French and American Holidays: Histories, Traditions, and Celebrations — On Labor Day Weekend
- Jenna Chaffy
- 2 days ago
- 5 min read
Celebrated every year on the first Monday of September for nearly two centuries, Labor Day is a distinctly American holiday that is neither celebrated nor widely known in France. Born in the late 19th century during the rise of the labor movement, the holiday was proposed by unionists as a day to honor workers.
Promoted by the Central Labor Union and the Knights of Labor, it quickly gained traction. The first parade took place in New York City, but it was Oregon—on the opposite side of the country—that first declared it an official holiday in 1887. Its popularity spread, and by 1894, with thirty states observing it, President Grover Cleveland signed legislation making it a federal holiday in the wake of the violent Pullman Strike in Chicago.
Labor Day now symbolizes much more than workers’ rights. It provides Americans with a three-day weekend, is often seen as the unofficial end of summer, marks the beginning of the election season, and—according to traditional fashion etiquette—signals the time when white clothing should no longer be worn. The holiday coincides with major sporting events, including the kickoff of the NFL and college football seasons, the US Open tennis tournament, auto races, and Major League Baseball games.
Across the country, the weekend is celebrated with parades, picnics, barbecues, concerts, and fireworks, along with major retail sales. In contrast, September 1st in France carries no festive significance. Instead, it is associated with la rentrée—the back-to-school and back-to-work season, often a source of stress for parents and employees alike.
France’s equivalent holiday comes 242 days later, on May 1st, celebrated as Fête du Travail (Labor Day). Marked by public gatherings and parades, it is distinguished by the beloved tradition of offering lily of the valley. This custom dates back to 1561, when King Charles IX received a sprig as a good-luck charm, and by the early 20th century it had become a widespread practice, with individuals even allowed by law to sell the flowers on this day—something otherwise reserved for florists. Families often go into the forest to gather wild blossoms, referred to as the “lily of happiness.”
While May 1st was declared an official public holiday under the Vichy regime in 1941 (renamed “Labor and Social Concord Day”), it had been celebrated since 1890 with demonstrations and strikes. Today, it remains the quintessential day of protest in France, symbolizing the workers’ fight for improved conditions.
Labor Day highlights how each nation celebrates labor differently—reflecting what is shared and what is unique in their histories and traditions.
Holidays Shared and Diverging Between the U.S. and France
New Year’s Day (January 1st) is a public holiday in both countries, but traditions diverge. In the U.S., the day is often spent resting after celebrations, watching college football “Bowl Games,” or enjoying lucky Southern dishes such as black-eyed peas, collard greens, and cornbread. Americans also embrace the tradition of making New Year’s resolutions. In France, January 1st is more family-oriented, marked by festive lunches or brunches and the exchange of greetings and cards.
Martin Luther King Jr. Day (third Monday of January) is uniquely American, honoring the civil rights leader with community service and remembrance activities.
Presidents’ Day (third Monday of February) commemorates George Washington and Abraham Lincoln and is marked by parades, ceremonies, and nationwide sales.
Mardi Gras is celebrated in both nations. In France, it brings costumes, parades, and beignets for children. In the U.S., it is most spectacular in Louisiana, with carnivals, floats, music, and the famous king cake.
Grandmothers’ Day (first Sunday in March) exists in France but not in the U.S., where grandmothers are honored alongside Mother’s Day.
Saint Patrick’s Day (March 17th) is widely observed in the U.S. with parades, green-themed festivities, dyed rivers, and even green beer. In France, it is celebrated only in Irish pubs or by enthusiasts of Irish culture.
Easter is celebrated in both countries, with church services, chocolate eggs, and egg hunts. However, Easter Monday is a public holiday in France (and many other countries), but not in the U.S.
Mother’s Day is celebrated on the second Sunday of May in the U.S. and the last Sunday of May in France. In both countries, it involves flowers, cards, meals, and family gatherings.
Ascension and Whit Monday are public holidays in France but largely unobserved in the U.S. Ascension, forty days after Easter, honors Christ’s ascension to heaven. Whit Monday, celebrating Pentecost, is unusual in that since 2008 it can be designated as a non-paid workday to fund eldercare, though some French companies keep it as a holiday.
Victory in Europe Day (May 8th) is a public holiday in France, commemorating the Allied victory over Nazi Germany. The U.S. instead observes Memorial Day on the last Monday of May, honoring fallen soldiers. Memorial Day traditions include parades, ceremonies, wreath-laying, and a 3 p.m. national moment of silence. It also marks the unofficial start of summer.
Father’s Day is celebrated on the same day in both countries—the third Sunday in June.
Independence Day (July 4th) is one of the most iconic American holidays, marked by fireworks, barbecues, and patriotic parades. France’s counterpart is Bastille Day (July 14th), commemorating both the storming of the Bastille (1789) and the Fête de la Fédération (1790), featuring the military parade on the Champs-Élysées and festive firefighters’ balls.
Assumption (August 15th) is a religious holiday in France, honoring the Virgin Mary, with pilgrimages and village festivals. It is not observed in the U.S.
Halloween (October 31st) is a major American holiday, filled with costumes, candy, and haunted decorations. While imported to France, it remains far less embedded in the culture.
All Saints’ Day (November 1st) is significant in France, with cemetery visits and chrysanthemums placed on graves. It is not a public holiday in the U.S.
Armistice Day (November 11th) in France honors those who died in the world wars, while the U.S. observes Veterans Day on the same date to honor all military veterans.
Thanksgiving (fourth Thursday of November) is quintessentially American, centered on gratitude, family meals, roast turkey, football, and the kickoff to the holiday shopping season. France has no equivalent.
Christmas is celebrated in both countries, but traditions differ. In the U.S., decorations are elaborate, with “Elf on the Shelf,” Christmas cookies, eggnog, and caroling. In France, meals are more gastronomic, featuring foie gras, oysters, and bûche de Noël, often paired with champagne. Christmas markets are cherished traditions in both countries.
New Year’s Eve (December 31st) is celebrated with countdowns, fireworks, and resolutions on both sides of the Atlantic.
Religion and Secularism in Holidays
Interestingly, while American political life is interwoven with Christian references—presidents sworn in on the Bible, the phrase “God Bless America” closing political speeches, Congress opening with a prayer, and the national motto “In God We Trust” engraved on currency—only Christmas among the eleven federal holidays has explicitly Christian roots. Most American holidays are civic in nature.
In contrast, France—one of the world’s most secular states—retains a calendar filled with Christian-rooted holidays, from Ascension and Assumption to All Saints’ Day. This paradox highlights the contrasting ways the two nations balance religion, tradition, and politics in their collective celebrations.
Though the differences are striking, the variety of holidays in both countries contributes to the rhythm, meaning, and beauty of the year.
Header Photo Credit: Connor McManus https://www.pexels.com/photo/american-flag-on-pole-12268627/
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