- le 14 juillet — the number is masculine because it refers to le jour (the day)
- la bûche de Noël — feminine: une bûche = a log
- la galette des rois — "the kings' cake": note des rois (of the kings, plural)
- le réveillon — refers to BOTH Christmas Eve (24 déc) and New Year's Eve (31 déc) celebrations
- la rentrée — does NOT have a direct English equivalent; it means the return to school/work in September — a culturally loaded term
- fêter — to celebrate (an event); célébrer is a more formal synonym
- offrir — to give (as a gift): more specific than donner for gifts; irregular: j'offre, il offre, nous offrons, ils offrent
This key facts covers Key vocabulary at a glance within Customs, festivals and celebrations for GCSE French. Revise Customs, festivals and celebrations in Theme 2: Popular Culture for GCSE French with 15 exam-style questions and 15 flashcards. This is a high-frequency topic, so it is worth revising until the explanation feels precise and repeatable. It is section 3 of 4 in this topic. Use this key facts to connect the idea to the wider topic before moving on to questions and flashcards.
Practice questions for Customs, festivals and celebrations
What does 'Noël' mean in English?
La fête nationale en France est célébrée le…
Quick recall flashcards
offrir
to give (a gift) / to offer — irregular verb; j'offre, tu offres; past participle: offert
Noël (m.)
Christmas — masculine noun; Joyeux Noël = Merry Christmas; note the diaeresis on ë