Whether a learner is shy or not, speaking is never an easy exercise in a new group whose members you don’t know. And the task falls to the teacher to stimulate the pupils and to encourage them to speak. Recounting your holidays in French is an excellent “ice breaker” : in turn, or as part of a two-person dialogue, the pupils share their experience and describe their holiday destination. Travel, sport, leisure, geography: so many subjects that allow students and teachers to find common points and perfect topics of conversation to facilitate their integration.

A story that mobilizes a lot of knowledge in French

“En juillet, je partis à Nice et j’ai allé à la mer”. ( = with mistakes :“In July, I left for Nice and I went to the sea”. )

Coming back from vacation can be hard for the learner’s brain. We will not hold it against him, these mistakes are very common!

First of all, recounting one’s vacation requires using the concordance of times from the past. Here is an opportunity to work on the conjugation and use of the past tense, simple and imperfect past. This exercise is not suitable for all language levels, but it can be adapted with a simplified version, using only the past tense. Here is a good introduction to discover this grammatical tense, if it is on the program for the year.  

Also, recounting one’s holidays is an opportunity to express one’s preferences, feelings and emotions . ‘I liked, I preferred, I loved, I regretted, I hated…” : so many personal formulas to testify to a moment or a pleasant or not pleasant activity. This exercise opens up many possibilities for discussion. And for those who have not had the chance to go on a trip, the exchange can be oriented towards the wish, the future desire to discover a destination, or to do a particular activity. 

Describing one’s holidays: a wide range of vocabulary

The description exercise is an effective way to mobilize a lot of French vocabulary words . Many lexical fields can be used, depending on the activities and the destination in question. It is a good idea to provide students with vocabulary sheets to help them describe their vacation. The sea, the mountains, the countryside, sport, leisure, transport, accommodation, weather, geography, etc. are among the main themes that can be used for this exercise. 

In particular, very dense vocabulary supports can be found on the site: https://www.lepointdufle.net/pseigner/lexique_vacances-fiches-pedagogiques.htm#h

Exercise materials to tell about one’s holidays in French

Orally: a set of questions relating to the holidays.

In pairs or in the form of a group forum, the exercise which consists of recounting one’s holidays can be easily set up with a set of questions . It is true that at the resumption of lessons, learners generally have difficulty finding their words and developing a speech in front of others. It is up to the teacher to guide them through a framework of dialogue:

• Did you go on vacation this summer? 
• Where did you go? 
• At what period? How long ? 
• With whom did you go)? 
• How did you spend your time? What activities? What visits have you made? 
• Have you had any meetings? (a question open to several interpretations!)
• Did you speak French during the holidays? 
• What do you plan to do for the next vacation?

If the speaking is still too timid and the students are not very verbose on the subject, then an ultimate exercise can help them. The idea is to ask them to identify which student in the group has had a vacation most like theirs ! As a result, the pupils question the others in the form of a game and discover a maximum of common points. A good way to untie tongues.

In writing: essay or travel diary

For higher French as a foreign Language (FFL) levels, it is interesting to work on written expression on this question. In writing, an essay for example, the story of the holidays can be developed further but the exercise will lose its interactive and playful side. 

On the other hand, to tell their vacation, students can rely on their travel diary. This can be used as “summer homework”. The travel journal is a very effective activity for working on students’ written expression and creativity. We have devoted a generous article to it with tips and suggestions: Create your linguistic travel diary. Some teachers go so far as to organize contests within the class!

The postcard exercise

Writing a postcard is a tradition that is being lost… It is an opportunity to revive it and to suggest that the pupils tell their holidays in French in a reduced format. It only takes a few minutes for learners to address the postcard to the person of their choice.   This approach is well suited to the first levels of FLE: it allows students to give a synthetic account of their adventures. Borrowing in the telegraphic style or with a more literary tone, they use a few well-chosen words to quickly describe the destination and give their impressions. 

The teacher can play the game to the end by printing a nice photo in the appropriate format to illustrate the vacation destinations of his students, or provide a set of ready-to-use postcards!

Tell your holiday stories on Instagram !

Why not do this exercise on social media? Teachers, you can create an Instagram account dedicated to your class, and start the exercise. Students should choose and post a photo and then write a clear description. Destination, anecdotes, exciting visits… The end result: an aesthetic and complete picture illustrating the holidays for the whole FFL class, to show and share!

Summer peregrinations are an excellent topic of conversation and story to mobilize knowledge and develop French vocabulary. 

The exercise can very well be applied when returning from a language study trip, where each of the learners will share an anecdote or an opinion on the trip made. 

So many good ideas to encourage travel and learning French!

Normandy travel diary, from Cherbourg to Rouen

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Complete Guide to French Vacation ⛱

Learn the French vacation vocabulary + French to describe your holidays in France + Vacation dates and zones in France + tips form a French native.

Vacation, in French “les vacances” (always plural), is at the heart of the French culture.

With 5 weeks paid vacation for French employees, and a total of 16 weeks of vacation for French school students, France sure values her holidays.

1 – French Holiday Vocabulary

• bonnes vacances! = have a good holiday!
• bon voyage! = have a good trip!
• bonne route! = have a safe journey!
• les grandes vacances = school summer break
• partir en vacances = to go on holiday/vacation
• aller au soleil = to go under the sun
• aller à la mer = to go by the beach
• aller à la montagne = to go to the mountains (usually to ski, but maybe to hike)
• Faire ses valises = to pack
• Défaire ses valises = to unpack
• On est allés… We went… à l’hôtel – in a hotel dans un club de vacances – in a resort dans un camping – in a camping dans une auberge de jeunesse – in a youth hostel dans un gîte / une chambre d’hôte – in a B&B chez des amis – at some friend’s house.
• le départ – departure
• l’arrivée – arrival
• le trajet – the trip
• le voyage – the trip
• la douane – customs
• l’immigration – immigration
• la frontière – the border
• un passeport – passport
• un billet d’avion – plane ticket
• un ticket de train – train ticket
• une réservation – booking

2 – Expressing What Went Well or Poorly During Your Vacation in French

• On a vu… = we saw
• Le voyage/tout… s’est bien / mal passé = the trip/everything… went well / poorly
• La circulation était fluide / dense = traffic was fluid / dense
• L’avion/ le train était à l’heure / en retard = the plane / the train was on time / late
• La chambre (n’) était (pas) très confortable = the room was very comfortable (or not)
• La vue était superbe / moche (slang) = the view was great / ugly
• La nourriture était délicieuse / dégueulasse (slang) = the food was delicious / awful
• Il a fait beau / mauvais = the weather was nice / bad
• Il a fait (trop) chaud / froid = the temperature was (too) hot / cold
• Le musée était ouvert / fermé = the museum was open / close
• On a perdu nos valises = we (or someone else) lost our suitcases
• On a été volé = we were robbed
• J’ai été malade = I was sick
• Il y avait des grèves = there were strikes
• Le vol a été annulé = the flight was canceled

3 – Paid Vacation in France

The French are known to take a lot of vacations, especially if you compare them to the Americans! But is this “five weeks of paid vacation” myth really true?

Yes it is. According to Le Journal du Net, French employees take even more vacation time than that, with an average of 37 days per year, or 5.2 weeks (in 2012). There is quite a difference between French workers: a public office manager takes an average 7.4 weeks of paid vacation, versus a farm worker/ artisan who takes 4.6 weeks.

So who doesn’t take this much vacation in France? Self employed people… Shop owners, small businesses and startups – believe me, not everybody takes 5 weeks vacation in France!

However, it’s true that in general, the French really enjoy a lot of vacation time: don’t go to France in August and expect to do a lot of shopping! A lot of stores close in August – and actually in January as well, especially in smaller countryside towns.

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4 – School Vacation and School Breaks Dates in France

French kids enjoy 16 weeks of vacation (+ all the long weekends and official holidays…)

The French school vacation is divided as follows:

• France’s Summer break: “les grandes vacances”, July and August, so 8 weeks total.
• France’s Fall vacation: “les vacances de la Toussaint”, mid October, 2 weeks.
• France’s Christmas break: “les vacances de Noël”, mid December, 2 weeks.
• France’s Winter vacation: “les vacances d’hiver”, zone dependant*, February, 2 weeks.
• France’s Spring break: “les vacances de printemps”, zone dependant*, April, 2 weeks.

5 – What is the French Vacation “Zone” System?

Since 1964, France is divided into “zones” to facilitate the departure of students for vacation : France is cut into three zones (A, B, C) and the vacation time spread over one month so that there is enough room for everybody in the ski stations! I am NOT kidding…

So now, every single French household with kids has to check out this map to know which zone they now belong to, and when the vacation for their kid is going to be. And forget about meeting your Parisians cousins for the vacation if you live in Brittany… you are not in the same zone, which means you won’t have the same vacation date.

So practical!

For more info and exact French vacation dates, go to the French School Vacation Government Site .

6 – Watch Out For Ticket Prices and Driving in France During School Vacation

Of course, as soon as you hit the vacation starting / ending dates, France is in a gridlock. We call them: “les journées noires” (black days) and you should not plan on driving during these days if you don’t want to be stuck in endless traffic-jams (“les embouteillages”, “les bouchons”).

Train and plane tickets, room prices, all goes up as well.

So it’s a good thing to know about the French school vacation dates before you plan your next trip to France!

7 – French Speaking Vacation Tip – Think Club Med!

Lots of French students want to practice their French during their vacation. It’s a good idea, however:

• you have to pick your location carefully (read my article about vacationing in France )
• you need to make sure you get people to talk to – it’s not always easy to strike up a French conversation with perfect strangers… This is why I recommend you check out my immersion at French Teacher’s house programs .

However, your family may not speak French, or share your enthusiasm to visit France over and over again… Or going to France maybe too far, too complicated… So why not try “Club Med”?

As a French organization, many people speak French there, and you’ll be surrounded by a lot of French guests. Even in Florida, or the Caribbeans…

Club med now has “family” clubs, which are kid friendly – although not everybody may agree on what is PC around kids! The evening shows may be viewed as “too risqué” for very conservative families, so be aware that with French speaking people, you’ll also get a bit of French culture, humor, attitude…

8 – How do You Say “How Was Your Vacation” in French?

This is more tricky than it sounds. First, you have to memorize that the French word for vacation is always plural: les vacances, mes vacances, des vacances… The verb and adjectives will also have to be plural to match “les vacances”.

Then, to ask “how was your vacation” (or rather how were your vacations in French…) we don’t use the same construction.

• In formal French, we say: “comment se sont passées tes/vos vacances”?

Or you can use a statement and turn it into an informal question:

• “Vos/tes vacances se sont bien passées?”
• Another way is to switch it around: “vous avez / tu as passé de bonnes vacances ?”

I suggest you pick one and learn it by heart to use it yourself, but you need to know the three formulas because they are very, very common in French.

Of course, one can get creative and say: “tes/vos vacances, c’était bien ?”. It’s much simpler, but less used in French!

9 – How do You Answer “My Vacation was…” in French?

Here again, you have to watch out to keep your answer in the plural.

Your answer usually “matches” the formality of the question, but it’s not set in stones.

• Mes vacances se sont (très) bien/mal passées – My vacation was (very) good/bad.
• J’ai passé de (très) bonnes / mauvaises vacances – I had a (very) good / bad vacation.

or, much easier:

• C’était super / nul – It was great / really bad.

10 – How to say Where You Went / Are Going on Vacation in French?

[ftimmersion_ad]

You’ll start by using “aller” or “partir”.

In the past, both form their passé-composé with “être” :

• Je suis allé(e), je suis parti(e) – I went, I left
• Nous sommes allé(e)s, nous sommes parti(e)s – we went, we left

In the future, we tend to use the near future construction:

• Je vais aller, je vais partir – I’m going to go, I’m going to leave
• Nous allons aller, nous allons partir – we’re going to go, we’re going to leave

Then, what follows get complicated… I’ll sum it up here, but read my articles to know more about the French prepositions of place and how to say the date in French .

• Use à + city, en + feminine country, au + masculine country, aux + plural country. Je suis allée à Paris, en France, au Japon, aux Bahamas.
• Use en + month Je vais aller en France en juillet.

Voilà, I hope this is helpful. To learn more about French vacation vocabulary, the best is to learn in context: I suggest you check out my “ Une Semaine à Paris ” and “ Une Semaine à Paimpol ” downloadable French audiobooks, featuring:

• A fun and reachable French story, full of useful everyday vocabulary and situations, and its English translation.
• A story recorded at 2 speeds: a bit slower than normal and street French (normal for the French and featuring modern pronunciation and glidings).
• A Q&A section to practice your French out loud and check your understanding of the story.

I post new articles every week, so make sure you subscribe to the French Today newsletter – or follow me on  Facebook , Twitter  and  Pinterest .

Camille Chevalier-Karfis

Born and raised in Paris, I have been teaching today's French to adults for 25+ years in the US and France. Based on my students' goals and needs, I've created unique downloadable French audiobooks focussing on French like it's spoken today, for all levels. Come to Paimpol and enjoy an exclusive French immersion homestay with me in Brittany .

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DELF A1: Writing a Postcard or letter in french about your vacation

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How do you write a postcard or letter in french telling someone, such as a friend, about your vacation? This is a common question to be found on many french exam or test paper. Well this article a step by step guide on how to write a postcard or letter telling someone about your vacation.  

In the Production Ecrite section of your french exam such as the DELF A1 exam, you will be required to write a message, email or letter consisting of 40 to 50 words.  So lets begin!

How to plan your postcard or letter in french

It is possible to plan and practice various response to the possible exercises before the date of your exam.  In general, when you are writing a postcard there are certain information you may include, such as:

• How You went
• Where you went (montagne, plage, campagne, ville…)
• When / with whom you went
• Where or with whom are you staying? (à l’hôtel, chez l’habitant, dans un camping, dans un gîte…) Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4
• What you saw or visit/did or are doing, etc
• Are you enjoying yourself?
• What is the weather and or the place like
• When are you coming back?
• Sign your name

While it is not necessary to provide all of the above information, It is important to note that DELF exam instructions, sometimes select from the list above and specifically ask you to include such information. As a result, it is important to practice different response which will include different combination of the suggestions above. The ones highlighted in red are the basics and should almost always be included in your postcard.

Writing your postcard or letter in french

Sample exercise: writing  a postcard or letter in french about your vacation.

Exercise 1                                                                                                   15 points  

Vous êtes en vacances à Nice. Vous envoyez une petite carte postale a un ami à Paris. Vous lui parlez de temps, de vous activités et vous lui donnez votre date de retour. (40 à 50 mots).

Sample letter in french about your vacation :

Bonjour Jean,

  (Word count = 49)

Sample Exercise for You!

Salut______________,

Je suis en vacances à _____________ pour _________________. C’est une ville très ______________. je visite_________________. c’est________________. Il fait______________ . Je rentrerai chez-moi _____________________.

________________

Evaluation:

• Greetings : Bonjour Jean ( We could also use: “Salut Jean Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 ”  “ Cher Jean” . Use “Chère” only if it is a female)
• Where you are and for how long: Je suis en vacances à Nice pour cinq jours
• What you did or are doing: Hier, j’ai jou é au volley sur la plage . Maintenant, je prends le déjeuner dans un petit café.
• Are you enjoying yourself? Super!
• What is the weather and or the place like: Il fait très beau, avec beaucoup de soleil.
• When are you coming back?:  Je rentrerai chez-moi samedi prochain.
• Farewells: Bises ( We could also use: “ Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 A bientôt” “or “a samedi !” or “a la semaine prochaine !” or “au revoir”)
• Sign your name: Janet

There is agreement of adjective and verb: un petit café. Plus I have used three tenses:

• Le présent: je prends, Il fait ,
• le passé composé: j’ai jou é
• le futur: Je rentrerai .

I have included the specific information that they had asked for. I have also stayed within the word limit. 

Remember to stick to the word limit and follow the instructions that are given. If they want you to provide any specific information such as when you are coming back, the weather, what you visited etc this must be included in your postcard. You will lose points if this is not done.

Check for Errors

Remember to read carefully through your text. Check to ensure that plural words have a plural ending. Make sure that there is agreement between adjectives and the nouns they describe (such as une belle église , un beau chateau ). Check all to ensure that all verbs are in the right tense and that the endings match the subject (such as Je vais for the present but Je suis allé for the past ). Check to make sure you have followed the instructions and fully used all the structures that you have learnt during your study.

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All the French holidays, traditions, and celebrations (by month)

• Post category: Facts and history / French Holidays
• Post author: Nassie Angadi

There are 11 public holidays in France. But there are a lot more French national holidays, celebrations, and traditions during the year that don’t necessarily come with a day off.

And having lived in Paris for over 10 years now, I’ve noticed that there is a particular rhythm dictated by the calendar to French people’s lives, much more so than we have in North America.

Whether it is a jour férié (meaning “public holiday” or “bank holiday”) or not, there are certain events in the french calendar that makes everyone sit up and take notice.

French people have a lot of holidays from work , and the kids have even more holidays than the adults. This means there are a lot of periods when everybody has more of a tendency to be on holiday than others.

And even if it isn’t a day off, there are plenty of other quirky French celebrations involving crêpes, parties with neighbors, festivals of music , etc. It is part of the culture and the fabric of French society .

And you combine that with each significant day having its own tradition, and you have the French way to celebrate, if you will. So let’s uncover the main French national events and holidays, shall we? Allons-y!

How to say “Holiday” in French?

The word for public holiday is “ Jour Férié ” meaning “day off”.

1. Janvier – January

I) jour de l’an – new year’s day.

• Public holiday in France: Yes
• When: January 1st

Like the rest of Europe and the Anglo-saxon world, France follows the Gregorian calendar, meaning you get to go around at midnight on New Year’s eve wishing everybody Bonne Année and have a holiday.

French people will usually continue greeting people Bonne Année the first time they see them that year, even if they are deep into January. And along with Bonne Année , you can also add Bonne Santé , meaning “Good health”.

ii) Jour de l’Epiphanie – 3 Kings Day

• Public holiday: No
• When: First Sunday of the year

Three Kings day is not a public holiday but it is an important day in the French calendar. This is the day (or week) when French people get to pig out on a pastry from Brittany called the galette de roi.

The pastry usually has a tiny figurine called a  feuve  is hidden by the baker within the galette de roi, and the person who finds it is crowned King or Queen for the day.

iii) Winter Sales

You might think it is dreary to visit Paris in January , but the official Winter sales period ( les soldes d’hiver ) will start the 2nd week of January for four weeks. Who says there is nothing to celebrate in January?

It is a very busy time in stores, so be prepared to have your elbows out while shopping!

iv) Carnival de Limoux

It is the start of the carnival season in France with one of the oldest carnivals being held in Limoux in the Occitanie (near Toulouse and Carcassone ). It actually lasts 3 months from the end of December to the end of March /start of April .

v) Truffle Festival in Sarlat

Each year in mid-January, the town of Sarlat-la-Canéda  in the Dordogne region hosts a famous festival celebrating the truffle.

With music and festivities, along with markets selling fresh truffles and related artisanal products, you can learn everything from how to find and pick truffles to how to cook them.

vi) La Grande Odyssée Savoie Mont Blanc

La Grande Odyssée Savoie Mont Blanc is an international sled dog race spanning 900 kilometres (560 miles) in French Alps in the former duchy of Savoy (around Chambéry ).

Over 50,000 visitors head over every year to enjoy the festivities that include everything from pistes de luge to building igloos. You can read more about visiting France in January here.

2. Février – February

I) la chandeleur – candlemas day.

• When: 2 February

Like on 3 Kings Day, Candlemas is another Catholic religious event and French celebration that isn’t a public holiday, but it is nonetheless important. And that’s because it is the day to invite your French family and friends over for crêpes .

This is not to say French people don’t eat crêpes all year long, but Chandeleur is a bit of a crêpe-athon. And while crêpes are not usually served on Valentine’s day , they are still ubiquitous all month long.

☞ READ MORE: Crêpe Suzette: To Flambée or not to Flambée?

ii) Winter School Holidays

School is off for 2 weeks all across France at the end of February, beginning of March. The weeks are staggered based on the zone that the region falls into.

Two weeks off of school that means that it is time for the requisite family ski holiday! If you do plan on coming to the French Alps to ski, I recommend checking when the school holidays are and planning the best time to hit the slopes .

If you are not a skier, not to worry, there are plenty of other places to visit in France in winter . You can read more about visiting France in February here.

iii) Carnival de Nice

The Carnival de Nice is the biggest carnival in France , held over two weeks in February and March . Located on the French Riviera , the parade features the city’s boardwalk Promenade des Anglais prominently. There are several events across Mardi Gras in the downtown of Nice , with the biggest highlights being:

• Carnival Parade – held during the daytime with large floats, dancers, acrobats, confetti and more
• Carnival Parade of lights – in the evening with large illuminated floats, visual animations of big screens, and fireworks
• Flower parade and the “battle of the flowers” – large floats covered with flowers and costumes models throwing flowers into the crowds.

The original parade dates back to 1873, with the flower parades being added on in 1876. You can read more facts about Nice here.

3. Mars – March

I) fête des grands-mères – grandmother’s day.

• When: 1st Sunday in March

Unlike North America which celebrates both grandparents together in September, in France, Grandmother’s day is in March, while Grandfather’s day is in October. It was a holiday created in 1987 for commercial purposes by the coffee brand Grand’Mère , but nevertheless French people do oblige by sending Mamie a bouquet of flowers.

The usual flowers offered are those in season such as the lys or tulips, usually in white or pink. Avoid yellow or red as those colors are meant to signify passion. You can read more about France in March here.

ii) Mardi Gras in Nice and Menton

The Carnival de Nice is the biggest carnival in France , held over two weeks in February and March . Located on the French Riviera, the parade features the city’s boardwalk Promenade des Anglais, with floats, bands and music over several days.

Another famous carnival in France at around the same time is the Fête du Citron (Festival of the lemon) in Menton and is to mark the end of winter. With floats made out of lemons and a party atmosphere, this festival attracts over 200,000 people a year.

The festival dates back to 1875, and even Queen Victoria of the UK was known to have made a visit.

iii) Fêtes des Violettes

A few miles away from the coast in Provence is the small town of Tourrettes-Sur-Loup which is known for its violet confectionery and artisan shops.

Every March, this small medieval village has a big violet celebration, including farmers’ markets, parades, and even a battle of the flowers.

iv) Sarlat Fest’Oie

If you enjoy foie gras, head to Sarlat in the Dordogne where the first weekend of March a celebration of foie gras is held. Oie translates to goose in French.

With farmers’ markets selling foie gras, cooking demonstrations, and other workshops, the festival of foie gras is an interesting way to learn about this traditional French delicacy.

4. Avril – April

I) 1er avril – april fool’s day.

April fool’s day doesn’t have a special name in French; which is not to say that it is not celebrated. Known as “ 1er avril ” or “ premier avril “, it simply means the 1st of April.

Nonetheless, it is believed that the tradition of merriment on April Fool’s actually originated in France, when the French King Charles IX decided to move the start of the new year from the end of March, to the start of December.

Today, the favorite prank of French children for April fools is stick a “poisson d’avril”, meaning a paper fish, on the back of the person they are trying to prank. You can read more about April fools in France here.

ii) Lundi de Paques – Easter Monday

• When: Based on the Jewish calendar, Easter falls on the Sunday after the Passover full moon

While Good Friday is usually the public holiday in North America, in France it is Easter Monday . Only Alsace and Moselle have Good Friday off as well.

An interesting note is that there is no Easter Bunny in France. Lapin (rabbits) are considered a delicacy so it would be difficult to explain to your little Frenchie why you are eating that cute little rabbit who gave you some chocolate eggs.

iii) Spring School Holidays

It has been 6 weeks since the Winter school holidays, so time for school to be out for 2 weeks again!

No one has any idea what to do with the kids, so its off to the grandparents or the centre de loisirs (meaning “leisure center”). You can read more about France in April here.

5. Mai – May

With several public holidays in May, this is usually the month where the average French worker does the “ faire le pont “. Which is to say, if the public holiday falls on a Tuesday or Thursday, they will take a vacation day on the Monday or Friday for an extra-long weekend.

Don’t expect to get too much work done in May, because 1/2 your co-workers will probably be on holiday.

i) Fête du premier mai – Labor day

• When: May 1st

Labor day in France is not in September, but in May. It is a public holiday, and in Paris you will see large demonstrations and protests by unionists for May Day . You can read more about employee benefits in France here.

Even large museums like the Louvre will be closed on May 1st so check on their website if you are planning a visit.

In addition, the muguet flower which is known in English as the lily of the valley, is traditionally offered in France at the start of May as a token of the coming spring and to bring good luck .

ii) Jour de la Victoire en Europe – Victory in Europe day

• When: May 8th

The end of World War II in Europe is an important holiday in France. With older generations still able to recount the wartime horrors in France , the day is marked with military memorials with foreign leaders.

iii) Jour de l’Ascension – Ascension Day

• When: Thursday, the fortieth day after Easter

It is the 3rd public holiday in May, so many people “faire le pont”, which is take a “bridge” vacation day to string together a longer holiday. If you are a business trying to get some work done in May, be prepared to have a good percentage of your coworkers on holiday.

iv) Fête des Voisins – Neighbors’ Day

• When: Last Friday in May

It is not a holiday, but an evening when you are supposed to get together with the neighbors in your building for a moment of conviviality. It is usually organized in potluck style, with everyone bringing a little something.

v) Fête des Mères – Mother’s Day

• When: Last Sunday in May, except if it conflicts with Pentecôte (decreed by French government

French people love their moms, too so it is Mother’s day ! The standard greeting to your French maman is Bonne fête Maman ! with flowers and/or some chocolates. You can read more about May in France here.

6. Juin – June

I) lundi de pentecôte – pentecost.

• When: 50 days after Easter

Another Catholic holiday, which is also called Whit Sunday in the U.K. In France it is mostly just a holiday in June to recover after all the May holidays, before the big summer vacation starts.

ii) Fête de la Musique – Festival of Music

• When: June 21st

It is not a public holiday, but it is a day to mark on the calendar nonetheless. All over France, and especially Paris will turn into a giant music street festival. Small bands, musicians, and just about anyone and everyone will take to a street corner to play their favorite hits.

The party goes on late into the night in Paris, so wear your walking shoes so that you can band hop with the locals.

iii) Summer sales

If you missed the soldes d’hiver (winter sales) back in January, have no fear, it is time for the soldes d’été ! The summer sales start in the last week of June and run for 4 weeks during the dog days of summer. You can read more about June in France here.

iv) French Open Tennis Tournament (Roland Garros)

If you are in Paris, you can catch the final rounds of the Roland Garros French tennis open which began in late May and wraps up in early June.

The tournament is named after the French aviator Roland Garros, and is played at Stade Roland Garros near Bois de Boulogne in the 16th arrondissement of Paris .

7. Juillet – July

I) end of school.

Surprisingly, School in France doesn’t end until the 1st week in July, although older children (high school) have usually finished their annual exams and are in cruise control. There is not much that goes on in school after the end of June.

ii) 14 Juillet – Bastille Day

• When: 14th of July

Interestingly, the date of the French Revolution (in 1789) is simply called by its date, Quatorze Juillet , and not Bastille Day as anglophones call it. The term “Bastille day” doesn’t really mean anything to the French.

The day is usually marked in Paris by a giant military parade with tanks, military regiments, horses, etc. The President of France usually hosts a foreign leader and gives a speech proclaiming “ Vive la France! ” and with the playing of the national anthem .

The crowd favorite, however, is always the traditional flyover by the different types of aircraft in the French Air Force. (Note there are no celebrations around the actual Place de la Bastille. )

Pro-tip: You will usually hear them practicing overhead on July 13th, from over La Défense over to the Champs Elysées and back.

You can read more about how French people celebrate Bastille day here.

iii) Juilletiste – July holidaymaker

There are two types of people in France: the Juilletiste and the Aoûtien . Those who take their annual 3 weeks off in July, and those who do so in August.

If you are impatient, you take off July, when prices are slightly cheaper. Otherwise, you try to maximize your summer in the city, waiting for your August holidays. You can read more about July in France here.

iv) Le Tour de France

The most prestigious bike race , the Tour de France starts on the 1st of July and runs all through the country. It starts at a different location every year and consists of 21 stages, each a day long, over the course of 23 days.

The final stage and grand finalé always in Paris, with the winner awarded the yellow jersey on the Avenue des Champs Elysées in front of cheering crowds.

8. Aout – August

I) jour de l’assomption – assumption day.

• Public Holiday in France: Yes
• When: 15 August

For Catholics, this is the day when the Virgin Mary goes to heaven. For most French people, it is a day off in the middle of August that doesn’t count against their work-vacation allotment.

It was  Napoleon Bonaparte  in 1802, who established these religious days as national holidays, one for each season:

• Ascension in spring (May)
• Assumption in summer (August)
• All Saints in autumn (November)
• Christmas in winter.

ii) Festival Interceltique in Lorient 

Every year the town of Lorient in Brittany has a festival owing to its Celtic past , that attracts over 700,000 festival-goers from all over Europe. The festival is usually held in the 2nd week of August, with Celtic music and marching bands on feature.

With plenty of good food and dancing, this is a real celebration of Gaul and Celtic culture in a land where the Breton celtic language is still spoken.

iii) Aoûtien – August Holidaymaker

It is the dog days of summer in France when most people take their 3 weeks off. (Remember, most places in France don’t have airconditioning .) Cities like Paris are empty, abandoned to the tourists.

If you are a July holidaymaker who has returned to work in August, you are expecting very slow days at work, where almost everything is at a standstill.

In addition, if you are in a larger city, you may find that outside the tourist places that are open, many of the restaurants and shops nearby are also on their annual holiday.

iv) Fête du Jasmin in Grasse

The perfume town of Grasse celebrates the Fête du Jasmin or La Jasminade every August , which is always fun to watch.

Decorated floats drive through the town, with people throwing flowers into the crowd. Garlands of jasmine decorate the town center, and there are also fireworks, parties, and street performers.

9. Septembre – September

I) jour de rentrée – back to school day.

• Public holiday: No *
• When: First Monday in September

The big day back to school ! And for adults to get back to the grindstone! If there are projects at work that you have been putting off all summer, you now have to get back to it. ( Read more about la Rentrée. )

* Note: The day itself is not a holiday, but most companies have negotiated with their union to provide the day off for parents of small children. French parents usually take the day off to drop their kids off school, (though you do not get 2 days off if you have 2 small children!)

ii) Journées du Patrimoine – Heritage Day

• Public Holiday: No
• When: 3rd weekend in September

This is not a day off, per se, but rather a weekend to go behind closed doors. Most major government buildings and institutions will open their doors to visitors all weekend long. Lines are usually long for favorites such as the Palais Elysées (official residence of the French President) , Assemblée Nationale , and the television studios of France 2 (the French equivalent of the BBC).

If you plan on going to any of the hotspots, be prepared to line up as early as 6am, if not earlier. You can read more about France in September here.

iii) Braderie de Lille (Lille flea market)

With over 10,000 exhibitors in the streets, the city of Lille in the north of France hosts the world’s largest flea market. It is usually held the first weekend of September, attracting millions of people every year.

It is believed that the first annual flea markets in Lille date back to 1127 and is a big festival in the city. With various stands, local foods, a half-marathon, and parties late into the night, there is something for everyone.

iv) Féria du Riz in Arles

If you enjoy a good paella, you will want to head to the Camargue and the city of Arles near the French-Spanish border . It is usually held in the 2nd week of September (as well as in April ) and is a bull-fighting festival that takes place to celebrate the rice harvest.

The rice used in a paella is a short grain rice that is grown in the department of the Camargue which has a strong Spanish influence.

v) Fête de la Gastronomie

A newer festival around France is the Fête de la Gastronomie . It is an initiative of the Ministry of Crafts, Trade and Tourism launched in 2011, and is celebrated in the last week of September.

It takes place throughout France and is meant to promote the French culinary heritage . Some smaller towns and villages will promote their local fares, but it has yet to catch on with restaurants in larger cities like Paris.

More common is local and artisan food markets that will hold special events to promote their produce. Lyon , which is considered the French capital of gastronomy, holds a street food festival with tastings, picnics and other festivities.

vi) Montgolfières in Rocamadour

In the last weekend of September, a spectacular sight takes place in Rocamadour, a small clifftop village in south-central France .

Around 30 hot air balloons take flight over the valley to pay tribute to the inventors of the Montgolfières , the Montgolfier brothers who were from nearby Ardéche.

10. Octobre – October

I) fête des grands-pères.

• Public holiday : No
• When: 1st Sunday in October

The grandparents may not be celebrated together, but Grandfather’s day only dates back to 2008. Being a newer holiday, there is no particular tradition of gifts for Papy , so you can wish him as you please.

ii) Fall School holidays

School may have just started in September, but 6 weeks after the 1st day of school, it is school holidays again! Kids are off school for 2 weeks from the end of October to the start of November, depending on their region. Time for a fall holiday somewhere, if the parents can afford to take some time off.

French adults usually have on average 6-8 weeks holiday , but it is not enough to make off for all their kids’ school holidays. Time to send the kids to the centre de loisirs (leisure center) or call in the grandparents!

iii) Nuit Blanche in Paris

Inspired by the 1989, Helsinki’s Night of the Arts, Nuit Blanche in Paris is is a special event when art takes over the city. Every art gallery and museum is open until midnight or later and artists are invited to install their creations on the street for passersby and art lovers everywhere to admire.

Nuit blanche translates to “white night”, and is the French expression for the all-nighter. The French nuit blanche has now been exported to over 120 countries across the world.

iv) Fête de la Bière – Oktoberfest in Alsace

The region of Alsace has been fought over by France and Germany for centuries . It only finally became part of France after WWII. So it stands to reason that the region would keep some of its German traditions , among them being Oktoberfest.

It is held in Strasbourg and Colmar and various small villages in the area with large beer gardens with plenty of singing, sausages, and sauerkraut. You can also visit the Alsace wine route at the same time, which should just be wrapping up their yearly wine harvest .

v) Lumière Film festival in Lyon

Celebrating the Lumière brothers who invented the cinema as we know it, is the Lumière film festival that is held every October in Lyon.

While smaller than the Cannes and Deauville film festivals, it is still features hundreds of French and foreign films.

vi) Halloween

As I mentioned, Halloween on October 31st is not really celebrated in France. The 1st day of November, or All Saints’ day , is a public holiday however.

You will not see kids going door-to-door trick-or-treating. And even if they did, there would likely be no candy. French neighbors don’t stock up on candy on Oct 31st, so I know other North American moms who go and drop off little bags of candy at their neighbors to subsequently hand out.

There are a few small parties that are held among expat groups, but certainly not the big celebration that you would see in North America. You can read more about Halloween in France here.

vii) Fêtes des Sorcières

These days, several cities in France celebrate the Fête des Sorcières , festival of witches towards the end of October. If you are interested in attending, the biggest ones are in:

• Lille (Haut de France)
• Chalindrey (Grand Est)
• Morbecque (Haut de France)
• Pennes Mirabeau (Provence)

You can read more about France in October here.

11. Novembre – November

I) la toussaint – all saints’ day.

• When: November 1st

Halloween on October 31st may not be celebrated in France , but its historical cousin All Saint’s day is.

Known as  Toussaint  in French, it is an occasion to remember the dead. Chrysanthemums are laid on gravestones of the dearly departed. (For those superstitious , these flowers are never offered to the living.)

ii) Jour anniversaire de l’Armistice – Armistice Day

• When: November 11th

The anniversary of the end of the First World War is marked with solemnity here in France. Having been invaded in both WWI and WWII, the day is a national holiday with remembrance services being held on the Arc de Triomphe and Champs Elysées.

iii) Jour de Beaujolais Nouveau – Beaujolais Nouveau day

• Public Holiday in France: No
• When: 3rd Thursday of November

If you have been in Paris on the 3rd Thursday of November , you will have seen the signs announcing that the “ Beaujolais Nouveau est arrivé! ” (meaning “the Beaujolais Nouveau has arrived”). One of the quirkier French celebrations, this one is all about the wine harvest .

The Beaujolais Nouveau is a young wine that doesn’t need to be aged, so local vineyards would race to press their grapes into wine and rush it up to Paris to be the 1st.

A marketing strategy but one that worked, because Beaujolais Nouveau is now celebrated in many other cities like London and New York as well.

iv) Fetes des Vins de Chablis

The village of chablis in the Bourgogne (Burgundy) festival has its annual festival to celebrate the chablis wine harvest in November. The chablis is a white wine made from the Chardonnay grape.

Local producers gather in the heart of the village to offer tastings and enter their wines in local competitions under a festive atmosphere.

v) Fête du Hareng in Normandy

If you like fish, several towns in Normandy like Dieppe, Fécamp, Tréport, and Saint-Valéry-en-Caux celebrate the Fête du Hareng (Herring festival) every November .

Considered the “King of Fish”, it is a big part of the culture and economy in Normandy. As the French history lesson goes, it was 1429 during the 100 year war. The city of Orleans was under attack and besieged by the English.

Somehow, the French managed to cut off the food supply wagons of herring destined for the invading English, and after a famous battle, managed to liberate the city. All because of the herring.

You can taste it in all its forms during the festival, but the classic version is herring marinated and grilled, with a little lemon or white wine.

vi) Festival de la Soie (Silk Festival) in Lyon

The city of Lyon used to be known for its silk industry, and this savoir faire is still celebrated with Festival de la Soie every November. Local exhibitors will present original and modern designs demonstrating their craftmanship and creativity.

The show attracts professionals and amateurs who wish to participate in demonstrations and learn about these age-old techniques.

vii) Salon du Cheval de Paris

Salon du Cheval de Paris (Paris Horse Show) is an annual event dedicated to horses and riding with over 450 exhibitors and 2,000 horses. The event occurs each November, gathering around 150,000 visitors over ten days.

You can read more about visiting France in November here.

12. Décembre – December

i) Fête des Lumières in Lyon

The festivities start in early December when the city of Lyon lights up its major landmarks with a magnificent festival of lights. Special shows with music and illuminations are held every night for 3 days in the 2nd week of December, attracting millions of visitors.

ii) Foire de la Saint André in Annecy

Held the first Tuesday of December in Annecy , the Fair of Saint Andre dates back over 5 centuries. More than 1,100 traders covering over 5km over the city set up shop, attracting tens of thousands of visitors.

iii) Réveillon de Noël – Christmas Eve

• When: December 24th

Schools are usually closed during this period (see school holidays below), but most businesses are open, with offices usually letting people off work at 3-4 pm. Traffic is usually quite crazy in the Greater Paris Area at this time.

iv) Jour de Noël – Christmas Day

• When: December 25th

France is a secular country, but Christmas is Christmas. There are many French Christmas traditions , but it is the traditional dinner that is the most important.

A French Christmas family dinner will on average lasts 4-5 hours. (Time measured by my own statistical study, of course.) It usually takes place on Christmas eve or Christmas day lunch and will feature everything from seafood to foie gras, several different types of wine and champagne, and much much more. Better have some stretchy pants handy!

☞ READ MORE: Top French Christmas carols that will fill you with some festive spirit

Note: there is no Boxing Day in France on December 26th because as mentioned above, the official Winter sales period ( les soldes d’hiver ) will start the 2nd week of January.

v) Marché de Noël

If you live in France, you know Christmas is coming once you start seeing the booths being installed in your town or neighborhood.

The most famous Marché de Noël in France is the one in Strasbourg , but the one next to the Champs Elysées in Paris is not too shabby either.

With small rides, Christmas trees for sale, and everything from cheese , meats, lavender products , and any other artisanal product you can think of, these little Christmas markets will put a smile on anyone’s face.

Enjoy a raclette cheese sandwich and a vin chaud (or a non-alcoholic version ) while you do your Christmas shopping. You will also find many towns setting up small ice skating rinks outdoors over the holiday season, which are usually offered for free to small children.

vi) Festive Shop windows

Many of the large department stores, especially the ones in Paris , will have elaborate festive windows that are sure to please young and old. Shops like Galerie Lafayette and Printemps in Paris are known for their custom holiday windows, and it does get quite crowded with children.

Special Christmas offers are sometimes also on display, although the big sale season is usually in January .

vii) Christmas School holidays

Well it is Christmas and New Year, so time to give everybody some time off! The last week of December and 1st week of January (2 weeks) are usually off for all school children.

Time for more help from the grandparents. You can read more about December in France here.

viii) Réveillon du Nouvel An – New Year’s Eve

• When: December 31st

New Year’s eve is also known as la Saint-Sylvestre after Pope Sylvestre I. For most local Parisians, the tendency is to go to someone’s house for a party rather than go on the Champs Elysées (which is reserved for tourists), or an expensive dinner out.

Note: There are no fireworks at the Eiffel Tower , the festivities are on the Champs Elysées. So go for an apéro-style drinks and dinner with friends, and then counting down late into the night… It is New Year’s Eve, baby!

How to say “Happy Holidays” in French”?

To generally wish someone “happy holidays” when they are going off on vacation, the phrase in French is “ Bonne Vacances “. However, if you are saying “happy holidays” to wish someone for the Christmas holidays, then the phrase in French is “ Joyeuses fêtes “.

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TALK ABOUT HIS VACATIONS IN FRENCH

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In this video, I tell you about my vacation in French. The goal is to show you how I talk about my vacation so that you can be inspired to do the same. Telling your vacation story is a great exercise to improve your French.

Test your understanding of the video. Take the quiz about my vacations in Bulgaria!

• She already lives in Bulgaria, she came by car.
• We arrived at the same time
• We ordered dishes.
• We ordered a drink.
• I told my friend about my day.
• We talked about the program of our three-day stay in Sofia.
• Hitchhiking
• A monastery
• The castle of the former queen of Romania
• A monument of the communist era
• A medieval fortress
• Eating ice cream
• Dining in restaurants
• A Bulgarian cocktail
• A Bulgarian yogurt
• Fish caught on the island
• The plovdiv, a Bulgarian specialty

Hello to all of you. I hope that you are doing well and that your learning of French is going well.

So today, I will tell you about my vacations in French. The goal of this video is for you to learn new expressions, new phrases, new vocabulary so that you too can tell your vacation in French. Don't hesitate to comment the words or expressions you don't understand so that I can explain them to you. You can also go to www.hellofrench.com to find the transcript of the video, so the text of the video, the vocabulary associated with the video, so I'll explain all the useful words to tell your vacations in French. And also, you can find a quiz to test your understanding of what I'm going to tell you about my vacations. Last year, I went on vacation in Bulgaria. I went with a friend. We made a road trip in the whole country by car. I I left Paris so I have flew in in Paris to go to Sofia and my friend was taking off of Brussels.

I was the first to arrive at the airport of Sofia. Once I have retrieved my suitcase I have been buy a metro ticket to go to the city center . Once in the center of Sofia, I used Google Maps to find the hotel that we had booked. At the hotel, I went to the reception and I spoke with the person at the front desk who gave me the keys to the room and who also gave me a map of the city.

We talked a bit, she told me about the sites to visit , of bars of restaurants that could be nice. I took advantage of the day by myself to walk around, to start visit the city waiting for my friend. In the evening, when she joined me, we went to a restaurant that I had booked during the day. We started by having a cocktail and I was able to tell him about my discoveries about the city. We spent three days in Sofia visiting the different cultural sites: museums, churches, parks and to walk around.

We also have tasted to many local specialties . At the end of the three days, we then rented a car to begin to visit the country and especially go to the sea . On the way to the sea, we stopped to visit different villages, different towns or monuments .

For example, we stopped in a town called Veliko Tarnovo to visit a medieval fortress. We also visited on top of a hill a monument dating from the communist era that looked like a huge flying saucer . Once we arrived at the sea, we stopped in the city of Balchik.

It is a very touristic city, because there is a castle, the castle of the former queen of Romania. She used to spend her vacations at the sea in this city. The castle is surrounded by a huge botanical garden and both the gardens and the castle overlook the beach and the sea. It is really beautiful. Then we went to a seaside resort for a few days. The goal was really to enjoy the beach. So we mostly tanned always with Sunscreen and an umbrella .

In the evening, we made walks by the sea and we dined in restaurants having cocktails or eating ice cream on the seaside. We then went to an island or rather a peninsula. It is a very very tourist But once we found some small streets with calm, it was really very pretty. So, we spent one evening on this peninsula where we had dinner in a restaurant which overhung the sea.

It was really beautiful and above all, we could taste our first and famous Bulgarian yogurt. It was really delicious. Then, we took the car again and we went for two days in the second biggest city of the country, Plovdiv. There was not much to visit, but we liked the atmosphere very much. There were a lot of young people, a lot of small bars, small restaurants on the terrace. Then, we took the car back to Sofia to return the car to the rental agency.

We then took advantage of the few hours we had left to go back to the places we had loved before going back to the airport to take our flights .

I hope you enjoyed this video, that you were able to learn some new vocabulary about the vacations. New words. Feel free to like this video if you liked it and follow the channel to see other videos. See you soon and have a good vacation!

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16 Important Holidays in French

When you’re planning your move to France, or even just a vacation, you’ll want to take French holidays into consideration. But don’t just avoid them, embrace them: Each one  can provide a unique cultural experience.

Don’t sweat the details, because I’ve put together a handy primer on French holidays that’ll be all you need to prepare. Here are the quintessential 16 French holidays, when they occur and what to expect for each.

1. Le Jour de ‘An — New Year’s Day

2. la fête des rois — epiphany, 3. vendredi saint — good friday, 4. pâques — easter, 5. lundi de pâques — easter monday , 6. la fête de travail — labor day, 7. la fête de la victoire — victory in europe day, 8. jour de l’ascension — ascension day, 9. lundi de pentecôte — whit monday, 10. la fête des mères — mother’s day, 11. fête des pères — father’s day, 12. la fête nationale — bastille day, 13. l’assomption de marie —  assumption day, 14. la toussaint — all saint’s day, 15. l’armistice de la première guerre mondiale — armistice day, 16. le noël — christmas, and one more thing....

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On this holiday—and after midnight the night before—you can find French people out enjoying fireworks and champagne. They’ll likely be saying Bonne année! (Happy New Year) to one another at big midnight feasts known as réveillon, parties whose name comes from the verb réveiller (to wake up).

Besides a large meal involving pancakes or foie gras, there will also be dancing and possibly a kiss under the mistletoe.

This holiday honors the story of the Three Wise Men from the East, who were guided by a star to visit the newly born Jesus, bringing gifts in tow.

On this day, French people enjoy eating an elaborate cake called a galette de roi (king cake), which contains a secret: a special charm called a  fève (bean) concealed inside the cake. The person who finds it gets to be king or queen for the day!

Friday before Easter

Good Friday is a religious holiday that honors the crucifixion of Jesus. In France, the holiday is marked by religious services, including processions and the reading of the “Passion of the Christ.”

Traditionally, Good Friday is a day of fasting and abstinence in France, and many people choose to refrain from eating meat.

First Sunday after spring equinox

In France, Easter is a time for family gatherings and feasting. One of the most popular Easter traditions is the decoration of Easter eggs, which are often dyed in bright colors. These eggs are then hidden for children to find in a game called chasse aux œufs (egg hunt).

Another well loved tradition is the baking of a sweet bread called pain de Pâques (Easter bread). This bread is often shaped like a lamb or a cross, and is often flavored with orange blossom or lavender water.

Monday after Easter

This holiday is also known as la journée des œufs (the day of eggs).

In rural parts of France, there are traditions that involve cracking or tapping decorated eggs together as a sign of friendship or good luck.

In some regions, there are also Easter Monday parades and processions, featuring floats, music, and traditional costumes.

Also known as May Day, this holiday honors working people and labor organizations.

The day is typically marked by rallies that focus on issues such as workers’ rights, employment opportunities and social justice.

Another important tradition associated with the holiday is the giving of muguet (lily-of-the-valley flowers). It’s common to offer small bouquets of these fragrant flowers to friends as a symbol of good luck.

On this day in 1945, Charles de Gaulle announced the surrender of Germany and the end of World War II in Europe.

In France, it’s both a joyous and a somber holiday, as French citizens celebrate their freedom while simultaneously mourning the effects of the long war and the Nazi occupation.

Schools and businesses are closed on this holiday, which is commemorated with patriotic parades and church services.

40 days after Easter

A holiday to mark Jesus’s ascension into heaven, in France this holiday is often a day for outdoor activities and family gatherings. 

One popular activity on this holiday is montée de la colline (hill climbing), which is hiking to the top of a nearby hill or mountain. 

Seventh Monday after Easter

In France, this is a day for relaxation and outdoor activities. In some regions, there are also local festivals and fairs, featuring music, food and traditional activities.

One unique tradition associated with the holiday is the Pentecôte à Vélo (Pentecost by Bike) event. This involves organized bike rides through the countryside or urban areas, with stops at local landmarks.

Last Sunday in May

Back in the 19th century, there was a movement to encourage more mothers to have large families in light of France’s declining population. That event led to this holiday for celebrating mothers.

Mothers of more than eight children are eligible to receive an honorary “ Médaille de la Famille”  (family medal) each year on Mother’s Day.

And as in English-speaking countries, it’s traditional for children to honor their mothers on this day with handmade gifts and cards.

Shops will be open today.

Third Sunday in June

On this day, French children celebrate their fathers by presenting them with adorable homemade gifts.

Interestingly, Father’s Day in France as it’s known today was founded in 1949 by a company called Flaminaire to promote their cigarette lighters.

Father’s Day isn’t a public holiday, so you’ll still find businesses with normal Sunday hours.

On this date in 1789, the storming of a French prison called the Bastille occurred, which triggered the French Revolution.

No matter where you are in France, there will be parades and fireworks. The largest and most renowned of these takes place along the Champs-Élysées in Paris. It’s widely considered to be the largest military parade in Europe.

This is the national holiday of France, so you should expect all businesses to be closed as almost everyone takes the day off to celebrate.

This holiday celebrates the Catholic tradition of the Virgin Mary going to heaven. 

It’s considered a “Holy Day of Obligation,” meaning that any devout Catholic is expected to attend mass on this day.

One popular tradition is visiting Lourdes, where it’s believed a young girl named Bernadette saw a vision of Mary way back in 1858.

This is the day when the French people honor the memory of deceased relatives, as well as Catholic saints.

The celebration actually begins the night before on All Hallow’s Eve, coinciding with Halloween.

People celebrate by visiting the graves of their loved ones to leave flowers (usually chrysanthemums) or lighting candles.

November 11

This is a solemn holiday of remembrance for those who lost their lives in World War I, as well as other wars throughout history.

It marks the date in 1918 when a treaty was signed between Germany and the Allied forces, putting an end to World War I.

Church services and military parades are common ways of celebrating this holiday. Wreaths are laid at war monuments throughout the country, especially at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the Arc de Triomphe in Paris.

December 25

On this holiday, many people decorate Christmas trees with lights and ornaments, or set up nativity scenes depicting the birth of Jesus in a manger.

People also exchange gifts or attend one of the many Christmas markets throughout France. The markets have handmade crafts, local foods and festive entertainment. They’re often held in historic town squares, adding to the magical atmosphere of Christmas in France.

In some parts of France, the celebrations actually begin with St. Nicholas Day on December 6.

And there you have it—the complete list of holidays in French you need to plan and prepare for before taking a trip.

With this handy guide, get ready to celebrate and embrace all that French culture has to offer.

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What are the Holidays and Celebrations in France?

In France, we know how to celebrate life on many occasions! Whether you visit Paris or the Province, holidays and celebrations in France will bring an ‘exotic taste’ to your stay.

Did you know the French annual calendar is punctuated with eleven bank holidays and several religious, civil, and commemorative celebrations?

I hope this article will give you insights into what to expect on your next travel to France!

🎥 Watch this short video about the Holidays and Celebrations in France:

Traditions and Celebrations in France

To make life more pleasant, people participated in many festivals in the kingdom of France.

Indeed, there were more than a hundred days of festivities during the year!

In addition, every event in the family (engagement, marriage, birth, baptism and even death) was an excellent occasion to bring relatives and a few friends together.

Thus, during the Middle Ages, people gathered according to a strict calendar.

And, contrary to what we know today, summer was not a time of festivities.

No summer holidays in the Middle Ages!

Peasants knew that with summer would come the season of heavy work. On Midsummer’s Day , at the end of June, they would gather for one last big party (fête de la Saint-Jean or St. John’s Day).

Fires were lit to celebrate the longest day. Young men practised jumping over the flames.

Between Midsummer’s Day (late June) and St. Michael’s Day (late September), everyone was busy working in the fields, fighting in the war or training for the military.

Traditional festivals in France

Most holidays are sacred. However, religion has often preserved ancient pagan customs, which were attached, for example, to the worship of the sun (the winter solstice at Christmas and the summer solstice on Midsummer’s Day).

In contrast to the summer, festive days are much more frequent in winter and spring.

For example, the Christmas period lasted twelve days with the Feast of the Innocents, the Feast of the Fools, and New Year’s Eve , and ended with the Feast of the Kings with its traditional galette des Rois .

Later on, the following events would take place:

• Candlemas (Chandeleur) – and its candlelight procession,
• Shrove Tuesday (Mardi Gras), the last feast day before Lent
• The first Sunday of Lent (le Dimanche de la Quadragésime), when tradition has it fires are lit to dance around before going through the streets and the countryside carrying lit torches or firebrands.
• Easter (Pâques),
• And many others until Pentecost Sunday .

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Major Holidays and Celebrations in France

Holidays and celebrations in France are integral to the country’s popular culture.

Public Holidays in France

The French observe 11 official public holidays.

5 of them are civil holidays :

• New Year’s Day  (Jour de l’An),
• May Day  (1er Mai or Fête du Travail),
• Victory in Europe Day (8 mai 1945),
• Bastille Day  (Fête Nationale), and
• WWI Armistice Day  (Armistice du 11 novembre 1918).

6 public holidays have a religious origin based on the Catholic faith:

• Easter Monday  (lundi de Pâques),
• Ascension Day  (Jeudi de l’Ascension),
• Whit Monday  (Lundi de Pentecôte), 
• Assumption Day (Assomption),
• All Saints’ Day (Toussaint), and
• Christmas (Noël).

Besides, people living in the two départements of Bas-Rhin and Haut-Rhin in Alsace and the Lorraine département of Moselle enjoy two additional public holidays :

• Good Friday  (Vendredi Saint), and
• St. Stephen’s Day (Saint-Etienne – known as Boxing Day in English-speaking countries).

This is due to historical reasons, such as when the three départements were returned to France in 1918. 

Celebrations in France

Every season has its share of celebrations and festivals.

• Epiphany (Epiphanie)
• Candlemas (Chandeleur)
• Mardi-Gras & Carnivals (Carnaval)
• Valentine’s Day (Saint-Valentin)
• April Fools’ Day (1er avril)
• Europe’s Day (Journée de l’Europe)
• Mothers’ Day (Fête des Mères)
• Fathers’ Day (Fête des Pères)
• Feast of Saint John (Fête de la Saint-Jean)
• World Music Day (Fête de la Musique)

Holidays and Celebrations in France: local events

Some celebrations in France are local events, including sporting events. Here’s a (very) small list.

Folk Festivals in France

• Lemon Festival in Menton (Fête du citron de Menton)
• Nice Carnival (Carnaval de Nice)
• International Kite Festival of Berck-sur-Mer
• Transhumance Festival in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence
• Rouen Armada
• Grande Braderie of Lille
• Mondial Air Ballons  festival in Lorraine
• European Heritage Days (Journées européennes du patrimoine)
• Return from the alpine pastures  (Fête des Alpages)
• Wine harvest festivals in Alsace (Fête du Vin or Fête des Vendanges)

Christmas and End of Year Festivals

• Christmas market of Strasbourg (Marché de Noël de Strasbourg)
• Saint-Nicolas celebrations in Nancy
• Foire aux Santons in Marseille 
• Festival of Lights in Lyon (Fête des Lumières de Lyon)

Music, Theatre and Film Festivals

• Cannes Film Festival
• Deauville American Film Festival
• Festival of Avignon
• Inter-Celtic Festival of Lorient

Sporting Events in France

• Easter Feria of Arles
• Monaco Grand Prix (Grand Prix de Monaco)
• Roland Garros French Open in Paris
• The 24 Hours of Le Mans (Les 24 Heures du Mans)
• Tour de France cyclist race
• Vendée Globe (a single-handed non-stop round-the-world yacht race starting and ending in Les Sables d’Olonne)

Due to the pandemic, most of these events were cancelled in 2020 and 2021 for the first time since World War II.

In conclusion, France has a variety of festivals, each of which has its own unique activities and ways of celebrating. Many people seek distinctive and meaningful ways to commemorate these special days. Custom holiday enamel pins are a great way to add a personal touch to your celebration. Whether you want to create keepsakes for family, gifts for friends, or promotional items for your business, Enamelpins.com offers a versatile and affordable option.

Holidays and Celebrations in France and the Food Culture

In France, the tapestry of holidays is vividly coloured by a delectable array of culinary traditions, each celebration marked by its distinct flavours and dishes.

Christmas food traditions

Christmas , or ‘Noël’, is perhaps the most enchanting, where tables across the country groan under the weight of festive delicacies. Central to the Christmas feast is the ‘Réveillon,’ a sumptuous meal that brings families together, featuring iconic dishes like ‘foie gras,’ ‘coquilles Saint-Jacques,’ and the ‘ bûche de Noël ‘, a yule log-shaped cake symbolizing warmth and togetherness.

The New Year ushers in Epiphany , celebrated with the ‘ galette des rois ‘, a flaky pastry filled with frangipane. Hidden within is a ‘fève,’ a small charm, bestowing luck and kingship for a day upon the finder.

Winter food traditions

As February arrives, Candlemas , or ‘Chandeleur’, ushers in a sweet tradition of flipping crêpes , symbolising prosperity and joy. These thin, golden pancakes, often enjoyed with a sprinkle of sugar or a smear of chocolate paste, fill homes with warmth during the chill of winter.

Mardi-Gras , the last hurrah before Lent, is a carnival of taste, celebrated with ‘crêpes’, ‘ gaufres ‘ (waffles), and ‘ beignets ‘, sugary confections that mirror the day’s indulgent spirit.

Spring food traditions

Easter , or ‘Pâques’, brings its own culinary magic, particularly with the ‘gigot d’agneau’ (roast lamb) as a centrepiece and chocolate in myriad forms, from elegantly crafted eggs to playful chocolate bells or bunnies, delighting both the young and young at heart.

Baptisms or first communions are sweetened with ‘dragées’, almond candies symbolizing purity, while weddings feature the magnificent ‘pièce montée’, symbolising marital unity.

Each of these celebrations, deeply rooted in French culture, showcases the country’s love affair with food, where every holiday is an opportunity to gather, feast, and revel in the joy of culinary heritage.

Global Influences on French Festive Traditions

The landscape of French celebrations, steeped in rich traditions, has been subtly yet significantly reshaped by globalisation. This blending of global and local has led to intriguing cultural adaptations.

Anglo-Saxon holidays

Halloween , initially an American import, now sees French children donning costumes and partaking in trick-or-treating, a stark contrast to France’s historically subdued autumn celebrations.

Black Friday , another American export, has surged in popularity, altering the traditional French shopping calendar with its focus on deep discounts and holiday sales.

In recent years, St. Patrick’s Day has begun to capture the French imagination. While not traditionally celebrated in France, this Irish holiday has gained attention, especially in larger cities, with pubs and some communities embracing the festive spirit, green decorations, and perhaps a pint of Guinness, symbolising a growing appreciation for multicultural festivities.

Christmas traditions evolving in France

The essence of Christmas in France , too, has evolved. Since the mid-20th century, the traditional values of this beloved holiday have been infused with new influences, most notably the figure of Santa Claus , a concept popularised by American culture. This jolly, gift-giving Santa has become central in French Christmas celebrations, merging with the country’s ‘Père Noël’ tradition.

Moreover, the appearance of German-style Christmas markets in every large town in France marks a significant cultural import. These markets, with their quaint wooden chalets, twinkling lights, and an array of handcrafted goods and traditional foods, offer a festive atmosphere reminiscent of the German ‘ Christkindlmarkt .’ This adoption adds to the holiday charm and reflects a broader openness to cultural exchange and the blending of European traditions.

Easter traditions: Bell or Bunny?

Furthermore, in a subtle yet telling shift within Easter traditions , many French households are increasingly embracing the chocolate bunny, a symbol more commonly associated with Anglo-Saxon Easter celebrations, alongside or in place of the traditional chocolate bells, reflecting a broader trend of cultural exchange and the adoption of international symbols in French festive practices.

These changes highlight a dynamic interplay between preserving French cultural identity and adapting to global influences. They underscore how French celebrations evolve, mirroring broader trends in an increasingly interconnected world.

The way the French spent their holidays in France

Summer holidays and celebrations in France are synonymous with the great exodus!

Indeed, for eleven months of the year, the French think about the twelfth month, when they will take their annual holidays.

Some people like skiing and going on winter holidays, but most prefer the summer months. August is the big holiday, and many companies and businesses close for one to four weeks. In fact, in the big cities, especially in Paris, the place is deserted except for tourists.

In summer, around 70% of the French people surveyed go on holiday for an average of two weeks.

Holidays in France, a country of great variety

For 56% of them, their favourite destination remains… France!

This is the highest rate of residents staying in their country for holidays in Europe and the two other countries surveyed (the United States and Brazil).

How do I explain this?

Well, most French people are satisfied with what their country offers and, therefore, do not wish to travel abroad.

Mountains and rivers, sandy beaches and beautiful countryside are all available in France.

The French like to spend their holidays in another region of France

The French appreciate inter-regional tourism for their holidays (including the summer).

For example, between 2014 and 2016, there was an average:

• 4.4 million departures per year from the Paris region to Normandy .
• 4.1 million departures per year from the Paris region to Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes .
• 2.7 million departures per year from the Paris region to Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur .
• 2.1 million departures per year from Provence-Alpes-Côte-d’Azur to Occitania .
• 0.9 million departures per year from Hauts-de-France to Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes .

What types of accommodation do the French use during their holidays?

Camping is very popular, especially with the less well-paid. The better-off tend to rent villas for the holiday period. Moreover, country people and city dwellers overwhelmingly arrange to stay with friends or relatives.

The type of accommodation is as follows:

• Hotels: 10.6%.
• Campsite: 5.4%.
• Rental, gîte or bed and breakfast: 11.1%.
• Secondary residence: 9%.
• Family and friends: 57.4%.
• Other: 6.5%.

When do the French spend their holidays in France?

More than a quarter (26.2%) of French people’s holidays are taken in July-August.

August is thus the month when the number of French people taking holidays in France is highest (14.7%).

These tourists generate over 80% of the overnight stays recorded in Metropolitan France.

The average time spent elsewhere in France for holidays or to visit a loved one lasts an average of 5 nights .

Corsica is an exception, with more than 11 nights spent per stay (due to its island location in the Mediterranean).

Where do the French spend their holidays in France?

The following figures show how the French passed their holidays in 2016 if they stayed in France.

• In towns: 30.2%
• In the country: 23.9%
• By the sea: 22.2%
• In the mountains: 20.2%
• Other: 3.5%

In addition to travelling in the region, the French appreciate foreign destinations, with a preference for neighbouring countries. Thus, Spain and Italy have been the two favourite destinations for the last few years, with more than 7.6 million departures in 2017.

Of course, the pandemic crisis of 2020-2021 has momentarily upset these trends. With a succession of lockdowns and curfews, holidays and celebrations in France have come to a halt.

School Holidays in France

The school year in France stretches from “ La Rentrée ” ( back to school – read more! ) to “ Les Grandes Vacances ” (Summer recess).

School holidays (les vacances) play an essential part in the tourism industry in France.

The dates are set by the Ministry of Education (Ministère de l’Éducation Nationale).

They vary depending on the zones in which the schools are located.

There are three school zones in France. They are not contiguous in facilitating access to sports resorts and tourist sites.

Therefore, whether a school is based in Paris, Strasbourg or Toulouse, the winter and spring holidays don’t coincide.

Thus relieving the pressure on skiing and Mediterranean resorts.

The zones gather regional education authorities known as “ académies ” in French.

• Zone A includes the “académies” of Dijon, Besançon, Clermont-Ferrand, Grenoble, Lyon, Poitiers, Limoges, and Bordeaux.
• then Zone B includes the “académies” of Aix-Marseille, Amiens, Caen, Nancy-Metz, Lille, Limoges, Nantes, Nice, Orléans-Tours, Reims, Rouen and Strasbourg.
• and Zone C includes the “académies” of Toulouse, Montpellier, Créteil, Paris and Versailles.

Corsica and the Overseas départements and territories of France apply different school holiday times.

Like in Australia and New Zealand, the school year in the French territories of New Caledonia and Wallis and Futuna starts in late January and finishes in early December.

Read more about coming back to school in France on the blog!

Five periods of holidays in France

The school calendar includes five periods of holidays in France:

• The Summer holidays ( les vacances d’été or les grandes vacances ) are the longest and the most awaited by pupils and teachers. The two-month break starts at the beginning of July and ends early September.
• Autumn holidays or All Saints holidays ( les vacances d’automne or les vacances de la Toussaint ) last two weeks around the beginning of November.
• Christmas holidays ( les vacances de Noël or les vacances de fin d’année ) last two weeks and include Christmas and New Year’s Day.
• Winter holidays ( les vacances d’hiver ) are two weeks long and occur between the second week of February and the first week of March.
• Spring holidays ( les vacances de printemps or les vacances de Pâques ) do not always encompass Easter . They occur between the second week of April and the first week of May.

The Four Seasons of the Year in France

France is situated in the Northern Hemisphere. Like its fellow European neighbouring nations, it goes through a cycle of four distinctive seasons :

Spring – le printemps

Summer – l’été, autumn – l’automne, winter – l’hiver.

These seasons have shaped most of the holidays and celebrations in France.

Click on the images below to reach our dedicated pages on the seasons of France:

March-April-May-June

June-July-August-September

September-October-November-December

December-January-February-March

Pin it for later

Did you enjoy the reading? If so, share it on Facebook and/or X (formerly Twitter). Or pin the image below on Pinterest:

In this book, Pierre reveals the secrets of French celebrations, from the most famous to the least known. It is a cultural journey into French customs and traditions that will satisfy curious readers and lovers of France.

Holidays and Celebrations in France

Learn more about the seasons, celebrations and public holidays in France:

About the author

Pierre is a French/Australian who is passionate about France and its culture. He grew up in France and Germany and has also lived in Australia and England. He has a background teaching French, Economics and Current Affairs, and holds a Master of Translating and Interpreting English-French with the degree of Master of International Relations, and a degree of Economics and Management. Pierre is the author of Discovery Courses and books about France.

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Write an essay in French

Beyond the fact that writing an essay in French can be a good practice to improve your writing, you may also be asked to write one during your schooling. So, it is important to study the topic of French essay writing and get some useful tips..

» Tips and tricks for your French essay » The structure of a French essay » Sample French Essay

Tips and tricks for your French essay

When writing a French essay for school, you should always use a structured approach and good French skills to present your arguments in a focused way. Beyond French skills, there are also important formal requirements for a successful French essay. We will come back to this in detail later. First, you will find some useful tips and tricks that will help you write more compelling and better French essays in the future.

• Have a clear thesis and structure
• Do sufficient research and use reliable sources
• Use examples and arguments to support your thesis
• Avoid plagiarism and cite correctly
• Always check structure, grammar and spelling

When you write your essay at school or university, you need to make sure that the general structure of your essay, the presentation of the arguments and, above all, your French language skills play a role in the mark you will get. This is why you should definitely take a closer look at the structure of an essay as well as the most important grammar rules and formulations for French essays.

The structure of a French essay

In an essay, you deal at length and in detail with a usually given topic. When you write an essay in French, you must follow a certain structure. Below we show you what this structure looks like and give you some tips for writing the most important parts of your essay.

The Introduction

The introduction prepares the main body of your essay. You think of a meaningful title for your essay, you describe your thesis or your question, you give general information on the subject and you prepare your argument by giving an overview of your most important arguments.

Below are examples and phrases that you can use to write the introduction to your essay in French.

The title should be meaningful, concise and reflect the content of the essay.

Introductory paragraph

The first paragraph of your French essay should briefly introduce the topic and engage the reader. Here are some examples to help you write your essay:

Proposal or question

The central proposition or question of your French essay should be a clear and concise definition of the purpose of the essay. Use these examples to get a clearer idea of ​​how to write theses in French:

Overview of Arguments and Structure

At the end of your introduction, describe the structure of the main part of your essay (your outline) and outline your argument. Here are some French expressions that will certainly help you write your essay:

The body of your essay

The main part of your French essay deals with the given topic in detail. The subject is studied from all angles. The main body of your essay follows a thread of argument and discusses in detail the main arguments of your thesis previously made in the introduction.

In the body of the text, you should discuss the subject of your essay in clear and concise language. To achieve this, we give you some wording aids as well as vocabulary and phrases that you can use to write your essay in French.

Formulation tools:

French vocabulary for essays.

In the conclusion of your French essay, you address the thesis of your essay, summarize the main points of your discussion in the main body, and draw a conclusion. On the basis of the arguments and the resulting conclusions, you formulate in the conclusion of your dissertation final thoughts and suggestions for the future. It is important that you do not add new information or new arguments. This should only be done in the body of your text.

Here are some wording guides to help you write your essay in French:

Sample French Essay

Les avantages des voyages linguistiques

Malgré les difficultés potentielles, les voyages linguistiques offrent aux apprenants une occasion unique d'améliorer leurs compétences linguistiques et de découvrir de nouvelles cultures, ce qui en fait un investissement précieux pour leur développement personnel et académique.

Les séjours linguistiques sont des voyages organisés dans le but d'améliorer les compétences linguistiques des participants. Ces voyages peuvent se dérouler dans le pays ou à l'étranger et durer d'un week-end à plusieurs semaines. L'un des principaux avantages des séjours linguistiques est l'immersion. Entourés de locuteurs natifs, les apprenants sont contraints de pratiquer et d'améliorer leurs compétences linguistiques dans des situations réelles.Il s'agit d'une méthode d'apprentissage beaucoup plus efficace que le simple fait d'étudier une langue dans une salle de classe.

Un autre avantage des séjours linguistiques est l'expérience culturelle. Voyager dans un nouveau pays permet aux apprenants de découvrir de nouvelles coutumes, traditions et modes de vie, et de se familiariser avec l'histoire et la culture du pays. Cela enrichit non seulement l'expérience d'apprentissage de la langue, mais contribue également à élargir les horizons et à accroître la sensibilisation culturelle.

Cependant, les séjours linguistiques peuvent également présenter des inconvénients. Par exemple, le coût du voyage et de l'hébergement peut être élevé, en particulier pour les séjours de longue durée. En outre, les apprenants peuvent être confrontés à la barrière de la langue ou à un choc culturel, ce qui peut être difficile à surmonter. Le coût et les difficultés potentielles des séjours linguistiques peuvent sembler décourageants, mais ils offrent des avantages précieux en termes d'épanouissement personnel et scolaire.

Les compétences linguistiques et les connaissances culturelles acquises peuvent déboucher sur de nouvelles opportunités d'emploi et améliorer la communication dans un cadre professionnel. Les bourses et les aides financières rendent les séjours linguistiques plus accessibles. Le fait d'être confronté à une barrière linguistique ou à un choc culturel peut également être l'occasion d'un développement personnel. Ces avantages l'emportent largement sur les inconvénients et font des séjours linguistiques un investissement qui en vaut la peine.

En conclusion, malgré les difficultés potentielles, les séjours linguistiques offrent aux apprenants une occasion unique d'améliorer leurs compétences linguistiques et de découvrir de nouvelles cultures, ce qui en fait un investissement précieux pour le développement personnel et académique. Qu'il s'agisse d'un débutant ou d'un apprenant avancé, un voyage linguistique est une expérience à ne pas manquer.

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La Fête nationale / Bastille Day

La prise de la bastille.

Time to Party!

Liberté, égalité, fraternité !

Jamie Haslett

Former Director of Marketing

Originally from New Jersey, Jamie graduated from the University of Rhode Island with a degree in International Business and a minor in French. She also completed a semester abroad in Marseille, France. Jamie fell in love with the French language as a child when her sister brought home a high school French book, and looks forward to continuing her education at the French Library.

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Bastille Day in France : La Fête Nationale !

If you’ve ever been in France in mid-July, you may have noticed boisterous celebrations and parades, not to mention more than the usual amount of French flags and fireworks. This is because Bastille Day , France’s national holiday, takes place on July 14th, or le 14 juillet .

In this post, we’ll cover the history of Bastille Day and what it commemorates, as well as how the French celebrate it and talk about it in French. Allons, citoyens – let’s dive in!

This article is brought to you by LingoCulture, Where you can get unlimited private French classes via Zoom with native teachers for a flat monthly rate. It’s the closest thing to immersion you can get without living in a French-speaking country. Click here to learn more.

History of Bastille Day

Bastille Day commemorates the storming of the Bastille prison in Paris on July 14th, 1789. This event marked a critical juncture in the French Revolution, ultimately leading to the abolition of French feudalism and the establishment of the First Republic.

Civil unrest had been brewing for years under the reign of Louis XVI, as the result of an economic crisis and resulting rising food prices. This economic crisis was caused by a number of factors, including France’s role in the American Revolution, taxation, and low harvest yields throughout the 1780s. Societal turmoil increased as troops were called into Paris and as high-ranking officials were dismissed from office, most notably the finance minister Jacques Necker, dismissed on July 11th, 1789.

On July 14th, 1789, a crowd stormed the Hôtel des Invalides (a military complex) for weapons. Later that same day, another crowd descended upon the Bastille, a Parisian prison-fortress that served as a symbol for the monarchy. This prison was known for holding inmates jailed by unappealable royal letters that did not indicate the reason for imprisonment. Revolutionaries seized control of the Bastille in the evening, after a battle that had begun mid-morning.

Immediately following the capture of the Bastille by revolutionaries, members of the nobility began to flee France. Throughout the country, other towns and cities began installing their own local governments and militia, disregarding the previously-ironclad royal authority. In August 1789, the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen was formally adopted, which served as the first step towards a democratic constitution for France. Several years after the pivotal battle at the Bastille, the monarchy was officially replaced by democracy.

In 1880, nearly one hundred years after the storming of the Bastille, July 14th was officially declared the French national holiday . At the time, patriotism and military prowess were emphasized, a tradition that has continued ever since. Indeed, in the aftermath of World War I and World War II, Bastille Day has been celebrated with extra vigor and joy.

What is Bastille Day today?

Nowadays, Bastille Day  is celebrated much like the American national holiday, the 4th of July.

It’s common for French workers to have this day off, but not legally required for employers. As both holidays take place mid-summer, you’ll often find celebrations outside in the form of military parades, barbecues, and fireworks. The traditional military parade in France marches down the Champs-Elysées in the morning, beginning at the Arc de Triomphe and ending at the Place de la Concorde.

While there are no specific foods eaten on  Bastille Day , it’s not uncommon to see people indulging in typical French foods such as cheese, bread, pastries, and wine. Finally, just before midnight, there is a spectacular fireworks display at the Eiffel Tower. If you’re planning on visiting France in mid-July, be prepared for road closures and raucous celebrations. Brush up on what French people are and aren’t like, especially in relation to French stereotypes .

Outside of Paris, fire stations in many towns are host to un bal des pompiers (the firemen’s ball). This tradition dates back to 1937, when a group of partygoers followed firefighters on their way back to the fire station after a Bastille Day parade. Some military demonstrations like flyovers can be viewed around the country, as well as historical reenactments. Certain areas organize community meals, known as repas citoyens or repas champêtres . These public gatherings often include music, dancing, and games, as well as the meal itself.

Interestingly, France is not the only place in the world that celebrates Bastille Day , despite its decidedly Parisian origins! Certain Francophone countries, including Belgium and Canada, host Bastille Day celebrations each year. Former French colonies, including Pondicherry in India, French Polynesia, and New Orleans in the United States, also take part in July 14th festivities. If you’re curious about other holidays celebrated in France, check out our post on holidays .

How to talk about Bastille Day in French

When talking about this holiday, the French do not say Bastille Day . In fact, the name Bastille Day was coined by English-speaking countries. In France, the French refer to this day as le 14 juillet (the 14th of July) or as la Fête nationale française (the French national celebration). To wish someone a happy Bastille Day  in French, you can say Bonne fête nationale !

When discussing Bastille Day in French, there are many ways to express your thoughts and engage in conversations about this important national holiday. You may wish to discuss the historical significance of the day, talking about La Révolution française (the French Revolution) and la prise de la Bastille (the storming of the Bastille). Perhaps you’ll want to talk about the symbols and emblems of France, such as la Marseillaise (the French national anthem), le tricolore (a name for the three-colored French flag), or the national motto Liberté, égalité, fraternité (liberty, equality, fraternity). Be sure to mention the défilé (parade) on the Champs-Elysées and the feux d’artifice (fireworks).

Other activities worth mentioning include les pique-niques (picnics), les bals populaires (dances), and la musique (music). Of course, you’re sure to hear the popular expression Vive la France !  If you’re planning to attend a celebration, be sure to brush up on useful vocabulary, such as how to say “Cheers!” in French  and how to greet people in French .

Bastille Day is a vibrant celebration of French history, unity, and national pride. With its roots deeply embedded in the French Revolution, July 14th was chosen as the French national holiday in part because of its significance as the date of the storming of the Bastille in 1789.

Today, Bastille Day is celebrated with a wide variety of festivities and traditions, including military parades, fireworks displays, picnics, and dances.

By learning and using key vocabulary terms such as le 14 juillet and Bonne fête nationale , you can actively participate in conversations with others about this national celebration. Whether you attend a friend’s picnic, attend a dance, or partake in French delicacies at a café, Bastille Day festivities offer a unique blend of historical remembrance and joyful merriment.

So, embrace the spirit of this iconic holiday, join in the festivities, and raise a toast to the lasting values of liberté, égalité, and fraternité that Bastille Day represents. Vive la France !

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French GCSE Holidays: Present, Past, Future Tense Knowledge Organiser & Translation

Subject: French

Age range: 14-16

Resource type: Worksheet/Activity

Last updated

27 October 2023

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A comprehensive knowledge organiser / topic speaking mat on the topic of holidays with translation practice based on this. The knowledge organiser could be used throughout teaching the topic, or as a plenary activity. It is extremely rich in vocabulary chunks and structures and it will allow pupils to write and speak about their holidays with ease (once familiarising themselves with all the language). It could be used for mini-white board translation, dictation or paired translations in class. It is also useful for revision.

The translation practice is a good way to get pupils working on the vocabulary and getting used to its structure, with the key link words and phrases in grey below. Answers included.

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Get this resource as part of a bundle and save up to 78%

A bundle is a package of resources grouped together to teach a particular topic, or a series of lessons, in one place.

French Holidays - Les vacances

Save 75% with this bundle of 13 resources on the topic of Holidays. There are enough standalone resources here on which to base a whole unit, including the following: 1. Holiday preferences in the present tense 2. Holidays in the past tense + full review of forming the perfect tense 3. Challenging GCSE reading comprehension and translations on the topic of holidays in present & past tenses 4. The future tense - formation practice, reading and translation on my future holiday plans. 5. Holidays in the future tense - two worksheets with reading, grammar and translation 6. Useful 'faire' expressions for holidays in the present, past and future tenses 7. The importance of holidays 8. A 'longer' writing question on holidays requiring knowledge of the past, present and future tenses with a model answer and grade 8/9 structures support 9. A bumper topic knowledge organsiser/ language mat on this topic with targeted translation practice. 10. A resource on the impact of tourism - its environmental impact and the benefits. 11. A reading comprehension on holidays and weather. 12. Worksheets on 'mes dernières vacances' 13. A worksheet on 'mes vacances idéales'

French GCSE Bundle: 20 Resource Packs on different topics

Save 78% with this bundle of 20 of GCSE resource packs, with answers, on a range of topics costing over £53 individually. Ideal for classwork, homework or independent study. Bundle contents: * Complete verb practice booklet - 25 page booklet * Translation booklet of exam practice * Writing and speaking resources with useful structures * Resource on the environment * Resources on school subjects (5 worksheets) * Resource bundle on my town/area (15 worksheets) * Resource on holidays * Resource on daily routine * Resources on the weather * Resource on describing my house * Resource on health & illness * Resource on daily routine * Resources on family (4 worksheets) * Resource on TV & Media * Resource on film & cinema * Resource on healthy eating * Resource bundle on food (9 worksheets) * Resources on future plans * Resource on new technology * Resource on technology and the Internet Please leave a review if you find this useful for your pupils or if you have any feedback. You can also message me directly on Twitter @mfl_secondary

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