The Epiphany
The Epiphany takes place on January the 6th and celebrates the date of the visit of the Magi to the infant Jesus. On this day the three Wise Men arrived from the East, guided by the Star of Bethlehem, bearing gifts for the divine infant. |
Mardi Gras
On Mardi Gras, the celebration marking the start of Lent, people hold a coin while they toss pancakes. This brings them luck and money for a year |
La Fête du Travail
On this day, many French people give bouquets of Lily of the Valley or dog rose flowers to loved ones. Families with children in country areas get up early and go into the woods to pick the flowers. In cities, you'll find individuals and labour organizations selling bouquets of lily of the valley on the street. |
La Fête Nationale
La Fête Nationale is the National Day of France and is celebrated on the 14th July. In France it is called La Fête Nationale. We call this day Bastille Day. In France, it is a national holiday which is celebrated all over the country |
Saints' Feast Days
In the past a French child was given the name of the saint on whose day their own birth fell. More recently it has become more common to be given as a middle name. Children often have two special days to celebrate; their own birthday and their Saint's Day. |
Local Costumes
In many areas people dress in traditional costume for events such as folk-dancing. Many costumes have colourful patterns and elaborate head dresses. The ones pictured above are from Alsace in eastern France, a region with Germanic history and influence |