10 Questions to Debunk New Year in France & Audio Pronunciation 🎉

Author: Camille Chevalier-Karfis

How do you celebrate New Year In France? What do the French do, wear, eat on New Year’s Eve? What’s on TV? When and how do you say Happy New Year in French?

New Year’s Eve is celebrated in many countries around the world. Each has its own traditions, and of course, France has many special traditions for celebrating the New Year.

Let’s see what French people usually do on New Year’s Eve. First, I’ve listed and recorded for you the French vocabulary we use around New Year’s Eve.

4 Typical New Year Greetings In French

This free French lesson – like many on French Today’s blog – features audio recordings. Click on the link next to the headphones to hear the French pronunciation.

The Typical New Year greetings are:

  1. Je te/vous souhaite une joyeuse année
  2. Bonne année 2024! 
  3. Que tous tes voeux se réalisent en 2024
  4. Que tous vos voeux se réalisent en 2024
  5. Bonne année et bonne santé pour 2024

What’s the French New Year Vocabulary?

Here are some French terms and expressions you’ll hear around the New Year in France:

  1. Joyeuse annĂ©e ! – Happy new year
  2. Tous nos voeux pour la nouvelle annĂ©e – all our wishes for the new year
  3. 2024 – deux mille-vingt-quatre
  4. Le RĂ©veillon – used both for Christmas’ Eve and New Year’s Eve
  5. Une soirĂ©e dĂ©guisĂ©e – costume party
  6. Une soirĂ©e dansante – dancing party
  7. Faire la fĂȘte – to party
  8. Le gui (hard G + ee) – mistletoe
  9. Les huitres (zwee tr) – oysters
  10. Le saumon fumĂ© – smoked salmon
  11. Le foie-gras – Fancy liver patĂ©
  12. Le champagne – champagne (sh sound, no tch!)
  13. Un bĂȘtisier – bloopers
  14. Une Ă©mission de variĂ©tĂ©s – variety show
  15. Un feu d’artifice – firework
  16. Un bal populaire – street dance

Click here to read my article about making New Year’s Resolutions in French.

Now let’s see how the New Year is typically celebrated in France.

How Do You Celebrate New Year’s Eve In France?

New Year’s eve in France is a big deal, and French people often have big parties, sometimes costumed parties. French towns organise fireworks, with live music and dancing.

So let’s see how the French truly celebrate New Year.

What To Expect At A New Year’s Eve Party in France?

French people like to organize costume parties (des soirées déguisées) with a theme, others like to dress to the Nines (se mettre sur son 31), and dancing will be likely at these parties (French people enjoy dancing
 a lot!)

New Year’s Eve has more of a party vibe in France, and it’s often spent with friends rather than family.

unnamed

At these parties, people may be discussing their new year’s resolutions “les rĂ©solutions de la nouvelle annĂ©e”


What’s The Biggest NY Tradition in France?

A big New Year tradition to kiss at the stroke of midnight under le gui (pronounced hard G + ee = mistletoe).

Except from this, we don’t have special traditions in France about New Year’s Eve, except counting down to midnight sharp, when everybody kisses everybody else, cheers, aplaudes, throws confettis and other party streamers (des confettis, des cotillons), blows on whistles (des sifflets) and whistles with a streamer attached (des serpentins)


What’s The Typical French Food For The New Year in France?

One thing is certain, if you are invited for un dĂźner de la Saint Sylvestre / Le RĂ©veillon du Nouvel An  (New year’s eve dinner), there will be some Champagne, and possibly oysters (les huitres – mind your liaison “lay zueetr”), foie gras (fwa gra) and smoked salmon (du saumon fumĂ©)


It’s also traditional to serve a turkey, or a goose, or cornish hen. Scallops and lobsters are also popular, so is game meat like venison.

In other words, French chefs will bend over backwards to entertain their guests and serve only the best of the best of French produce and cuisine.

À Moi Paris Audiobook Method

A new approach to learning both traditional and modern French logically structured for English speakers.

(836 Reviews)

More Details & Audio Samples

Do People Go Out For Diner for the New Year in France?

Yes, the French often go out to restaurants for their New Year meal.

Our New Year’s meal is pretty much the same than the French Christmas meal.

Restaurants will offer a special (and pricey) set selection of festive dishes (the set selection is called “un menu“, not to be mistaken with the menu which is “la carte“)

New year in France

How do French Villages And Towns Celebrates The New Year?

It’s not unlikely for cities to organize fireworks (des feux d’artifice) or a danse (un bal populaire), or even a parade of some sort.

However, if New Year’s Eve tends to be a big thing in France, some people will just have a casual gathering
 or snuggle up at home, maybe watch TV
 Which brings us to my next question.

Is There A Special TV Program in France For New Year’s Eve?

We don’t really have a special TV program for New Year’s Eve.

There will most likely be “un bĂȘtisier” (bloopers) and a live pop songs show, musical or a variety show
 or just a really good movie: maybe even an American blockbuster!

Now, let’s see when the French typically wish Happy New Year.

When Do You Wish Happy New Year in France?

Strangely enough, French people don’t wish each other Happy Holidays or Happy New Year way in advance like I’ve seen it done in the US – over there, come December you greet everyone with a “Happy Holidays”, with your friends but also in stores etc


It’s not like that in France.

People will say “Joyeux NoĂ«l” on Christmas Eve and day, and “Bonne annĂ©e” the week after the New Year, but that’s about it.

It’s not a faux-pas to do it, people will accept and usually politely return your wishes, but it’s just not done as much.

Wishing you all happy holidays and a wonderful new year 2024!

Wait !

Did you know that in France the Holiday fun is not over until January 6th – the official end of the Holiday season in France? On January 6th, we celebrate l’Epiphanie with a special pastry: la galette des rois. Read more about it and learn an easy recipe here – bake it and let us know how it was!

And if you missed it before, here is all About Christmas (Noël) in France, and Hanukkah.

Bonne année à tous, may your 2024 progress in French be amazing :-)

Author: Camille Chevalier-Karfis

Camille Chevalier-Karfis

Born and raised in Paris, I have been teaching today's French to adults for 25+ years in the US and France. 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. Come to Paimpol and enjoy an exclusive French immersion homestay with me in Brittany.

More Articles from Camille Chevalier-Karfis

Comments

Leave a Comment

DOWNLOAD YOUR FRENCH AUDIOBOOK
🎁 2.5 Hours French Audiobook - 100% Free / Keep Forever 🎁

Recorded at 3 different speeds + Study Guide + Q&A + Full Transcript

Item added to cart.
0 items - US$0.00

Can You Understand Today’s Spoken French?

It’s not just slang. The French everybody speaks in France today is NOT the overly enunciated, extremely formal French usually taught to foreigners.

TAKE YOUR FREE AUDIO TEST NOW