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Holidays make the yr extra enjoyable in any nation. As a traditionally Catholic nation, France’s holidays are intently aligned with the Catholic calendar. It’s not all about faith, although; some days present alternatives to recollect solemn occasions in days’ previous, whereas others give room for these with a humorousness. 

Under, we’ll check out the complete calendar of French holidays in 2024. Whether or not you’re planning a visit to France or celebrating the vacations at house, you’ll discover ways to honor every vacation the French approach. 

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Full listing of French public holidays

Rejoice the vacations in fashion. Under, you’ll discover each public vacation in 2024: 

• January 1 – Nouvel An (New 12 months’s Day)
• March 29 – Vendredi Saint (Good Friday)
• April 1 – Lundi Pâques (Easter Monday)
• Might 1 – La Fête du Travail (Might Day)
• Might 8 – Fête de la Victoire de 1945 (Victory in Europe Day)
• Might 9 – L’ascension (Ascension Day)
• Might 19  – Pentecôte (Pentecost)
• July 14 – La Fête Nationale (Bastille Day)
• August 15 – L’assomption (Assumption Day)
• November 1 – La Toussaint (All Saints Day)
• November 11- L’armistice (Armistice Day)
• December 25 – Noël (Christmas)
• December 26 – Saint Etienne (Saint Stephen’s Day)

Then, there are the enjoyable holidays. They may not be honored with a time off work, however they’re culturally vital and completely value celebrating: 

• January 6 – Épiphanie (Epiphany)
• February 2 – Chandeleur (Candlemas)
• February 13 – Mardi Gras (Fats Tuesday)
• April 1 – Poisson d’Avril – (April Idiot’s Day)

January 1 – Nouvel An (New 12 months’s Day)

Much like traditions in the US, France rings within the new yr with events, champagne, and fireworks. The most important celebration in Paris is by the Eiffel Tower. Meals related to the vacation embody foie gras, oysters, and different native specialties. It’s common to eat out of an elaborate fifteen course meal. Kissing at midnight is customary and regarded good luck for the approaching yr! 

January 6 – l’Epiphanie (Epiphany)

Epiphany takes place twelve days after Christmas and celebrates the three kings’ arrival to go to child Jesus. Although not a public vacation, it’s religiously and culturally vital to the French Catholic neighborhood. A very powerful French Epiphany custom is consuming La Galette des Roi (The Kings’ Cake), a spherical puff pastry stuffed with almond creme and a small figurine known as a fève hidden inside. Historically, the youngest little one within the household hides beneath the desk whereas the cake is served and whoever finds the fève is alleged to have good luck for the yr! 

February 2 – Chandeleur (Candlemas)

Chandeleur, also referred to as Candlemas, is a part of the Catholic calendar, however the spiritual significance doesn’t have a lot to do with how the vacation is widely known right now. It takes place 40 days after Christmas to commemorate the presentation of child Jesus to the temple. It additionally signifies the tip of winter! Like Epiphany, Candlemas just isn’t a public vacation. 

French individuals honor Chandeleur in one of the best ways one can rejoice a vacation: with loads of crepes. It is a custom that goes approach again. Each the round form and the golden colour of crepes symbolize the solar. Pope Gelasius I is alleged to have popularized using crepes within the fifth century when he gifted galettes to the plenty throughout a candlelit procession in Rome. 

There are a number of regional superstitions across the vacation. Some say that sunshine on Chandeleur brings unhealthy luck for the remainder of the winter, others say the other. It’s additionally conventional to carry a coin in your dominant hand and prepare dinner the crepes together with your non-dominant hand. For those who efficiently flip a crepe within the pan together with your non-dominant hand, it’s stated to carry good luck for the remainder of the yr. 

>> Pair your crepe-making expertise with these 100+ must-know French phrases. 

February 13 – Mardi Gras (Fats Tuesday)

Mardi Gras is probably the most exported French vacation custom. Most North People affiliate it with New Orleans, however it’s a fashionable vacation in Metropolitan France and different locations with a historical past of French presence. It’s historically an extravagant feast earlier than Ash Wednesday and the contemplative, fasting season of Lent. In some areas, Mardi Gras is a small affair with wealthy fatty meals. In others, it’s a full-blown competition with parades, costumes, and partying within the streets. 

March 29 – Vendredi Saint (Good Friday)

Good Friday, which commemorates the day Jesus was crucified, is usually a time off work in France. Working towards Catholics often go to a somber mass on today, however for everybody else it’s a time off work earlier than Easter. 

April 1 – Lundi Pâques (Easter Monday)

Easter Sunday is among the most vital Catholic holidays. It’s a very huge deal in France to spiritual and secular communities alike. They rejoice for 2 days, Sunday and Monday. Dinner is often hen or lamb and chocolate bells, eggs, and rabbits are hidden as treats. France doesn’t historically have an Easter Bunny, however some northern areas have began utilizing it just lately. Their kids’s legend is that church bells ship the treats on their approach again from Rome. Mardi Gras, Ash Wednesday, Palm Sunday, and Good Friday are additionally celebrated round Easter. 

April 1 – Poisson d’Avril (April Idiot’s Day)

In North America, we all know to maintain our guard up on April Idiot’s day, lest we fall sufferer to a barrage of pranks. In France, they rejoice it slightly in a different way. Poisson d’Avril actually interprets to “April Fish.” Although different varieties of pranks are allowed, the most typical is to stay a paper fish on another person’s again and anticipate them to note. 

This custom comes from the origins of April Idiot’s, in 1684 when King Charles XI moved the beginning of the yr from April 1 to January 1. Individuals continued to provide their family members items on April 1 as they might have if it have been nonetheless the brand new yr. Fish have been a standard reward because the day usually falls throughout lent, when Catholics don’t eat meat. Over time, the literal fish have been changed with symbolic fish and the items obtained sillier. 

>> France takes its meals severely! Take a look at these hilarious French food-themed idioms. 

Might 1 – La Fête du Travail (Might Day)

France, together with most international locations in Europe, celebrates the labor motion on the primary of Might. The USA is the odd one out for celebrating it in September (a method of distancing the vacation from its Communist origins). 

Because the French love staff’ rights and protests, they take Might Day very severely. It is among the few days when all companies shut. Commerce unions set up demonstrations for staff’ rights and different causes and hundreds of individuals attend. Additionally it is conventional to provide family members lily of the valley bouquets to carry them good luck within the remaining spring season. 

Might 8 – Fête de la Victoire de 1945 (Victory in Europe Day)

Often known as Jour de la Liberation, this vacation marks Germany’s give up in Reims, France in 1945, which ended World Battle II on the European entrance. It’s a somber vacation for honoring each the troopers who died within the struggle and the victims of the Holocaust. In Paris, the President of the Republic lays a wreath on the tomb of the unknown soldier on the Arc du Triomphe and a navy parade down the Champs Elysées follows. Different cities have comparable somber parades on a smaller scale. 

Might 9 – L’ascension (Ascension Day)

Ascension Day celebrates Jesus’ ascension into heaven 40 days after Easter. It at all times takes place on a Thursday. The spiritual significance of the vacation has turn out to be much less vital to the French public as they’ve turn out to be extra secular, however they do benefit from the time off. Many companies additionally shut on the next Friday, although it isn’t an official public vacation, giving their workers a four-day weekend. 

Might 19 – Pentecôte (Pentecost)

Pentecost takes place 50 days after Easter, commemorating the day the holy spirit descended upon the apostles and prompted them to talk in tongues. Throughout Pentecost weekend, hundreds of religious Catholics stroll 100 km from Notre Dame de Paris and Chartres Cathedral for the Notre-Dame de Chrétienté pilgrimage. Many French households eat veal on Pentecost, however this can be a pretty new custom. It originated with a “ veau de la Pentecôte” marketing campaign from the agricultural sector to encourage veal consumption throughout slaughter season. The next Monday is a time off work, so non-Christian French communities can benefit from the day though they don’t rejoice it. 

July 14 – La Fête Nationale (Bastille Day)

France’s fête nationale commemorates the storming of La Bastille on 14 July 1789, which was the start of the French Revolution. Nonetheless, solely English audio system name it Bastille Day. In France, it’s extra generally often known as Quatorze Juillet (referring to the date) or La Fête Nationale. In Paris, the day features a navy parade down the Champs Elysées, fireworks, music in parks, and free entry to museums. 

August 15 – L’assomption (Assumption Day)

Assumption Day is a Catholic vacation celebrating the day when Mary ascended to heaven based on custom. Catholics attend a particular mass that day. Everybody else merely enjoys the lengthy weekend. Like all public holidays in France, most companies are closed, not simply those with a 9-5 schedule. 

November 1 – La Toussaint (All Saints Day)

All Saints Day is a Catholic vacation to honor the entire saints within the canon. It’s a public vacation in France when many households get collectively to honor deceased family members. The commonest ritual is to position chrysanthemums at members of the family’ graves. The flower symbolizes grief, particularly in France. In reality, it’s a fake pas to provide them in some other context. 

November 11- L’armistice (Armistice Day)

France celebrates the tip of World Battle I on the identical day that we in the US know as Veteran’s Day. Like Jour de la Liberation, it’s a somber vacation with navy parades, ceremonies, and reflection on those that have died in wars. 

December 25 – Noël (Christmas)

Christmas, after all, is the opposite most vital vacation within the Christian calendar. Like in the US, it’s celebrated by many secular households as nicely. French households usually eat a small Christmas Eve dinner at midnight to rejoice the start of Christmas day. Youngsters depart their footwear by the hearth for Père Noël. The standard Christmas Dinner primary course is roast turkey or goose. The most well-liked dessert is bûche de Noël, a sponge cake log.

December 26 – Saint Etienne (Saint Stephen’s Day)

Saint Stephen’s Day is the day after Christmas and honors the primary Christian martyr. French Christians go to a somber church service to honor his life. It’s a public vacation within the Alsace-Moselle area, however not in the remainder of France. Additionally it is a preferred procuring day due to the post-Christmas bargains. 

Get to know France even higher with Rosetta Stone

Who doesn’t love celebrating the vacations? Whereas sure holidays are greatest celebrated of their nation of origin, a lot of the customs above might be simply integrated into your traditions at house. 

If you wish to deepen your understanding of French tradition, Rosetta Stone is right here that can assist you. Studying French will help you construct connections with the individuals and locations you like! Plus, our bite-sized classes make studying enjoyable and immersive—it’s approach extra fulfilling and efficient than memorizing flashcards or textbook chapters. Why wait? 

Written by Luca Harsh