French Greetings: Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
How do the French wish someone a Merry Christmas? And how do you say happy new year in French? Learn all the different holiday greetings in this short article!
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How to say Merry Christmas in FrenchHow to say happy holidays in FrenchHow to wish someone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year in FrenchHow to say “season’s greetings” in FrenchHow to say happy new year in FrenchMeilleurs vœux ! – A greeting that works all year roundOther ways to wish someone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year in FrenchConclusionHere are some FAQs about French Christmas and New YearDo you have French friends and family whom you want to greet this holiday season? Or do you simply want to know how to say Merry Christmas and a happy new year in French?
Here in this article, let’s look at the different ways you can wish someone happy holidays in French. From the most common to the more complicated ones, let’s check it out below.
How to say Merry Christmas in French
Joyeux Noël ! – Merry Christmas!
Just like its English counterpart, Joyeux Noël is the common way to wish someone a Merry Christmas in French. Use it with everyone in your life!
How to say happy holidays in French
Bonnes fêtes de fin d’année ! – Happy Holidays!
“Bonnes fêtes de fin d’année !” literally means “good end-of-year celebrations”. Fêtes de fin d’année covers Christmas, New Year, and all the activities that come with it. But you can also use this greeting with people who don’t celebrate Christmas.
If you don’t want to risk alienating someone who doesn’t celebrate Christmas for whatever reason–religious or otherwise–this is the right way to greet them.
This greeting can be used whether in formal or informal scenarios. You can also use it to end your emails before going off to enjoy the holiday season!
Here are a few other ways to say happy holidays in French
- Bonnes Fêtes !
- Joyeuses Fêtes !
- Bonnes et Heureuses Fêtes !
How to wish someone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year in French
Joyeux Noël et Bonne Année ! – Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
This simple phrase works for both formal and informal use. Say it to friends and family or with business associates, people on the street, or with the shopkeeper–basically, with everyone.
See also: 54 French Vocabulary and Expressions for the Holiday Season
How to say “season’s greetings” in French
Joyeux Noël et Bonne Année de la part de… – Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from…
Want a simple greeting for your Christmas cards? Simply say, “Joyeux Noël et Bonne Année de la part de…”
You can write it on your gift cards, and it can be used both formally and informally.
How to say happy new year in French
Bonne Année ! – Happy New Year!
When you greet someone for le Nouvel An, the new year in French, you can simply say, “Bonne Année !“
Meilleurs vœux ! – A greeting that works all year round
Tired of memorizing different greetings for different occasions? Well, you could simply memorize one, and that is “Meilleurs vœux ! “ or “best wishes!”
“Meilleurs vœux ! “ may be used year-round for different kinds of greetings, such as:
- To greet someone who recently had a new baby
- To wish someone the best on his new job
- To greet a newlywed couple
- To wish a sick friend a speedy recovery
- A lot more
When December comes, “Meilleurs vœux ! “ becomes “Season’s greetings” and may be used in greeting cards, emails, and elsewhere. See how versatile it is?
If you want to be more specific with your greeting, you can say, “Meilleurs vœux pour la nouvelle année” or best wishes for the coming year.
You can be even more specific and add the year, for example “best wishes for the year 2027”:
“Meilleurs vœux pour l’année 2027”
Other ways to wish someone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year in French
Vœux de Bonheur pour un Joyeux Noël
This is a more advanced Christmas greeting that you can use in cards or holiday messages. It means, “happy wishes for a merry Christmas”. Sounds kinda fancy, doesn’t it?
Je vous souhaite d’excellentes fêtes, et bonne année
Here’s another fancy greeting to step up your Christmas card game. This greeting means: I wish you an excellent holiday season and a happy new year.
Passez un Joyeux Noël en famille
Christmas is often spent with family, so this greeting would sound more specific and authentic. It means “have a happy Christmas with your family” or somewhere along the lines of “enjoy Christmas with your family”.
Bonne année et bonne santé
This greeting means, “happy new year and good health!” You can use this to wish someone not just a happy incoming year, but also offer well wishes to his or her health.
Que l’année 2027 vous procure bonheur, santé et prospérité
This one is even more specific than the previous one. To wish someone happiness, good health, and prosperity, this is the perfect thing to say.
Conclusion
There’s a special kind of magic in the air when the end of the year approaches. To make the season even more special, you need the perfect greetings to say to your loved ones. I hope the greetings listed in this article will help you in the holiday season.
Now that you know how to say Merry Christmas in French, go and greet your French friends and loved ones!
For more related articles, also check out:
Useful French Greetings for All Occasions
5 Popular French Christmas Carols to Bring You Holiday Cheer
French Christmas Songs Playlist to Listen for Free
31 French Movies for Christmas
Here are some FAQs about French Christmas and New Year
How do you say Merry Christmas in French?
Joyeux Noël !
How do the French celebrate Christmas?
Much like the rest of the world that celebrates Christmas, there is a huge gathering of family and friends on either Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, to feast. The Christmas Eve meal is called le réveillon, and some families also attend a church service or mass. Le sapin de Noël, or the Christmas tree, is also decorated ahead of Christmas, and in one traditional custom, French children put their shoes in front of the fireplace for Père Noël to find and stuff with little treats and gifts. Just like American tradition, these gifts are brought on Christmas Eve and later opened by the children on Christmas Day. It’s interesting to note they also hang up mistletoe!
What makes a French Christmas unique?
There are several traditions that make the French Christmas unique, and food is certainly one of them. It depends on the region, but the food can range in meats, from fish to fowl. To name a few, there are smoked salmon and oysters, foie gras, and turkey can be found too, but stuffed with chestnuts. In the traditional Provençal gros souper, three candles represent the Trinity. Some Provençal traditions also describe raising or knotting the tablecloth corners to keep evil spirits from joining the meal. These are regional customs rather than traditions followed throughout France. Père Noël is another name for the well-loved Father Christmas, but the French have another “Father” who brings punishment. On the naughty list? In Saint Nicholas traditions, especially in northeastern France around 6 December, Père Fouettard is his companion who threatens to punish naughty children!
How do you say Happy New Year in French?
Bonne année !
