The winter season in France is brimming with festive sparkle. From the top of November to early January, Christmas markets are held throughout the entire nation. In February and March, it’s carnival season. And there’s masses extra happening – listed below are only a few of the most important occasions this winter:
Nationwide Occasions in Winter in France
25 December – Christmas Day is a nationwide vacation.
31 December – La Nuit de la Saint Sylvestre – New 12 months’s Eve. The feast day of Saint Sylvestre features a festive celebration spent with associates at residence or in a favorite restaurant. A kiss beneath the mistletoe is shared on the stroke of midnight.
1 January – New 12 months’s Day is a nationwide vacation.
6 January – La Fête des Rois. It’s conventional to eat a particular cake known as the Galette des Rois on at the present time (learn extra about it right here). You’ll see these delicious muffins in each patisserie in France. Contained in the cake a fortunate attraction is hidden – the fève, and the one who finds the attraction in his or her slice of cake, is topped king or queen for a day! If you wish to make one at residence, right here’s a recipe for Galette des Rois
14 February – St Valentine’s Day
Christmas markets and festive occasions
Uncover a great deal of details about the Christmas markets, Christmas lights, festive meals and occasions in our Final Information to Christmas in France on The Good Life France web site: thegoodlifefrance.com/ultimateguidetochristmasinfrance
Get pleasure from our podcast on Christmas in France!
What’s new
On 15 April 2019, a significant fireplace partially destroyed the higher a part of Notre-Dame de Paris cathedral. After 5 years of labor, the well-known monument will reopen its doorways on 7 and eight December 2024. Word an internet slot reservation system is because of be launched earlier than the opening to make sure the customer expertise is as its finest – that is fully free, you do not want to purchase tickets.
Lyon: Competition of Lights, 5-8 December 2025
The folks of Lyon will, as they’ve since 1852, gentle candles and put them within the home windows of their properties and town places on a spectacular gentle present with large-scale projections over a few of the metropolis’s most stunning monuments. It began when the residents of Lyon positioned candles in colored glasses on their windowsills to have a good time the set up of a statue of the Virgin Mary on the Fourvière Hill. fetedeslumieres.lyon.fr/en
Dordogne: Sarlat Truffle Competition, 18-19 January 2025
An enormous truffle market takes place mid-January within the enchanting medieval city of Sarlat, Dordogne. Anticipate to take pleasure in truffle flavoured connoisseur specialities, music and festivities together with workshops. And take residence a few truffles, you will get them at an excellent worth on the market. Particulars: sarlat-tourisme.com
Angoulême comedian ebook competition 30 January to 2 February, 2025
France has one of many largest markets for bande-dessinée (comedian ebook or graphic novels) on this planet, and Angoulême, Charente, is the place that is celebrated. Folks come from all around the world to get pleasure from this enjoyable artwork occasion. bdangouleme.com
Mimosa Competition 12-16 February 2025
Spring is within the air and in Mandelieu-La-Napoule tens of millions of sweet-smelling Mimosa flowers, often known as “yellow suns”, bloom. Parades, processions, singing and dancing, this joyous occasion indicators the top of winter within the south of France. Mandelieu-tourisme.com
Good Carnival 15 February – 2 March 2025
Processions, flower parades and flower battles, rock, pop, fireworks, and giants. Over 1,000,000 folks flock to Good to hitch within the enjoyable heralding the beginning of spring. Some of the glamorous of all of the French carnivals. nicecarnaval.com
Menton Lemon Competition 15 February – 2 March 2025
This superb fruity competition options immense constructions constructed with 1000’s of lemons and oranges. It’s probably the most widespread festivals within the area and attracts many 1000’s of holiday makers from all around the world. fete-du-citron.com
Dunkirk Carnival
This distinctive carnival takes place From January to March when Dunkirk bursts into tune and dance with locals and guests for the carnival. This needs to be one of many loudest and most enjoyable carnivals in Europe. Right here the persons are the parade, wearing quirky outfits. It’s particularly frenzied when the Mayor throws herrings off his balcony into the crowds on the primary day of the occasion often known as the Trois Joyeuse (3 completely happy days) – Sunday 2 March 2025! www.dunkerque-tourisme.fr
Developing
Spring begins 20 March, 2025 – don’t miss the spring difficulty of The Good Life France Journal – subscribe right here without spending a dime: button picture with Hyperlink to: https://thegoodlifefrance.com/magazine-subscribe/
Excellent Paris Tour 6-12 April 2025
Be a part of writer (and editor of The Good Life France) Janine Marsh for per week in Paris to find probably the most good, genuine and interesting components of town of sunshine.
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