Look at these examples:
À Noël, on mange toujours trop!
At Christmas, we always eat too much.
Je t'ai vu le jour de Noël.
I saw you on Christmas Day.
À Pâques, les enfants vont à la chasse aux oeufs.
At Easter, the children go egg hunting.
À Hanoucca, on allume des bougies.
At Hanukkah, we light candles.
Note that:
- when talking about the celebration in a general context (at Christmas), you use the preposition à + [célébration];
- when you're talking about the very day of the celebration (on Christmas Day), you use le jour de + [célébration].
Case of Eid = l'Aïd
À l'Aïd, on prie et on va à la mosquée.
At Eid, we pray and go to the mosque.
Je vais chez mes parents le jour de l'Aïd.
I'm going to my parents' on Eid day.
Also see Using prepositions with name days, like Saint Valentine's Day
Learn more about these related French grammar topics
Examples and resources
À Pâques, les enfants vont à la chasse aux oeufs.
At Easter, the children go egg hunting.
Le jour de Pâques, nous faisons un grand repas familial.
On Easter Day, we have a big family meal.
Je t'ai vu le jour de Noël.
I saw you on Christmas Day.
Je vais chez mes parents le jour de l'Aïd.
I'm going to my parents' on Eid day.
À Noël, on mange toujours trop!
At Christmas, we always eat too much.
À l'Aïd, on prie et on va à la mosquée.
At Eid, we pray and go to the mosque.
À Hanoucca, on allume des bougies.
At Hanukkah, we light candles.
Q&A
Chris
Kwiziq community member
9/01/18
Ann
Kwiziq community member
9/01/18
Chris
Kwiziq community member
9/01/18
Cécile
Kwiziq language super star
27/02/18
Hi Anne,
As Chris has already said Noël and Pâques don't have an article in front of them but the Saints days do ,
e.g. C'est la St Jean aujourdh'ui or aujourd'hui c'est la Sainte Honorine , ou la Sainte Isabelle, ou la Saint Martin...
It is ( so and so ) Saint' s day today ...
You also use the article with other religious celebrations , e.g. La Toussaint, La Pentecôte, l'Ascention . ( All Saints' day, Pentecost/ Whitsun , Ascention day )
So Noël and Pâques are pretty much the exceptions here,
Hope this helps!
Ann
Kwiziq community member
27/02/18
John
Kwiziq community member
17 May 2019
1 reply
Why is "Les enfants reçoivent des cadeaux le jour de Noël" correct?
In the case here, the act of receiving presents serves as a general statement about Christmas. To my mind no specific Christmas is understood here; instead all Christmases seem to be the explicit understanding.
Thus, following your grammar explanation, the more correct grammar choice seems to be "à".
Chris
Kwiziq community member
20 May 2019
20/05/19
I think this remark found in the lesson applies here:
- when you're talking about the very day of the celebration (on Christmas Day), you use le jour de + [célébration].