The New Year’s Eve on the 31st of December popularly called the ‘la Saint-Sylvestre’ mark the last day of the Gregorian calendar and is generally celebrated by greeting friends and family and also exchanging gifts and presents. The French people are fonder of this festival than perhaps any other and therefore lose no opportunity of showering the near ones with presents and good wishes.
Great feasting and merry making on the New Year’s Eve welcome New Year in France with special dinner organized for family and friends called the ‘le Réveillon de la Saint-Sylvestre’. Specially perpared dishes are laid for the feast and the family sits together to eat and drink Champagne and Foi Gras.
The traditional way of midnight grape picking also mark the celebrations of New Year in France. It is believed that 12 grapes signifying the 12 months of the year are eaten at midnight on the new year’s eve to bring in good luck and prosperity. The ‘le Jour de l'An’, or the New Year day is welcomed by formulating new resolutions, and offering prayers and biding farewell to the old year.
Depending upon the province you are in, a slight variation in the New Year celebrations is seen. However each is marked with great splendor nonetheless.
On 6th of January the customary cake cutting ceremony or the ‘La Galette Des Rois’ mark the end of holidays and the New Year Celebrations in France. It is now time to get back to work and the final wait for another New Year in France is about to begin…
New Year in France comprehensive information available at travel.mapsofworld.com
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