15 Fabulous French New Year’s Eve Traditions In France

Here are 15 French traditions and customs to help you kick off New Year’s Eve and New Year in France “à la Française” (like the French.)

By Annie André ⦿ updated January 10, 2024  
15 fabulous French New Years Eve Traditions in France
15 fabulous French New Years Eve Traditions in France

There isn’t a right or wrong way to ring in the New Year in France; however, there are certain traditions and customs the French tend to follow more closely when it comes to celebrating this end-of-year celebration.
Here are 15 French traditions and customs to help you kick off the New Year à la Française “like the French.”

New Year’s Eve Celebration In France

In France, the New Year’s Eve celebration is called “Le Réveillon de la Saint-Sylvestre.”

  • “La Saint-Sylvestre” (pronounced “la sain-sil ve-str”) is the patron saint of the New Year.
  • “Le Réveillon” (pronounced “luh rei-vaY-on”), which literally means “the awakening,” idiomatically means a night-time celebration, especially a feast.

Other names you might hear that refer to New Year’s Eve are “réveillon de jour de l’an” and “Le Réveillon du Nouvel An”.

15 fabulous French New Years Eve Traditions in France

1- New Year’s Eve meal and party:

A feast and festivities with friends and family

champagne

New Year’s Eve is almost always celebrated with a feast of rich foods.

Some people like to have their New Year’s feast in a quiet environment at home with family and close friends. Others like to go gangbusters and party like it’s 1999 with extravagant parties, music and dancing. Costume parties are also popular at this time of year.

People often get dressed up for New Year’s Eve, but it’s not a faux pas if you don’t; it just depends on the event you are attending. There’s even a French expression, “se mettre sur son 31,” which means “to dress up like it’s a New Year’s Eve party.” The closest equivalent in English is “to dress to the Nines.”

Whether you have a quiet family dinner or attend a loud costume party, there is inevitably going to be a feast of food and drink.

Although the food served at any New Year’s Eve feast will vary, there are some dishes that are more common than others and might be considered staple dishes for New Year’s Eve in France, such as foie gras, oysters, crustaceans, smoked salmon, escargot and maybe even caviar, if you’re host, has the budget for it.

All of this rich food will, of course, be accompanied by Champagne or Crémant “sparkling wine” to drink during your meal and at the stroke of midnight to ring in the new year.

You can read more about the food served for New Year’s Eve by reading this article I wrote: French New Year’s Eve Food Traditions: Is It Too Weird For You?

2- New Year’s Eve soirée out on the town:

Dining, dancing, clubbing and shows

new-years-eve-party

If you don’t plan on throwing a New Year’s Eve house party or you’re not invited to one, there is no shortage of restaurants, hotels, bars, clubs and other special offerings on New Year’s Eve.

Most events cost money, and you may be expected to dress up, so check the dress code. Restaurants may have a special New Year’s Eve meal, which will be more expensive than their regular menu. Bars and clubs may have special events planned so check the local area’s list of events to see all your options.

It’s a good idea to make reservations or buy tickets in advance to secure your spot.

3- Kissing under the mistletoe

“S’embrasser Sous le Gui” or “Le baiser sous le gui”

mistletoe

Thanks to the Druid Celts who believed mistletoe’s mystical powers brought good luck and warded off evil spirits, the French have a tradition which you probably already know about kissing under the mistletoe, “S’embrasser Sous le Gui.” Mistletoe in French, “GUI” is pronounced with a hard “G” like in the word Guide and rhymes with KEY.

Unlike many Anglo-Saxon cultures, kissing under the mistletoe is reserved for New Year’s and not Christmas.

At midnight, after the countdown, everyone cries, “Bonne Année”! (Happy New Year) and everyone (I MEAN E-V-E-R-Y-O-N-E) kisses one another.

Related: The many ways to say kiss me in French and French kiss.

4- Fireworks

fireworks-france-new-years

Certain cities in France, like Paris and Strasbourg, are renowned for Fireworks; however, for security reasons, after the terrorist attacks, many planned New Year’s Eve fireworks and festivities were cancelled, including the famous Paris fireworks show.

That is until the end of the 2017 New Year’s festivities. So, double-check, just in case.

6- The Champs-Elysées

The epicentre of France’s New Year’s Party

arc-de-triumphe-art-et-son

If you happen to be in Paris for New Year’s Eve and want to be at the centre of the party, the champs-Elysées is the place to be.

People start gathering at this famous avenue at around 9 pm on New Year’s Eve, where you can get a great view of the Eiffel Tower, which displays a sparkling light show at the stroke of midnight.

There is also a sound and light show projected onto The Arc de Triomphe at Place Charles de Gaulle off the Champs-Elysée, which starts around 11 pm on New Year’s Eve.

For the end-of-year celebrations of 2017, the light and sound show is followed by fireworks, but as I mentioned before, in past years, parades and fireworks were cancelled due to security reasons, so be sure and check to see the planned events.

It can get pretty rowdy and crowded on the famous avenue, so if you are claustrophobic or don’t like crowds, this may not be the place for you. And be wary of pickpockets.

7- French Villages and Towns Celebrations

You don’t need to be in Paris to celebrate New Year’s. All across France, in French Villages and Towns, New Year’s Eve is celebrated in a variety of ways, from parades and fireworks to dances and light shows.

Check the official homepage of the city you are in to see what festivities are offered.

8- Watch The New Year’s Greetings From The President Of France On T.V.

Les-vœux-presidentiels

Every year at 8 pm, the president of the French Republic addresses the people of France on TV with a presidential greeting, “Les vœux présidentiels.”

This speech is broadcast from the Élysée Palace official residence of the French President and the French equivalent of the White House.

During this presidential greeting, the president takes stock of the past year and expresses his political vision and his wishes for the future of France.

You might be interested in reading 20 Mysterious Nicknames and Country Names for France explained.

9- Kissing at midnight like a French person:

Faire la bise

new-years-kiss-france

In most Anglo-Saxon and Western cultures, it’s customary for people to give a New Year’s kiss to someone will lead to a year of loneliness.

In France, the tradition is a little more complicated because you don’t just kiss one person; it’s tradition to “faire la bise” (cheek kiss ) with EVERYONE at midnight.

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.”

Depending on the region of France, you should give anywhere from 2 to 4 alternating cheek kisses. In Provence, it’s 2; in Montpellier, it’s 3; and in some parts of France, it’s 4. I know it’s complicated.

You could say that La Bise is kind of the French version of a hug, but not really.

The exception for “La Bise” is if you are at a street gathering, club or bar where everyone is strangers. In this case, you could shake hands and wish people standing near you a Happy New Year and only kiss the friends and family whom you are with.

You might be interested in reading my article on how to faire la bise and greet someone with a cheek kiss.

Image for pintrest about 15 French new years traditions

10- You can start wishing people “Happy New Year”:

but only after midnight on December 31st-not before

In most English-speaking countries, you can utter the words “Happy New Year” well before the actual new year begins. In France, this isn’t so.

Instead, you will hear friends, family, and shopkeepers say ”Bonnes fêtes de fin dannée,” which literally means “Happy end-of-year celebrations,” but idiomatically, it means Happy Holidays. 

Only after the stroke of midnight on December 31st will French people actually wish you a Happy New Year (Bonne Année) followed by “best wishes”(Meilleurs Voeux).

The exception is the president who wishes his people a happy new year in his presidential New Year’s greetings before the New Year begins at 8 pm on the 31st of December.

11- New Year’s resolutions

The ancient Babylonians are believed to have been the first people to make New Year’s resolutions some 4,000 years ago. Today, the custom of making a New Year’s resolution is an unavoidable part of the New Year’s tradition, mainly in the Western Hemisphere, including in France.

12- New Year’s greeting cards

new-years-cards-french

The French haven’t really caught on to the whole idea of sending Christmas cards. Instead, they send New Year’s greeting cards called “Les Cartes de Voeux du Nouvel An,” which are usually sent on or after the first of January.

Thanks to the evolution of the internet, instead of sending a physical card, it’s not uncommon for friends to wish you a Happy New Year via text or social media sites like Facebook. Some say it’s ok while others think it’s better to send a card. The choice is yours.

13- New Year’s Gifts:

Les étrennes du Nouvel An

entrennes

New Year’s gifts called “Les étrennes” are an old tradition that goes back to the Romans.

These days, giving New Year’s gifts is about showing gratitude to the people who serve us all year long with a cash gift at New Year’s.

People like postal workers, firefighters, rubbish collectors, cleaners, caretakers, apartment concierge, janitors etc. How much you give depends on your generosity and ability to pay, but according to Francetvinfo, you should give anywhere from 5 to 50 euros as a token of your gratitude.

Sometimes parents and grandparents will give children an “étrenne” as early as the New Year’s Eve meal.

And finally, don’t be surprised to get a knock on your door in the month of January from a Firefighter selling calendars in exchange for “Les étrennes” donations.

14- New Year’s Eve wafers- waffles:

Les Gaufrettes aka les étrennes

Gaufrettes-gaufres-seche photo-icon.50xpng(Photo source from Mathilda)

I just love this next French tradition, which is mainly practiced in Northern France for the new year. It involves offering guests who stop by to wish you well for the new year homemade gaufres-seches.

These cute little “gaufre seche de nouvel and,” which literally means dry New Year’s waffles are sometimes called “les gaufrettes” or “les étrennes,” and they have the same texture and taste as ice cream cones but with more of a vanilla taste to them.

dry-waffle-ice-cream-cone

15-Celebrations don’t end until the 6th of January:

(on the 12th day of Christmas  with La fête des Rois)

galletes-des-rois

January 6th is an important day in France. It marks the last day of the holiday season and is known as épiphane and La fête des Rois.

The 12 days of Christmas is the period in Christian theology which marks the time between the birth of Christ and the coming of the Magi — the three wise men. It begins on Christmas day (December 25) through January 6 (Epiphany, sometimes called Three Kings’ Day)-the day when the three kings ”Three Wise Men” visited baby Jesus and presented their gifts to him. Remember that song “The 12 days of Christmas”? 

On this day and the days leading up to the 6th of January, friends, family, schools and offices across the country share a piece of king cake with each other called “La Galette Des Rois.”

A typical King cake consists of a puff pastry case filled with frangipane sold with a paper crown. Hidden inside the filling is a small little treasure called a fève, which means bean. It’s called a bean because that is what used to be put in a king cake. These days, you’re more likely to find a plastic or ceramic figurine. The person who finds the hidden fèvre in their piece of cake is ‘king’ for the day and wears the paper crown.

Les galettes des Rois are easy to find at this time of year – bakeries and stores in France are filled with them.

You can read more about this Galette de Rois tradition here. 

Recap of French New Year’s Vocabulary

French New Year greetings (before the new year)

  • Happy holidays: Joyeuses fêtes!
  • Happy holidays: Bonnes fêtes de fin d’année

French New Year greetings (only on January 1st and throughout the month of January)

  • Happy New Year: Bonne Année! Joyeuse Année!
  • Happy New Year and good health: Bonne année et bonne santé
  • Happy New Year! Bonne année !
  • Season’s greetings: Meilleurs vœux!

Multiple ways to say New Year’s Eve

  • Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve: Le Réveillon
  • New Year’s Eve: La Saint-Sylvestre
  • New Year’s Eve: Le Réveillon de Saint-Sylvestre (also refers to the New Year’s Eve party and feast).
  • New Year’s Eve: Le Réveillon du Nouvel
  • December 31st.: Le 31 décembre

Multiple ways to say New Year’s

  • New Year’s Day: Le Jour de l’An
  • New Year’s day: Le Nouvel An
  • January 1st. : Le premier janvier

Misc Expressions associated with the new year in France

  • Midnight: Minuit
  • At the stroke of midnight: Sur le coup de minuit
  • Mistletoe: Le gui (hard g)
  • New Year’s resolution: une bonne résolution
  • Epiphany: épiphane and La fête des Rois
  • King cake: Gallette des rois
  • New Year’s Day Gifts / Tips: Les étrennes
  • Mistletoe: Le gui (pronounced with a hard G-ee rhymes with KEY)
  • New Year’s resolution: Une bonne résolution
  • The new years meal: Le repas du Nouvel An
  • Fireworks: Les feux d’artifice
  • To propose a toast: Porter un toast / Porter un toast
  • Hangover: La gueule de bois
  • A good time: Bon enfant

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Annie André

Annie André

About the author

I'm Annie André, a bilingual North American with Thai and French Canadian roots. I've lived in France since 2011. When I'm not eating cheese, drinking wine or hanging out with my husband and children, I write articles on my personal blog annieandre.com for intellectually curious people interested in all things France: Life in France, travel to France, French culture, French language, travel and more.

 

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