LES FÊTES DES JUIFS, CHINOIS,

MUSULMANS EN FRANCE

JEWISH/CHINESE/ISLAMIC HOLIDAYS IN FRANCE

 FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS[LYON]
FÊTE DES LUMIÈRES

Also called: Hanukkah or Chanukah

Started in France : 8 December 1852

Why: To thank the Virgin Mary, the Lyonnais lit up their
windows with thousands of candles, and the festival was born
Significance: It expresses gratitude toward Mary, mother of
Jesus around December 8 of each year. This unique Lyonnaise
tradition dictates that every house place candles along the
outsides of all the windows to produce a spectacular effect
throughout the streets.

JUIFS
 PURIM
POURIM
Also called: Feast of lots
Why: Purim is a Jewish holiday which commemorates the
saving of the Jewish people from Haman.
Significance: Listening to the Book of Esther in synagogue;
sending food parcels and giving charity; dressing up in
costume; eating a festive meal, including hamantaschen
("Haman's ear"); parties and parades (Adloyada); drinking
alcoholic beverages, especially wine. Date.
YOM KIPPUR

Also called: Day of Atonement

Why: It is the holiest day of the year in Judaism. Its
central themes are atonement and repentance.
Significance: Atonement for personal sins, fate of each
person is sealed for the upcoming year
Observances: Day-long Fasting, Intensive prayer,
abstaining from physical pleasures, refraining from
work
ROSH HASHANAH
Also called: Jewish new year
Rosh Hashanah, literally meaning "head [of] the year",
is the Jewish New Year.
Why: The biblical name for this holiday is Yom Teruah,
literally "day of shouting or blasting". It is the first of
the Jewish High Holy Days.
Significance: Jewish people ask God for forgiveness
for the things we've done wrong during the past year.
 SIMCHAT TORAH
Also called: Simhat Torah , Rejoicing with/of the Torah

Why: The culmination of Sukkot and Shemini Atzeret.

Conclusion of the annual Torah reading cycle. Final Parsha
from Deuteronomy is read in synagogue. Everyone is called to
the Torah reading. Then first Parsha from Genesis is read.
Significance: Dancing in synagogue as all the Torah scrolls
are carried around in seven circuits (hakafot); melakha (work)
is prohibited
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PESACH
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SOUCCOT
 CHINESE NEW YEAR
NOUVEL AN CHINOIS
Also called: 'Spring Festival', Lunar New Year, ‘Festival of the
Tết’
In France: Held at Paris
Significance: The main Chinese New Year activities include 1)
putting up decorations, 2) eating reunion dinner with family
on New Year's Eve, 3) firecrackers and fireworks, and 4) giving
red envelopes and other gifts. 
Why: This holiday was traditionally a time to honor household
and heavenly deities as well as ancestors. It was also a time to
bring family together for feasting.

CHINOIS
LABOR DAY
FETE DU TRAVAIL
Also called: May day, Day of worker

Started in France: April 23, 1919

Why: The eight-hour working day was officially introduced
May 1 became a public holiday called FÊTE
INTERNATIONALE DES TRAVAILLEURS
Significance: Fete du Travail is a time for the French people
to spend time with their friends and family members while
enjoying a day off from work. All banks and most
businesses are closed during Labour Day in France.
EID AL ADHA
L'AÏD AL-ADHA
Also called: Festival of Sacrifice, Sacrifice Feast, Tabaski

Significance: Commemoration of Ibrahim (Abraham)'s

willingness to sacrifice his son in obedience of a command
from God; End of the annual Hajj to Mecca
Why: The festival remembers the prophet Ibrahim's
willingness to sacrifice his son when God ordered him to.

MUSULMANS
EID AL FITR
L'AÏD AL-FITR
The end of the month-long dawn-to-sunset fasting of Ramadan.
This religious Eid is the only day in the month of Shawwal
during which Muslims are not permitted to fast.
Also called: Festival of Breaking the Fast, Meethi Eid 
Significance: Marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan, a
period of fasting, kindness and good deeds
Why: It was started by the Prophet Muhammad himself. It is
also known as 'The Feast of Breaking the Fast' and is celebrated
by Muslims worldwide to mark the end of Ramadan .