So there I was, googling birthday etiquette and—plot twist!—France also celebrates your name. Not your anniversaire, your fête (aka fête du prénom / saint’s day). It’s older than selfies and—whisper it—often involves fewer candles and more cake for me.
In short: each day in the calendrier des saints is linked to one or more names. If your name matches the saint of the day, friends may wish you “Bonne fête !” and maybe send a card, flowers, or a cheeky pastry. It’s light, sweet, and very French. (Wikipedia)
How does it work (and when do you say it)?
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Look up the date tied to your name in a saints’ calendar (print or online). Then wish “Bonne fête, [Name] !” on (or—tradition alert—the evening before). Some families do it la veille thanks to older vigil customs. If you forget… a macaron bribe never hurts. (Wikipedia)
Is it still a thing?
It’s gentler today than in grandma’s stories, but people in France still notice name days—especially older generations, certain regions, and stationery shops (bonjour, calendars). Think “mini-birthday” with a message, not a blowout. (The Connexion)
Special case: La Sainte-Catherine 🎩
On 25 November, unmarried 25-year-olds named Catherine (and friends) wear wildly decorated yellow-and-green hats—“les Catherinettes.” It’s playful, sometimes revived by fashion houses and towns. If you spot a forest of ribbons, smile and say: “Bonne Sainte-Catherine !” (Accent Francais)
Quick vocab (pin this!)
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la fête / la fête du prénom — name day
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le calendrier des saints — saints’ calendar
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le saint / la sainte du jour — day’s saint
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Bonne fête ! — happy name day!
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On la souhaite la veille. — We celebrate it the day before.
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Catherinettes — 25-year-old single women on Sainte-Catherine (25 Nov) (Wikipedia)
🇨🇦 Heads-up: in Québec “Bonne fête” commonly means happy birthday. In France, “Joyeux anniversaire” is birthday; “Bonne fête” is usually a name day or general holiday. Save yourself a confused smile! (French Language Stack Exchange)
How to find your day (30-second guide)
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Check a printed calendrier des saints or the daily “saint du jour.” (Wikipedia)
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No exact match? Pick the closest variant (e.g., Jeanne/Jean, Marc/Marcel). Many names have several dates—choose your favorite and be consistent. (Wikipedia)
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Use a reliable site/app: Nominis (French Bishops’ conference) or Fête du jour. Bookmark it and pretend you always knew. (Nominis)
Mini-dialogues to steal
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A1–A2
— Aujourd’hui, c’est ma fête.
— Bonne fête ! Prends un chou à la crème ! -
B1–B2
— Tu la souhaites la veille ou le jour J ?
— Chez nous, on envoie un SMS la veille. Vieille école. -
Advanced
— Mon prénom n’a pas d’équivalent hagiographique—je milite pour un calendrier laïc des prénoms.
— Quel moderniste… mais je t’écrirai quand même “Bonne fête”. (Le Monde.fr)
Gentle dos & don’ts (learned the adorably hard way)
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✅ A small message or flower is perfect; a full opera-level soirée is… a lot. (The Connexion)
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✅ If you’re late, add a pun: “Bonne fête en retard—j’étais au dessert.”
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❌ Don’t debate theology at the bakery counter. Your religion can be “opéra au chocolat.”
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🤷 Some names won’t appear in classic calendars. Pick a friendly date (initial, meaning, or a modern list) and roll with it—France is increasingly chill about this. (Le Monde.fr)
Handy links (short & sweet)
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What a fête du prénom is + history: Wikipedia; saints’ calendars. (Wikipedia)
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Daily saint/name lookups: Nominis; FêteDuJour. (Nominis)
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“Say it the day before?” explainer: CNews; a teacher’s note. (CNEWS)
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Catherinettes tradition (hats, yellow & green): Accent Français; RTL. (Accent Francais)
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“Bonne fête” vs “Joyeux anniversaire”: Lawless French; Québec usage thread. (Lawless French)
Practice corner by level
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A1: Write/text “Bonne fête, [Prénom] !” to a classmate whose name is on today’s list. Two emojis max.
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A2: Say one sentence about your name day: “Ma fête est le 3 juin. On mange une tarte.”
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B1: Explain a tradition from your country that’s “like a name day.” Compare with France using “alors que / tandis que.”
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B2: Debate politely: “Les fêtes du prénom, c’est ringard ou réconfortant ?” Use at least three connectors (cependant, en revanche, par ailleurs).
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Advanced: Write a tiny op-ed (120–150 mots) proposing a calendrier laïc des prénoms that includes modern and international names. Bonus: persuasive tone. (Le Monde.fr)
Your turn 👇
Did someone wish you “Bonne fête” this week? Do you celebrate la Sainte-Catherine (photos of hats absolutely encouraged)? Drop your story, a helpful link to a saints’ calendar, or a line in French at your level. Aixois·e·s & anciens élèves, tell us which cafés still sell name-day cards—and whether they come with a free chou. Bienvenue dans les commentaires—et Bonne fête à toutes celles et ceux que ça concerne aujourd’hui !