Wednesday, 5 January 2011

New Year in France

In France, New Year's Eve is called Saint-Sylvestre. It is usually celebrated with a feast, called le Réveillon de Saint-Sylvestre. The feast can include champagne and foie gras, and the accompanying party can range from an intimate dinner with friends to une soirée dansante (ball).

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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