Le Calendrier des Fêtes — French holidays through the year
On this page
Les Fêtes et Traditions
The French holiday calendar, decoded
Le calendrier 📅
le Nouvel AnNew Year
la ChandeleurCandlemas (crêpe day!)
Mardi GrasMardi Gras
PâquesEaster
le 1er maiMay Day (lily of the valley)
le 14 juilletBastille Day
la ToussaintAll Saints’ Day
NoëlChristmas
le réveillonChristmas/NY Eve dinner
Comment on fête 🎆
un feu d’artificefireworks
un défiléa parade
un cadeaua present
une galette des roiskings’ cake (January)
le muguetlily of the valley
un jour fériéa public holiday
fêterto celebrate
souhaiterto wish
la veillethe eve
📚 Free French lessons at learnfrench.co
🎬 The 20-second version
Five phrases with « Les Fêtes et Traditions » — guess before the reveal. Practise with the free games → Open this short as a page — transcript included →
📘 The traditions behind the dates
- La galette des rois (early January): find la fève (the charm) in your slice and you’re king for the day — crown included.
- La Chandeleur (2 Feb) = national crêpe day. Flip yours holding a coin for a year of prosperity.
- Le 1er mai: everyone offers du muguet (lily of the valley) for luck — and nobody works; it’s THE jour férié.
- Le 14 juillet: military parade in the morning, bals des pompiers (firemen’s balls!) and fireworks at night. Say « la fête nationale », not “Bastille Day” — the French don’t call it that.
- Noël: the feast is le réveillon on the 24th evening — oysters, foie gras and la bûche (yule log cake).
- Wishing well: Joyeux Noël, Bonne année (mandatory ALL of January), Joyeuses Pâques.
🔊 Useful phrases
Joyeux Noël et bonne année !Merry Christmas and happy New Year!
Tu as eu la fève !You got the charm (in the galette)!
Qu’est-ce que tu fais pour le réveillon ?What are you doing for the Eve dinner?
C’est férié demain.Tomorrow’s a public holiday.
🔊 Example sentences
On fête le Nouvel An chez des amis.We celebrate New Year at friends’.
Le feu d’artifice commence à 23 heures.The fireworks start at 11 pm.
Je te souhaite une excellente année !I wish you an excellent year!
✍️ Practice
crêpe day = la ___ (2 February)
Show answer
Chandeleur
the lucky flower of 1 May = le ___ (lily of the valley)
Show answer
muguet
a public holiday = un jour ___ (no work!)
Show answer
férié
🎮 Play what you just learned
🎮 Practise this with games
📖
Go further: French culture surprises — the guide.
Learn faster with a native teacherYour first 20-minute lesson is free — no card, no commitment.
Book a free lesson