At midnight, everyone kisses under the mistletoe and offers their best wishes for the new year.
On New Year's Day, le Jour de l'An, friends and family share their New Year’s Resolutions and may also exchange cards and gifts.
The end of the holiday season is Epiphany, on 6 January. On this day, French families enjoy a traditional cake called la galette des rois.
Saint Sylvestre was Pope from 314 to 335 A.D., during the time of Constantine the Great. There is no particular link between Saint Sylvestre and the new year; it just so happens that 31 December is his feast day. La Saint-Sylvestre is feminine because it's short for la fête de Saint-Sylvestre.
Interestingly, kissing under the mistletoe is a New Year's custom in France, rather than a Christmas custom as in other countries.
French New Year's Vocabulary | |
Bonne Année ! | Happy New Year! |
Bonne Année et Bonne Santé | Happy New Year! |
une bonne résolution | New Year's resolution |
les étrennes | New Year's gifts |
le gui | mistletoe |
le Jour de l'An | New Year's Day |
la Saint-Sylvestre | New Year's Eve |
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