Look at these examples:
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
Also see Using prepositions with name days, like Saint Valentine's Day
Learn more about these related French grammar topics
Examples and resources
Q&A Forum 5 questions, 9 answers
À Pâques or le jour de Pâques
Hi Barbara,
À Pâques = at Easter
It refers to a period of time, which varies every year -
for instance,
Les enfants ont quinze jours de vacances à Pâques, , ils en profitent pour faire des cartes et pour décorer des œufs = At Easter, children have two weeks holiday, they use the time to make cards and decorate eggs
But, if you are talking about Easter Sunday, you will use 'Le jour de Pâques'
Le jour de Pâques, on mange de l'agneau = On Easter Sunday we eat lamb
Hope this helps!
À Pâques or le jour de Pâques
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Definite article with "Hanoucca"
Does it make any sense to ask why "Hanoucca" doesn't use a definite article in order to ease the pronunciation? Is it because the "H" is an "H aspiré"?
Hi Tom,
I am not familiar with Hanoucca, but Pâques and Noël don’t have one either, so nothing odd there...
Definite article with "Hanoucca"
Does it make any sense to ask why "Hanoucca" doesn't use a definite article in order to ease the pronunciation? Is it because the "H" is an "H aspiré"?
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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".
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].
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".
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I know this would be a huge pain for Kwiziq French folks but . . .
. . . it would be great if you could provide both English and French grammar explanations (e.g., right now I am studying "Using prepositions with celebration days, like Christmas," which only has an English grammar explainer).
The reason is that some of us either a) have access to French-speaking friends/acquaintances, so being able to do extra probing of a grammar point with them IN FRENCH using technical explanations would be helpful or b) like to do further research on line using French to find additional detailed French-language explanation of grammar points, or both.
Hi John,
As this is a forum for questions of language, please send any suggestions by email .
Hope this helps!
I know this would be a huge pain for Kwiziq French folks but . . .
. . . it would be great if you could provide both English and French grammar explanations (e.g., right now I am studying "Using prepositions with celebration days, like Christmas," which only has an English grammar explainer).
The reason is that some of us either a) have access to French-speaking friends/acquaintances, so being able to do extra probing of a grammar point with them IN FRENCH using technical explanations would be helpful or b) like to do further research on line using French to find additional detailed French-language explanation of grammar points, or both.
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Why doesn't Noël use a definite article when other holidays do?
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!
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