Why 21 September? Because Saint Matthew’s feast is on that date in the Roman calendar; some Eastern churches mark him in November, but in France you’ll see 21/09 on most “saint du jour” calendars. (Nominis)
And the name itself? Mathieu comes from the Hebrew Matityahû, meaning “don (cadeau) de Dieu.” If you like name lore, it’s cousins with Théodore and Dorothée (also “gift of God”). (Wikipedia)
How to fête a Mathieu in Aix (the mini local guide)
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What to say: Keep it short and sweet—“Bonne fête, Mathieu !” (yes, people really do this—sometimes even the evening before). (Wikipedia)
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What to bring: A small treat beats a big present. We love a sachet de calissons or a little gâteau from Maison Béchard on Cours Mirabeau. (If you’re new here, Béchard is pastry-legend territory.)
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Where to wander: A quick “heritage stroll” past Église Saint-Jean-de-Malte (Rue Cardinale) makes a charming photo stop—gothic spire, glowing stone, instant Provençal mood.
Tiny language wins (from “tu” to “vous” without panic)
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Pronunciation bite: Mathieu = [ma-tye]. That -th- is just t in French; no English “th.”
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Spelling twins: You’ll see Mathieu and Matthieu (double t, h). Same fête, same smile. (Nominis)
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Icon cheat: In art, Saint Matthew is often shown with an ange or a figure d’homme (his symbol). Great museum-caption flex. (Wikipedia)
Quick script you can copy/paste
FR (friendly): Bonne fête, Mathieu ! Je t’offre quelques calissons pour marquer le jour. On trinque ce soir ?
EN: Happy name day, Mathieu! I brought calissons to mark the day—shall we toast tonight?
Learners’ corner (A1 → Advanced)
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A1: Learn the trio: “Bonne fête !”, “C’est quand ta fête ?”, “le 21 septembre.”
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A2: Build a line: “J’ai acheté des calissons pour ta fête—j’espère que tu aimes l’amande.”
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B1: Add a compliment + invite: “Comme ton prénom veut dire ‘don de Dieu’, je te souhaite une année généreuse. On se retrouve au marché ?” (Oui, it really does.) (Wikipedia)
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B2: Cultural aside: explain la fête du prénom to a non-French friend in French—two or three sentences contrasting it with a birthday. (Wikipedia)
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Advanced: Spot a painting of Saint Matthew and drop a line about his symbole (ange/figure d’homme) and the feast date—without sounding like Wikipedia. (Wikipedia)
Sources & extra rabbit holes (lightly curated)
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Saint du jour (Église catholique en France): date & bio for Saint Matthieu. (Église catholique en France)
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Nominis (Conférence des évêques de France): calendar entry + variants for Matthieu/Mathieu. (Nominis)
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Name meaning (overview): etymology and sense “don de Dieu.” (Wikipedia)
Your turn 👇
Are you a Mathieu (or do you love one)? Drop a “Bonne fête” message below—en français si possible! Tell us how you celebrate name days in your culture, and share a mini-dialogue for A1/A2 friends or a fun art fact for our B1/B2/advanced crew. Bonne fête à tous les Mathieu !