7 French Holidays And How They Are Celebrated Jan.22.2021 When I decided to move to France for a year, I hadnât really thought about the French holidays and celebrations that would immerse me so completely in French culture. It has been a delight to experience a year of French celebrations, even during the coronavirus pandemic. The following public French holidays and celebrations are a few unique days worth marking on your calendar. 1. Epiphany January 6 Epiphany, lâEpiphanie in French, is a Catholic holiday that commemorates the day the Three Kings arrived to see the infant Jesus. In France, this is celebrated with a special dessert, La Galette des Rois (Kingsâ Cake). The Galette des Rois, a round puff pastry filled with almond cream filling and a trinket, graces the shelves of every patisserie in January. And why are the Kingsâ Cakes sold with a golden paper crown perched on top? This 400-year-old French tradition has the youngest member of the family hide under the table as the hostess serves the slices of the Galette des Rois. Whoever receives the piece containing the hidden trinket becomes the King or Queen.