Paix et bonheur ! Peace and Joy! Talking about the Holiday Season in French
In this post we’ll learn vocabulary and expressions that you can use to talk about the holiday season in French. First we’ll learn holiday greetings that you can use for Christmas and Hanukkah. Then we’ll look at vocabulary that you can use to talk about holiday decorations. After that we’ll learn how to talk about gifts and gift giving in French. Next we’ll learn how to talk about the holiday spirit. Finally, we’ll learn how to wish people a happy new year in French.
If you’d like to learn about how Christmas is celebrated in France, check out this post. You’ll learn about family traditions, religious observances, Christmas markets, Christmas food, and La Fête des Rois.
Greetings for the Holiday Season in French
The first thing you may want to know how to say is of course Merry Christmas or Happy Hanukkah. Here are some other expressions you can use to wish people well during the holiday season. We’ll come back to how to say happy new year in French later.
- Joyeux Noël !
Merry Christmas! - Joyeux Hanukka !
Happy Hanukkah! - Passez de bonnes fêtes !
Enjoy the Holidays!
- Fêtez-vous Noël/Hanukkah ?
Do you celebrate Christmas/Hanukkah? - Bonnes fêtes de fin d’année !
Enjoy this time of year! - Passez un bon mois de décembre.
I hope you have a good December. - J‘espère que vous allez revoir/retrouver vos amis et votre famille.
I hope you see your friends and family. - Je vous souhaite paix, santé, et bonheur.
I wish you peace, health, and happiness! - J’espère que vous aurez beaucoup/plein de cadeaux.
I hope you get a lot of presents.
Decorations during the Holiday Season in French
Lots of people put up decorations this time of year, so you may want to say: un sapin de Noël (Christmas tree), une menorah (menorah), une étoile (star), une bougie (candle), un cloche (bell), des lampes de toutes les couleurs (colorful lights), une crèche de Noël (nativity scene), l’enfant Jésus (baby Jesus), un ange (angel), les rois mages (three kings), le Père Noël (Santa Claus), un bonhomme de neige (snowman), un renne (reindeer).
- Nous allons acheter un sapin/arbre de Noël ce week-end.
We’re going to buy a Christmas tree this weekend. - Décorons le sapin/l’arbre de Noël.
Let’s decorate the Christmas tree. - Allumons la menorah.
Let’s light the menorah. - Une menorah a neuf bougies.
A menorah has nine candles. - Il y a des lampes de toutes les couleurs sur la maison.
There are colorful lights on the house. - Les décorations de Noël sont belles.
The Christmas tree ornaments are beautiful. - Tous les ans nous installons une crèche de Noël.
We put up a manger/nativity scene every year. - Ma famille accroche des décorations d’Hanukkah.
My family puts up Hanukkah decorations.
Holiday Gifts
Exchanging presents is of course a big part of the holiday season, so you may want to say: un cadeau (gift/present), du papier cadeau (wrapping paper), une carte de voeux, carte d’anniversaire (card).
- Je dois acheter des cadeaux pour beaucoup d’amis et de la famille.
I have to buy gifts for a lot of friends and relatives. - J’ai un cadeau pour toi/vous.
I got a present for you. - Qu’est-ce que tu as pris pour moi ?
What did you get for me? - Ouvre ton/ Ouvrez votre cadeau !
Unwrap your present. - C’est un super cadeau !
This is a great present! - Tu es/Vous êtes si généreux/prévenant.
You’re so generous/thoughtful. - J’adore mon cadeau.
I love my present. - J’ai fait ce cadeau pour toi/vous moi-même.
I made this gift for you myself. - Le Père Noël a laissé des cadeaux sous l’arbre/le sapin de Noël.
Santa Claus left gifts under the Christmas tree. - Nous recevons huit cadeaux pour Hannukah.
We get eight gifts for Hanukkah.
The Spirit of the Holiday Season in French
The holiday season means different things to different people.
- J’adore la saison des fêtes.
I love the holiday season. - Il y a de la musique de Noël partout.
There is Christmas music everywhere. - J’attends les fêtes avec impatience.
I’m looking forward to the holiday. - J’adore Noël.
I love Christmas. - Je suis impatient de voir ma famille pour Hanukkah.
I’m excited to see my family for Hanukkah. - Paix sur la terre.
I hope for peace on earth. - Nous faisons des dons pour des familles pauvres/en difficulté.
We’re donating gifts for poor families. - C’est important de donner à manger aux gens qui en ont besoin.
It’s important to give food to people who need it. - Je suis reconnaissant(e) pour ma famille et mes amis.
I’m thankful for my family and friends.
Happy New Year in French
Soon enough, the year will come to an end, and people everywhere will drink a toast to the new year. So you’ll want to know how to wish people a happy new year in French, and how to talk about all of the festivities.
- Allez-vous à un réveillon du Nouvel An ?
Are you going to a New Year’s Eve party? - Nous faisons un grand dîner avec la famille et des amis.
We eat a big dinner with family and friends. - J’invite des amis à une fête/soirée.
I’m inviting friends to a party. - Bonne année !
Happy New Year! - Il est minuit, buvons du champagne !
It’s midnight, let’s drink champagne! - Santé !
Cheers! - Paix, santé, et bonheur pour la nouvelle année !
Peace, health, and happiness in the new year! - Quelles sont tes résolutions pour la nouvelle année ?
What are your New Year’s Resolutions? - Je veux me mettre en forme pour la nouvelle année.
I want to get in shape in the new year. - Je veux apprendre une nouvelle langue pour la nouvelle année.
I want to learn a new language in the new year. - Je te/vous souhaite beaucoup de succès pour la nouvelle année.
I wish you great success in the new year. - Je vous souhaite beaucoup de bonheur pour la nouvelle année.
I hope you are very happy in the new year.
No matter what holiday you celebrate, we wish you great health and happiness, and a very happy new year in French: Bonne année !
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