Fun Spring Words in French

Spring Holidays in the French-Speaking World

Spring holidays aren't always the same in all French-speaking countries!

While religious holidays follow their own calendars, holidays like Labor Day and Mother's Day aren't always celebrated on the same days in all French-speaking countries and may fall on different dates than when you celebrate them in your culture.

Holidays are sometimes celebrated in a different way than you imagine, too! For instance, the French traditionally celebrate April 1 by sticking a cut-out paper fish onto someone's back and hoping they won’t notice—though it’s more broadly a day for all kinds of pranks, usually followed by the exclamation Poisson d'avril !(literally, April fish!). On May 1, there may be manifestations(protests) to support workers' rights for la fête du Travail, but it's also a day when people give each other sprigs of muguet(lily of the valley) for good luck. And on Easter in France, it's not an Easter bunny who delivers chocolates to children, it's les cloches de Pâques(the Easter bells). You read that right! The church bells fly to Rome and bring back chocolates—often shaped like eggs, bunnies, hens, or bells—that are hidden for children to find.