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Lesson Transcript

Father’s Day
In French, it’s called Fête des Pères.
Do you celebrate Father’s Day in your country? It’s an annual holiday celebrated on the third Sunday in June to honor fathers. In this lesson, you're going to learn how French people celebrate it.
Now, before we get into more detail, do you know the answer to this question?
Which flower is the symbol of Father’s Day in France?
If you don't already know, you’ll find out a bit later. Keep listening.
Fathers, or Pères in French, had a ceremony to celebrate them even in Roman times. The ceremony took place every year in February and paid homage to deceased fathers. In Catholic countries, Father’s Day was celebrated starting in the Middle Ages for religious reasons. March 19 is the feast day of Saint Joseph, the man who raised Jesus.
In France in the early 1900s, there was already a Mother’s Day, but there was nothing for fathers. Then, in 1949, French people started celebrating Father’s Day thanks to a company that produced cigarette lighters! At the time, cigarettes were considered masculine and the typical image of a father was of a man who smoked.
The lighter company chose the third Sunday of June, the same date used in the United States, to broadcast its brand, but at the same time it was a holiday that meant something special to them. Unlike Mother’s Day, Father’s Day is not a government-acknowledged holiday.
Starting in kindergarten, French children create gifts for their dads. The most common gifts given to fathers by French people are vêtements, clothes, produits culturels, cultural products, and parfums, perfumes. French people spend on average forty euros when buying gifts for their father.
In France, publishers, or éditeurs in French, don’t hesitate to use Father’s Day for a commercial push! Many books are put on sale during this time with the goal of having people give them for Father’s Day. For example, there is a book titled Le livre des pères formidables, which can be transrlated as “The Book of Wonderful Fathers,” and Petit livre à offrir à son papa, meaning “A Little Book to Give Dad.”
Now it's time to answer our quiz question!
Do you know which flower is the symbol of Father’s Day in France?
The rose, or rose, is the symbol of Father’s Day! If the rose is colored red, or rouge, it means that the father celebrated is alive. But if it’s white, or blanc, he has passed away.
How was this lesson? Did you learn anything interesting?
In your country, do you have a holiday like Father’s Day?
Please leave a comment telling us at FrenchPod101.com, and we’ll see you next time!

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