Bonne Année 2015 ! I’d like to wish everyone a successful new year. I hope the new year brings you nothing but joy and happiness!
New Year’s eve in France is called “la Saint Sylvestre” (pronounced “la sin(nasal) seal vay str”) and is – unlike its name might indicate – not a religious holiday. Celebrated during the night of December 31st, The French usually party with friends and/or family, in a more or less casual way. Some people like to organize costume parties (des soirées déguisées) with a theme, others like to dress to the Nines (se mettre sur son 31), and dancing will be likely at these parties.
Typical greetings are “je te/vous souhaite une joyeuse année“, “bonne année 2015!“, “que tout tes/vos voeux (veu) se réalisent en 2015“. (de meal kin(nasal)zzz), “bonne année et bonne santé pour 2015″. Strangely enough, French people don’t wish each other Happy Holidays or Happy New Year way in advance like I’ve seen it done in the US. In France people will say “Joyeux Noël” on Christmas Eve and day, and “Bonne année” the week of the New Year, but that’s about it. However, It’s not a faux-pas to do it, people will accept and return your wishes, but it’s just not done as much as in the US.