What do French People do in Autumn? | + Bonus Vocabulary!
- Camille Alayrangues
- 2 days ago
- 4 min read
What is autumn like in France?
If I say orange, yellow, red leaves, tea, blankets, cosiness, mushrooms, soup, fire, chrysanthemums… You immediately picture fall in France, don’t you? 🍂 And that’s exactly what I’m going to talk about in this new article! What do French people do in autumn? I bet you are curious to find out. So let’s dive right in. 😉
Autumn weather in France
In France, autumn is pretty much the same across the whole country. The trees change colour, the weather becomes cloudier and cooler, and rain is more frequent — although some days remain sunny and pleasant.
People are often unsure how to dress: after spending several months in T-shirts and flip-flops, they start swapping them for jackets and warm socks. This mild transition period is also known as l’été indien (= Indian summer). 🍂
➡️ Feeling nostalgic for the sunny season? Check out this article on how we spend our time in summer!
Fall activities in the land of baguettes
How do French people celebrate autumn? 🤔
Staying cosy at home
It’s a must during fall! As the days get shorter, people in France start spending more time inside. It’s the perfect season to light a candle, grab a blanket, and make your home feel warm and cosy again.
And what’s better than watching a good movie (en français of course! 😉) while sipping tea or hot chocolate? ☕ Here are some classics with autumn vibes, that are especially popular during this season: Harry Potter, Le Fabuleux Destin d’Amélie Poulain, Ratatouille, Frère des Ours, or Pocahontas (I particularly like this one for learning nature-related vocabulary).
Going for a walk in the forest
Another popular fall activity is going for a walk in a park or forest. The trees slowly change colour, their leaves turning beautiful shades of red, orange, yellow, and brown.
Now that the afternoons are cooler, French people love taking a stroll to enjoy the fresh air and observe autumn plants and wildlife. Typical animals you can spot during this season include squirrels, hedgehogs, deer, and migratory birds!
Going mushroom hunting
Speaking of forests, fall is also the season for mushroom hunting! For some French people, it’s a real tradition — sometimes passed down from one generation to the next. True mushroom hunters have their own secret spots… and there's no way they're sharing them with anyone!🤫
And of course, the reward is always worth it: a delicious dinner made with freshly picked mushrooms such as cèpes, girolles, bolets, or champignons de Paris.
Visiting a vineyard during les vendanges
Coming from the Bordeaux region, I just can’t talk about autumn without mentioning wine! 🍷
September and October are the months of what we call les vendanges in French — the grape harvest. If you wander through the vineyards, you’ll see the vines heavy with ripe grapes and many workers busy picking them.
Some châteaux even open their doors for tours or wine tastings. And if you’re feeling motivated (and want to earn a few euros!), many vineyards hire grape pickers during this period — it’s hard work, but such a unique experience! 🍇
➡️ Did you know? In November, the French celebrate Beaujolais Nouveau, the new wine of the year!
All Saints’ Day in France
In October, it’s time for the autumn school holidays — les vacances de la Toussaint! La Toussaint (= All Saints’ Day) is a public holiday celebrated on November 1st, which means people — not just children — have the day off.
By the way, why do the French celebrate All Saints’ Day?
It’s a Catholic tradition dedicated to honouring the dead. On this day, families visit cemeteries to place flowers on the graves of their loved ones. The most popular flower for the occasion is the chrysanthemum.
With globalization, Halloween has also become very popular in France. On October 31st, children dress up as monsters and go trick-or-treating — even though it’s originally an American tradition! 🎃
➡️ In September, another big event happens across the Hexagon: it’s back to school time!
French autumn vocabulary
l’automne = the fall
se promener / se balader = to take a walk
un champignon = a mushroom
cueillir des champignons = to collect mushrooms
ramasser des châtaignes = to collect chestnuts
les feuilles mortes = fallen leaves
une forêt = a forest
un château = a castle
les vendanges = grape harvest
un vignoble = a vineyard
la Toussaint = All Saints’ Day
les vacances de la Toussaint = October vacations
un cimetière = a cemetery
une tombe = a grave
rester au chaud = to stay warm
un plaid / une couverture = a blanket
boire un chocolat chaud = to drink hot chocolate
faire un feu de cheminée = to light a fire
une soupe = a soup
un potimarron = red kuri squash
une citrouille = a pumpkin
une raclette = a traditional melted cheese dish
le brouillard = the fog
la pluie = the rain
le vent = the wind
un parapluie = an umbrella
un manteau = a coat
une écharpe = a scarf
des bottes = boots 👢
un hérisson = a hedgehog
un écureuil = a squirrel
un cerf = a deer
FAQ — What do French people do in autumn?
What months are autumn in France?
Fall lasts from mid-September to mid-December.
What do French people do in fall?
Here’s a (non-exhaustive) list of cosy things to do in autumn in France:
Staying at home with a good book or movie
Going for a walk in the forest 🌳
Going mushroom hunting 🍄
Visiting vineyards during les vendanges
Lighting a fire
Enjoying your first raclette of the season 🧀
Going apple picking
Collecting chestnuts 🌰
Drinking tea or hot chocolate
Raking leaves in the garden 🍁
Cooking — and maybe drinking! — a delicious homemade soup 🥣
Why is November 1st a holiday in France?
November 1st is All Saints’ Day (La Toussaint) in France. It’s a national public holiday when people honour the dead by visiting cemeteries and placing flowers on graves.
And voilà! I hope this article taught you a few things about French fall. What about you, what are your favourite things to do during the season of falling leaves? Let us know in the comments!