The French love a celebration, and every one of them is a ready-made way to bring the language and its culture to life. You do not need to be fluent, or to have ever set foot in France, to share these moments with your class. Here is a simple calendar of French celebrations through the year, each with an easy classroom activity you can run as it comes around.
JanuaryLa Galette des Rois
At the start of the year the French share a galette, a golden pastry with a tiny charm hidden inside. Whoever finds the charm in their slice is crowned the king or queen for the day. Make simple paper crowns in class, hide a counter in one, and crown your roi or reine. It is a joyful way to introduce the words roi, reine and couronne.
FebruaryLa Chandeleur
The second of February is crepe day across France, when everyone flips crepes for luck. You do not need a stove to join in. Have students flip paper or felt crepes, or simply learn the food words, and talk about sweet fillings like sucre, citron and chocolat. A delicious doorway into French food vocabulary.
FebruaryLe Carnaval
Carnival season brings colour and costumes to towns across France, especially the famous Carnaval de Nice. Make bright masks in class and use them to practise colours, rouge, bleu, jaune and vert, and feelings. A hands-on craft that gets everyone speaking.
AprilLe Poisson d'Avril
The first of April is April Fools' Day in France, and the classic trick is to stick a little paper fish on someone's back without them noticing. It is gentle, silly fun. Cut out paper poissons, decorate them, and use the day to learn poisson and other animal words with a laugh.
JuneLa Fete de la Musique
On the twenty-first of June France fills with music for its national music day, with free concerts on every corner. Bring it into class by teaching a simple French song, learning a few instrument words, and having a mini classroom concert. Songs carry pronunciation and rhythm beautifully.
JulyLe 14 Juillet
Bastille Day, or La Fete Nationale, is France's biggest celebration, marked with parades and fireworks in blue, white and red. Make tricolore flags or fireworks art, and use the colours to practise bleu, blanc and rouge and a little counting. A memorable, patriotic splash of French culture.
Any termLa Petanque
Petanque is France's beloved outdoor bowling game, played in village squares on warm afternoons. Take soft balls out to the playground and play a gentle round, counting points in French and using simple phrases. A lovely way to take the language outside.
DecemberNoel
French Christmas has its own warm traditions, from the buche de Noel cake to shoes left out for Pere Noel. Teach Joyeux Noel, learn a French carol, and talk about how Christmas looks a little different in France. A cosy end to the year of culture.
Bring a little France to your class all year
A celebration here, a craft there, a song or a game, and French culture becomes a living part of your classroom rather than a one-off lesson. If you would like more, try our guide to French culture in the classroom, our free French board game, or our free French fruits game.
Ready-made French resources for primary classrooms
Our French resources include print-and-go worksheets, no-prep lessons and a full-year program, mapped to Kindergarten through Year 6, so you can bring the language and culture together with ease.
Explore our French resources