While January 1st is called Jour de l'An, the actual day of New Year's eve is known in French as “la Saint-Sylvestre“. It is named after the Roman Catholic Pope Sylvestre I, who died on December 31, 335 AD.
Other names that you might hear in France referring to the New Years' Eve can be “Réveillon de Jour de l'An” or “le Réveillon du Nouvel An”.
New Year's Day (Jour de l'an) is the first day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. It is a public holiday in France. Many people spend the day quietly in the company of friends or family.
Towards midnight, paper hats and confetti are distributed and everyone counts down to the New Year in France together. Next, watch out for your hats; everyone in the room exchanges kisses and wishes each other a Bonne Année (Happy New Year). Millions of French people dine out on New Year's Eve and also the next day.
You can certainly assume the French New Year involves some delicious food and drink, that is for sure! In France, 31st December is known as la Saint Sylvestre, because it is the day dedicated to the saint's feast day. The New Year's Eve feast is also referred to as le Réveillon de Saint-Sylvestre.
La Saint-sylvestre – new Year's Eve
La Saint-Sylvestre (or “le réveillon du jour de l'an”) are what we know as New Year's Eve. It is because the 31st December is the feast day of Saint-Sylvestre in Catholic tradition. However there aren't really religious elements to the celebration of New Year's anymore.
Italians are known for being quite superstitious. The night of San Silvestro (New Year's Eve) offers the perfect occasion to perform some traditional rites that are meant to bring about good fortune.
But in Paris, as in the rest of France, the New Year, or "St. Sylvestre," begins on January 1 and lasts throughout the month.
The fact that the New Years' Réveillon is sometimes called “Réveillon de la Saint Sylvestre” is just a coincidence.
For example, if you are at a house gathering, at the stroke of midnight on New Year's Eve, everyone will run around saying Bonne Année while giving you a French cheek kiss “la bise”.
The 6th of January is 'l'Epiphanie' or 'la journée des rois' and commemorates the visit of the three wise men to baby Jesus. It's traditional in France to eat 'la Galette des Rois'. French people will go to the bakery to buy this king's cake or make it themselves.
La chanson du réveillon de la Saint-Sylvestre (The New Year's Eve song), Auld Lang Syne, is one that all anglophones know.
Bonne Année ! - Happy New Year! When you greet someone for Le Nouvel An, the new year in French, you can simply say, “Bonne Année !
1 – Le Réveillon de Noël – the Traditional French Christmas Eve Meal – December 24th. It all starts with what the French call “le Réveillon” (from the French reflexive verb “se réveiller” – to wake up) because people stayed up to go to the late Christmas mass.
December 31 is known as Hogmanay in Scotland and New Year's Eve in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. It is the last day of the year, according to today's calendar, the Gregorian calendar.
Le Réveillon
These often include snails, oysters, foie gras, smoked salmon, cheese, game meat, lobster and caviar. Common desserts include Yule log, tart and meringue. These foods can make up a meal eaten at home, or may be selected from a réveillon menu at a restaurant on New Year's Eve.
In France, New Year's Eve is traditionally the start of the holiday season, and it is called Le Réveillon de Saint-Sylvestre. Pancakes, foie gras, and champagne all make appearances at the traditional meal. French custom holds that those who partake in this meal will be showered with good fortune for the coming year.
New Years Eve Dinner Cruise on the Seine
Bid farewell to 2023 while gliding down the most famous river in the world, watching the City of Light all aglow, while dining on a classic multi-course French meal. Starting off with celebratory glass of champagne, you toast the iconic landmarks gliding past your windows.
Wondering how to say Happy New Year in French? The most common expression is “Bonne année.” Piece of (New Year's Eve) cake!
Click on a tile for details. The first country to celebrate New Year's Eve annually is the Oceanic country Kiribati—the island of Kiritimati to be precise.
And if you're reading this during o Ano Novo, Rui, Joel and the rest of the team at Practice Portuguese want to wish you: Feliz Ano Novo! Happy New Year!
New Year's Day (Neujahr, Neujahrstag) is a public holiday in Germany. It is on January 1, also known as the first day of the year in the Gregorian calendar.
New Year 2023 in Spain: Celebrating the Day with Some Unique Spanish Traditions. New Year in Spain also known as Nochevieja- the old night, is celebrated with tradition and thought of love. Festivities here start right before Christmas and continue till New Year's morning.
In Greece, children wait for Saint Vasilios on January 1 rather than December 25. Greeks also celebrate the name “Vasilis” or “Vasiliki” on January 1. On this day they also eat the “Vasilopita”, a cake with a hidden coin inside. The name “Vasilopita” comes from the name of Saint Vasilios.