Customs, festivals and celebrations - CCEAVocabulary - celebrations

Can you understand conversations about customs and festivals in French? Learn vocabulary to help you talk about music festivals, carnivals and annual holidays in the French-speaking world.

Part ofFrenchIdentity, lifestyle and culture

Vocabulary - celebrations

Here is some additional vocabulary and phrases relating to customs, festivals and celebrations.

Bon anniversaire!Happy birthday!
le baptêmechristening
les bougiescandles
la cartecard
le drapeauflag
l’églisechurch
l’enterrement (m)funeral
la fête nationaleBastille Day (French national holiday)
le feu d’artificefireworks display
les fiançailles (fpl)engagement
le jour fériébank holiday
Joyeux Noël!Happy Christmas!
les lumières (fpl)lights
Mardi grasShrove Tuesday
le mariagewedding
la messemass
la mortdeath
la mosquéemosque
la naissancebirth
le nouvel anNew Year
NoëlChristmas
PâquesEaster
le père NoëlFather Christmas
le poisson d’AvrilApril Fools’ Day
le réveillonChristmas Eve
la Saint-SylvestreNew Year’s Eve
la synagoguesynagogue
la ToussaintHalloween
la veille de NoëlChristmas Eve
Bon anniversaire!
Happy birthday!
le baptême
christening
les bougies
candles
la carte
card
le drapeau
flag
l’église
church
l’enterrement (m)
funeral
la fête nationale
Bastille Day (French national holiday)
le feu d’artifice
fireworks display
les fiançailles (fpl)
engagement
le jour férié
bank holiday
Joyeux Noël!
Happy Christmas!
les lumières (fpl)
lights
Mardi gras
Shrove Tuesday
le mariage
wedding
la messe
mass
la mort
death
la mosquée
mosque
la naissance
birth
le nouvel an
New Year
Noël
Christmas
Pâques
Easter
le père Noël
Father Christmas
le poisson d’Avril
April Fools’ Day
le réveillon
Christmas Eve
la Saint-Sylvestre
New Year’s Eve
la synagogue
synagogue
la Toussaint
Halloween
la veille de Noël
Christmas Eve

Below are some verbs that will be useful for discussing holidays and events throughout the year.

décorerto decorate
donnerto give
envoyerto send
fêterto celebrate
jeûnerto fast
mourirto die
naîtreto be born
offrirto give (a present)
recevoirto receive
souhaiterto wish
décorer
to decorate
donner
to give
envoyer
to send
fêter
to celebrate
jeûner
to fast
mourir
to die
naître
to be born
offrir
to give (a present)
recevoir
to receive
souhaiter
to wish
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Vocabulary - festivals in France

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