Mother’s day in France | Traditions & extra vocabulary!
- Camille Alayrangues
- May 9
- 5 min read
Updated: May 10
What do French people do on Mother’s day?
Whether French or Australian, taking time to honour our mums is always a big deal! But how is Mother’s Day celebrated in France? What traditions do they have? And how is it different from Down Under? Let me tell you all about it in this new article! 😉
Mother’s day in France: traditions and fun facts
Typical gifts for Mother’s day in the Hexagone
In France, La Fête des Mères often starts with handmade gifts from children — a sweet tradition kept alive in schools across the country. French school actually plays a big role in Mother’s Day tradition. Each year, teachers plan a special activity so that children can create a gift for their mum!
Kids might craft all sorts of things, guided by their teacher. Here are some of the all-time classics:
a macaroni necklace — the ultimate classic!
a painted pencil cup (or any kind of decorated jar)
a napkin ring (check out the masterpiece my siblings and I did for my mum in the photo…)
coloured salt in a jar
a salt dough creation
a handprint piece of art
and of course, a handmade card!
They usually recite a poem, learnt at school, and prepare breakfast in bed (with a little help from Dad!). 🎁 Of course, the tradition is to say “Bonne fête Maman!” 😍
As they grow older, children — and adults — may offer their maman flowers, chocolates, perfume, or even a nice meal at a restaurant. But whether it’s a homemade craft or a bouquet, the most important thing is to show her how much she’s loved!
Here’s an example of a French mother's day poem kids might recite:
Maman chérie, tu es la plus jolie,Je t'aime un peu, beaucoup, à la folie !Je t'envoie mille bisous sur tes deux petites joues.Grâce à toi, je n'ai jamais peur,Tu es toujours là, dans mon cœur !🤱 |
The origins of “La fête des mères”
Mother’s Day goes way back — all the way to Antiquity! The Greeks honoured Rhea, mother of the gods, and the Romans also had a spring festival to celebrate motherhood and women in general.
In France, La Fête des Mères became official in 1950, but it actually started earlier than that!
It was first celebrated in 1918, just after World War I, as a way to honour mothers and wives who had lost their sons or husbands during the war. The tradition was introduced by American soldiers stationed in France.
Later, during World War II, Maréchal Pétain promoted Mother’s Day under the Occupation. His aim? To boost birth rates and encourage large families after the loss of so many men because of the war.
Australian vs. French Mother’s day
Similarities
Not a public holiday
First things first — in both France and Australia, Mother’s Day is not a public holiday. That means no day off at work or school… I know it’s a shame! But it’s still an important occasion!
Breakfast in bed
No matter where you are in the world, breakfast in bed is always a good idea!
Down Under, it’s often all about pancakes — a bit burnt if the kids are cooking 😜 — and a good cup of coffee!
In France, expect several tartines (buttered toasts with jam), maybe a croissant, and of course, coffee too!
Whichever the menu, the goal is the same: to pamper Mum from the moment she wakes up. ☕
Offering a gift on Mother’s day
Gift-giving is another shared tradition. In both countries, kids and adults love to spoil their mums with flowers, chocolates, cosmetics, candles, or other small thoughtful presents.
It’s all about showing appreciation, whether with a handmade surprise or a purchased gift.
➡️ Psst, why not surprise your Mum with a book from a francophone author? 😉
Differences
Different dates:
Let’s start with the most obvious one: the date. In Australia, Mother’s Day is always celebrated on the second Sunday of May.
In France, however, it usually falls on the last Sunday of May, unless it overlaps with Pentecost — then it’s moved to the first Sunday of June.
So in 2025, Aussies will celebrate on May 11, while Parisian mums will have their special day on May 25!
Food traditions:
In Australia, we often celebrate our Mums with picnics, BBQs, and delicious desserts like pavlova or lamingtons. It’s also common to book a brunch or lunch at a restaurant — many venues even offer special Mother’s Day menus!
In France, while taking your mum out is also appreciated, the celebration tends to be a bit more home-based.
Different flowers:
In Oz, mums often receive carnations or… chrysanthemums (it can’t be a coincidence, right? 😉).
In the Hexagone, you’re more likely to see roses, orchids, or colourful spring bouquets.
Different origins: From celebrating mums… To counting babies
Mother’s Day in Australia has a touching backstory. In 1924, a woman named Janet Heyden started a movement to collect gifts for lonely mothers at Sydney’s Newington State Hospital, many of whom had lost loved ones in WWI... Janet deeply wanted to help those women by brightening up their day a little.
She later rallied local newspapers to spread the idea across the country — and just like that, her small act of kindness became a nationwide tradition! 🦸♀️
In France, the origins are quite different as mentioned earlier. French Mother’s Day was originally linked to efforts to increase the country’s birth rate after the war… In 1920, a special medal was even awarded to mothers with large families:
bronze for 5 children
silver for 8
and gold for 10 or more! 👶
➡️ Did you know? Anna Jarvis, who founded Mother’s Day in the U.S. in 1908, also campaigned for a day to honor mothers’ hard work.
Bonus: Essential French vocabulary for “La fête des mères”
How do you say “Happy mother’s day” in France? I’m glad you asked! Let’s dive into some essential words to talk about this special day:
“Bonne fête, Maman!” = Happy Mother’s day, Mum!
fêter / célébrer = to celebrate
la fête des mères = Mother’s day
l’école primaire = primary school
la famille = the family
la mère = the mother
la maman = the mum
l’enfant = the child
ma maman chérie = my darling mummy
mon chéri / ma chérie = my darling son / daughter
mon poussin / ma puce = my sweety
Here’s some fun vocabulary about the typical gifts we give our Mums on this occasion:
le petit déjeuner au lit = breakfast in bed
le cadeau = the present
le collier de nouilles = the noodle necklace
le poème = the poem
la carte (faite main) = handmade card
l’objet en pâte à sel = salt dough creation
le rond de serviette = the napkin ring
la création = the creation (aka the masterpiece 😄)
fait maison = home-made
le bouquet de fleurs = the flower bouquet
le parfum = the perfume
le bijoux = the jewel
l’invitation au restaurant = the invitation to the restaurant
Whether you’re from the Hexagone, Down Under or anywhere else in the world, we wish you a Happy Mother’s Day! And whether you have children, you are someone’s child or none of the above, we wish you an amazing day as well. ❤️✨
➡️ Got a special someone from a Francophone country? Perhaps your partner, in-laws, or family? Join our cool conversation groups and boost your confidence to speak like a true Frenchy! 🏋️
🎁 Looking to level up your French this Mother’s Day? Download our FREE guide 'Celebrate La Fête des Mères Like a True Frenchy' for essential vocabulary, fun facts, and cultural tips to make the day unforgettable! 👉 Click here to grab your guide now!
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