January
New Year's Eve - New Year's Day
31 December - 1st January. The first of January is a national holiday and is traditionally observed by visits to relatives and friends, accompanied by the French greeting of a "bonne et heureuse année". It is the custom, at the stroke of twelve midnight, for all the guests to kiss one another to wish a Happy New Year.
Epiphanie "fête des rois" (Twelfth Night)
The first Sunday of January. This is a Christian celebration of the visit of the Three Wise Men to the newborn Jesus. This day we " pull " the kings (tirer les rois). The custom on this day is to share among family and friends the "galette des rois" a cake made of puff pastry with almond paste, which contains a bean or a little porcelain doll. The one who finds the bean in his piece of cake is the King or the Queen and have to wear a crown on the head.
February
2 February: La Chandeleur/Candlemas
A Roman Catholic celebration of candles for the purification of the Virgin Mary and for the presentation of Christ in the temple, 40 days after his birth. Originally it was the custom to bring home from the church a blessed candle to protect the home during the coming year. Nowadays, it is traditionally observed by the making of "crêpes" or pancakes. Flipping the pancakes while holding a coin in the left hand, or to toss the first pancake successfully over the wardrobe portends, assures happiness and money for the entire year. Crepes are best with fine bottled cider.
14 February: St
Valentine's Day 
Also called the "Fête des amoureux" (Lover's day). Cupid has become its e
April
Easter 
Easter is an annual
Christian feast commemorating the resurrection of Christ. Church bells do not ring for three days starting from Good
Friday till the Easter Sunday. This is a token of mourning for the crucified
Christ. The legend
is that the bells do not ring because they go to Rome and come back bringing
gifts. As soon as the bells begin to ring on Easter morning, the children go outside in
search of the gifts falen from heaven (easter eggs and chocolate
objects hidden in the gardens). According to the tradition, people eat lamb on this day.
It is
called the Paschal lamb, which represents the sheep Abraham killed instead of
his son Isaac.
May
1st May: The First of May or Labour
Day
Labour Day is a public holiday respected throughout France.
Labour Day devoted to the workers who in turn hold marches and manifestations relative to their industries.
Also Day of the Lilies of the Valley, a flower which, when presented on this day, brings good luck to all and is sold everywhere on the street corners.
8 May: Anniversary
1945
This is also a bank holiday celebrating the end of the German occupation
of France during the Second World War.
Ascension
Day (public holiday)
A
religious holiday commemorating the ascension of Jesus Christ, in
presence of the apostles, into heaven on the 40th day after his resurrection.
It is celebrated on the Thursday of the fifth week after Easter.
Pentecost/Whit Sunday and Whit Monday (public holiday)
It is a religious holiday which celebrates the descent of the Holy Ghost. Pentecost takes place 50 days after Easter.
End May: Mother's
Day
Last Sunday of May in France. Mothers are honoured on this day. Tradition has it that children
offer their mother a present.
June
Father's
Day
The
date varies. It is similar to Mother's Day. An
occasion for gift-giving by children to their fathers.
21 June: Fête de la
musique (Music Festival)
The "fête de la musique"
marks the transition from spring to summer (summer solstice). France lives to
the rhythm of music and numerous musicians and
groups offer their shows on this occasion in streets.
July
14 July: National Holiday - Bastille Day
Bastille Day symbolizes the birth of the Republic and the end of the Monarchy, when the King of France had all of the political power. In 1789 hungry citizens were fed up with the Old Regime which granted too many privileges to the nobility and the clergy. On July 14th 1789, Parisian mob stormed the Bastille Castle, then functioning as a royal prison. The mob killed its governor, the Marquis de Launey, and released its seven prisoners. The symbol of the royal power was then destroyed, and thus began the French Revolution.
The storming of the Bastille symbolizes for all citizens of France,
liberty, democracy and the struggle against all forms of oppression.
Bastille Day, 14 July, was officially
proclaimed the national holiday in 1880. Today, the festivities of July 14 are as popular as ever. In Paris, the
traditional military parade on the Champs-Elysées is a meticulously planned
spectacle, and dancing and fireworks displays are
organized all over the country.
August
15 August:
Assumption Day
This is a public holiday celebrating the ascent into heaven of the soul
and of the body of the Virgin Mary.
November
1st November: All
Saints' Day
It is a bank
holiday. This is a Catholic feast held in honour of all the saints. All Saints' Day
is followed by "La Fête des Morts" (the "All Souls' Day") when everyone goes to
visit, refurbish and decorate the graves of their loved ones with flowers.
11 November: Armistice
The Armistice, which
ended the First World War, is celebrated on this day in France. On November 11th 1918, in the Compiegne forest, was
signed the armistice which put an end to the first world war. Every year, flowers are placed on commemorative monuments,
and the President lays a wreath on the tomb of the
unknown soldier, situated under the Arc de Triomphe in Paris.
25 November: Saint Catherine's Day
A holiday in honour of all the single women who have reached the age of twenty-five. They are called the "Catherinettes".
December
25
december : Christmas
This is a bank holiday. It is the feast of the birth of Jesus Christ. In France, Christmas Day is celebrated with all of the family coming together. Celebrations begin on Christmas Eve (the 24th in the evening). At midnight, many people attend Christmas masses, then return home for a late supper called "réveillon" (Christmas Eve) during which it is traditional to slice a "Buche de Noel", a cake in the form of a yule-log made for the occasion.