This is slightly less formal than simply saying Bonne année but is still okay for most situations and people. Click the blue text next to the headphone to hear me say that word or sentence in French. If you enjoy learning French language and culture in context, check out French Today’s downloadable French audiobooks: French Today’s bilingual novels are recorded at different speeds and enunciation, and focus on today’s modern glided French pronunciation.Â. 'Merry Christmas' in French is 'Joyeux Noël.' 100 French Christmas words & expressions – all the French Xmas vocabulary & French Christmas terms, decorations, food + audio recordings. You can add the year to it if you want to be specific: Bonne année 2021 ! • Look online for more examples and inspiration. With full transcript + translations. For instance, Joyeux Noël would go from regular “Merry Christmas” to Je vous souhaite un très joyeux Noël – I wish you a very merry Christmas. I have also included a little booklet with different activities related to Christmas. This is the most typical way to wish someone a happy New Year and can be used with everyone. Dec 31, 2020 - French Country Christmas is a dreamy collection of holiday decorating ideas with French, Belgian, Swedish, Nordic, Scandinavian, and European Country influence. (Best wishes for the new year. 1 – How do you Say Christmas in French? The French translation for Christmas is Noël. 3. For the Holidays, Olivier and I recorded a realistic French Christmas dialogue to introduce you to both the French traditions and precise vocabulary used in France around Christmas and the Holidays. French culture Jun 12, 2014. Its first recorded use to describe Christmas comes from the 12th century. Of course Christmas wouldn’t be complete without a scrumptious French meal! Joyeux Noël is the most common way to say “Merry Christmas” in French. Today, the tradition has been refashioned into elaborate set-course meals served at some of the city’s finest eating establishments. If you aren’t sure which holiday(s) someone celebrates, or if you just want to wish them a collective “Happy Holidays”, Joyeuses fêtes or the slightly less common Bonnes fêtes is the perfect phrase. “Happy/Good [New] Year, good health”. Enjoy! Noël is for a boy, it’s spelled Noëlle (or Noelle) for a girl and they are both pronounced the same way. But the corresponding image search should show you brief greeting alternatives. La bûche (Season's Beatings) by Danièle Thompson (1999) (Best wishes for the year 2021). But, things change and now, many French families have their traditional Christmas meal … During the holiday season, you’ll spot Christmas lights and trees in every cities and towns in the country. Free online Joyeux Noël ecards on Christmas Around the World Postcards from Père Noël Letters from French kids to Father Christmas don’t just disappear into dustbins or drawers in France. And while we’re in the holiday spirit, how do you say “Happy New Year” or “Happy Hanukkah” in French? He’s Saint Nicolas and he’s at the origin of the Santa Claus legend. Christmas - traduction anglais-français. Le père Noël a les yeux bleus (Santa Claus Has Blue Eyes) by Jean Eustache (1967) 3. 3 – How do You Say a Christmas Ornament in French? Un chant de Noël (MS Word 22 KB) Christmas in France (MS Word 68 KB) Noël en Europe (MS Word 42 KB) On l'appelait Nez Rouge (MS Word 29 KB) WORD LISTS AND MATS. Would you like to know more about the Christmas Traditions in France? ), Meilleurs voeux pour l’année 2021. The classic “Merry Christmas” Joyeux Noël is the most common way to say “Merry Christmas” in French. Since the French don’t celebrate Thanksgiving, Noël is really the traditional family gathering. The Christmas meal in France is called “ Le Réveillon de Noël ” and traditionally used to be held late in the night on December 24th, as people return from the midnight mass. You enjoy this free French lesson? “Une crèche” – a manger in English – features many little figurines, also called “santons” in Provence, representing towns folks as they gather around the stable for the birth of baby Jesus. If you break it down, it literally translates to “Joyful Christmas” – so, Merry or Happy Christmas for fellow Anglophones. A powerpoint presentation and a worksheet to talk about Christmas tradition in France. Gratuit. Keep in mind that in most cases, you’ll have to use a sentence; you can’t just replace a word in a common French holiday phrase. 1. What was it like? Happy Hanukkah in French is “Joyeux Hanoukka”. The word fête normally means “party” or “celebration”, but when it’s said during the holiday season, it’s understood to mean les fêtes de fin d’année (the end-of-year holidays). Christmas in … I invite you to follow the link to my article. Noël is masculine in French, but we usually use it without any article. Father Christmas is le Père Noël. As you’ve probably guessed, it refers to the birth of Christ. Have you ever celebrated Christmas in France? Did you know France has its own French Santa? How to Say “Christmas” in French: Noël. Download it Today At No Charge Derived from the French word for “awakening,” Reveillon originally was a meal served after midnight mass on Christmas Eve in Creole households. In Breton (spoken by some people in Brittany, Northern France) it's 'Nedeleg Laouen', in Corsican it's 'Bon Natale' and in Alsatian (spoken by some people in Alsace, in Eastern France) it's 'E güeti Wïnâchte'. Alysa Salzberg is an American writer, worrier, teacher, and cookie enthusiast who has lived in Paris, France, for more than a decade. Did you know Noël was also a popular French first name? You may hear a joyful French person greet you with Bonne année, bonne santé. Voilà, you now know how to wish a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year in French – and a few other good options, besides! Find white Christmas decor, rustic elegant Christmas trees, ornaments, linens, wreaths, and interior design. Lumières – Lights While America might be known for their extravagant displays of holiday decorations, France knows how to light up a … This is the name of the French Christmas Eve meal, which is a big and long feast. Previous Post Podcast #35 Discover a new area of France: La Bourgogne Next Post Podcast #36 Discover some French Regional Traditions (Christmas Edition) Popular posts. Below is a chart of other handy phrases related to the Yuletide Season! Send all your French connections our warm and wonderful Christmas … Un conte de Noël (A Christmas Tale) by Arnaud Desplechin (2008) 2. But as in English, there can be some spelling variations, so you might also see Joyeux Hanoucca, Joyeux Hanouka, Joyeux Hannukah, and so on. The French called it “sapin de noël” or “arbre de noël”. (I wish you a magical 2021.). I invite you to follow the link to the article I wrote about the French Christmas food. The essential characters of “la crèche” are Mary, Joseph, baby Jesus, usually a donkey and an ox, sometimes the 3 kings. Forums pour discuter de Christmas, voir ses formes composées, des exemples et poser vos questions. France celebrates its Christmas highlighting on the nativity scenes, while Pre Nol is eagerly awaited for by all. If you enjoy learning French language and culture in context, check out French Today’s downloadable, Je vous souhaite un joyeux Noël et d’excellentes fêtes de fin d’année. Born and raised in Paris, I have been teaching today's French to adults for 23+ years in the US and France. Christmas crackers aren’t pulled at French Christmas meals. “Christmas” in French is Noël. Some of them were created by me, some others found on the internet. Houzz: Two French Christmas Trees Benna Crawford Benna Crawford has been a journalist and New York-based writer since 1997. The tree, covered in red apples and lights, symbolised the venue of Christ. Le Réveillon. Many French people visit a circus during the Christmas period. Christmas is an enchanting time when the best attractions of Paris and France transform into the most festive winter wonderlands. Je vous souhaite d’excellentes fêtes de fin d’année. The French translation for Christmas is Noël. To start with, this article is a good source of longer and unique holiday phrases in French. Updated March 20, 2019 Whether you are religious or not, Christmas, Noël (pronounced “no el”) is an important holiday in France. Good luck with your studies and remember, repetition is the key! Send all your french associates this beautiful Christmas ecard and wish them a Joyeux Noël. Be ready to eat well and celebrate into the wee hours on Christmas Eve. 🎆 NEW YEAR’S SALE – 20% OFF ALL AUDIOBOOKS ENDS JAN 15th. If you feel confident in your French abilities and vocabulary, you can try to mix things up. This article features audio recordings. Happy/Merry Christmas in lots … How about “Season’s Greetings”? Joyeux Noël! Includes food and regionals traditions. We have lots of special food delicacies for Christmas in France. Available for iOS, Android, Mac, Windows and Others. But if you want to be a little more original, here are some ways to do that: • Add Je vous souhaite un très before a typical holiday greeting. Noël is for a boy, it’s spelled Noëlle (or Noelle) for a girl and they are both pronounced the same way. In French, "Christmas" is Noël. But before you use this greeting, be very careful of the context. Le réveillon is a huge family celebration with a big meal and decorations. In France, the Christmas tree first appeared in Alsace in 1521. ‘The light that illuminates the world’. Ho, ho, ho, Christmas decorations are appearing in the streets of France, people are in a festive mood and Christmas shopping is in full swing. So if you aren’t absolutely certain that someone is expecting a Hanukkah greeting or wants to have it known that they celebrate, it’s best to stick with something neutral. Traditionally, they were decorated with apples, ribbons and paper flowers. For instance, instead of Bonne année, why not say Je vous souhaite une année 2021 magique. And there’s also the fact that the French Jewish community tends to be very discreet. If you want – or need – to get a little bit more formal with your holiday greetings, you can use the phrase Je vous souhaite d’excellentes fêtes de fin d’année. We’re a 2 person company based in France… Please consider supporting FrenchToday on Patreon or purchasing our unique audiobooks to learn French. 13+ hours of 1100 Phrases and Dialogs recorded at 2 different speeds. You’ll find this phrase on most cartes de vœux (greeting cards) and can use it with everyone. Le père Noël est une ordure (Santa stinks) by Jean-Marie Poiré (1982) 4. However, we feel like French carols don’t get enough attention in the states. Still in the holiday spirit? Everyone knows that Christmas carols and other holiday hymns are the best part of the holiday season. Or it can be part of a sentence. Can You Understand Today’s Spoken French? Let’s see some generic French Christmas vocabulary: We don’t really have a word for Christmas ornaments: we would say “les décorations de Noël”. Great to practice your French! The French everybody speaks in France today is NOT the overly enunciated, extremely formal French usually taught to foreigners. Based on my students' goals and needs, I've created unique downloadable French audiobooks focussing on French like it's spoken today, for all levels. It’s not just slang. Literally “I wish you excellent end of year celebrations”, this greeting can be used at work or with people you don’t know well. For example: Meilleurs vœux pour la nouvelle année. The Christmas tree is the main form of Christmas decoration in most houses. Note that some results might be really long -maybe they’re intended for people who need to send out holiday cards. Noël est une fête importante en France. Let’s study lists of French Christmas terms to help you wish a merry Christmas in French to your French friends and discuss your own Christmas traditions! But French people tend to exchange gifts on the night of Christmas Eve (le réveillon (de Noël)), rather than on Christmas Day (Noël/le jour de Noël), although kids do often get their presents from le Pere Noël on Christmas morning. Meilleurs vœux is a true chameleon. To help you celebrate, wherever you may be, here are some general French Christmas terms. Bonne année is “Happy New Year” in French. Her work has appeared in USA Today, the San Francisco Chronicle, The New York Times, and in professional journals and trade publications. But how do you say “Merry Christmas” in French? French Music Playlist: Listen to 600+ French Songs with Lyrics (for FREE!) This amps it up a little, and makes it a little fancier, too. 1 – How do you Say Christmas in French? In the North East of France, Christmas celebrations begin on the 6 December - also known as Saint Nicholas' Day. Christmas is celebrated in many countries around the world, though the exact traditions and foods vary greatly. French ski resorts say they are still hoping to influence the government's position after President Emmanuel Macron announced that resorts in the country are unlikely to open for Christmas. Noël is masculine in French, but we usually use it without any article. Noël comes from the Latin word natalis (“birth”). Songs in other languages are surprisingly popular in the US; “Feliz Navidad” is sung in Spanish, and many older carols like “Angels We Have Heard On High” feature lyrics in ancient Latin. Christmas Is 'Noël' in France. Christmas in French Guiana has much in common with Christmas in France, and in fact, French Guiana is an official part of France despite its distance and geographical detachment. The name comes from the verb réveiller, to wake up or revive.Increasingly more families start this French Christmas tradition on Christmas Day, when it is easier for the whole family to gather together. C'est une fête religieuse bien sûr, puisque traditionnellement la France est un pays catholique, mais c'est aussi une fête familiale : Le 25 décembre est un jour férié quand tout est fermé. Christmas in France Le Gros Souper + les 13 Desserts Christmas Sing-Along French Christmas Quiz French Christmas Jokes French Winter Quiz Christmas Vocabulary A Christmas Poem Les Papillotes de Noël + an idea for a Christmas activity Christmas Resources Shop Nowadays, both are common features in French households at Christmas time, but the Christmas tree has taken over as the ultimate symbol of Christmas. It may also come off as a bit cheesy or cliché, depending on the company. Here are more useful French Christmas terms: To learn 10 ways to say merry Christmas in French, I invite you to follow the link to another article I wrote with audio. You can use it on its own – you’ll often see it like this on greeting cards, for instance. Note that when applicable, I used a modern spoken French pronunciation. While it means “best wishes” for most of the year, it turns into “Season’s Greetings” in December and early January as people celebrate Christmas and the New Year. It’s Christmas time! Most of my audiobooks are recorded at several speeds to help you conquer the modern French language. For one thing, as is the case for most Jewish communities around the world, Hanukkah in France is a relatively minor holiday. Introduces Christmas vocabulary (matches Linguascope) with a few activities to practise colours and numbers. Understated and lovely Joyeux Noel!. You can find more ideas by typing a traditional French holiday greeting plus the word original (which in this context means “unique”) into a search engine. If you break it down, it literally translates to “Joyful Christmas” – so, Merry or Happy Christmas for fellow Anglophones. For example, the phrase I just suggested works, but just Magique année (Magical year)would be confusing – just as it would in English. Check out our articles on French Christmas vocabulary and French Christmas traditions. In France, the big celebration is actually on December 24th, the night before Christmas. As in English, these French holiday greetings are perfectly acceptable and usually appreciated – unless you run into a French Scrooge! 4 – What Does “La Crèche” Mean in French? Joyeux Noël (Merry Christmas) by Christian Carion (2005) 5. Here is a video I did in 2019 about Christmas in France. Did you know Noël was also a popular French first name? One of the main French and French Guianan traditions is that of Papa Noel, also called Father Christmas. French Christmas Wall quiz (MS PowerPoint 252 KB) added 13.12.19. Learn the French words and phrases for common Christmas topics and use it to spruce up your French conversations this season. In French Happy/Merry Christmas is 'Joyeux Noël'. She has taught English and French for more than ten years, most notably as an assistante de langue vivante for L'Education Nationale. You’ll also find enchanting Christmas markets taking centre-stage in historic districts. When is Christmas Celebrated in France? 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