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Rich Tapestry of French Events!
NEXT EXCITING EVENT
La Chandeleur
Sun 1st Feb 2026
To celebrate La Chandeleur and launch our social events and classes for 2026, Alliance Française de Geelong invites you to attend this fun, casual afternoon which includes a luncheon of crêpes and cider (non-alcoholic).
Join us for this fun, family afternoon!
Your ticket includes:
- 1 savoury, 1 sweet crêpe, and
- 2 glasses of cider.
Please advise special dietary requirements when booking.
Date: Sunday, 1st February, 2026
Time: From 12:00-3:00pm.
Lunch served from 12:15pm
Venue: The Heights, 140 Aphrasia Street, Newtown
Cost: Members $32.50, Non-Members $37.50 Children $15.00, Children Under 5 Free, Family of 5 $80.00
Bookings essential via TryBooking by Thursday, 29th January 2026.
Buy Your Tickets Now
www.trybooking.com/DENFO
La Chandeleur
What is La Chandeleur?
La Chandeleur (shahnduhluhr), a Holy Day in the Catholic Church, is celebrated each February 2nd. On this day, the Baby Jesus was presented in the temple 40 days after his birth, as was custom.
It also celebrates the purification of his mother, Mary.
When Joseph and Mary arrived at the temple, Saint Simeon welcomed them and proclaimed that the baby was a “Light of the World”.
The name, Chandeleur, comes from the Latin candelorum festum, which means festival of candles.
Since the 7th century the day has been celebrated by a procession of the faithful holding lit tapers.
The candles are blessed and lit at the church and the participants carry the candle home without the flame dying.
This will assure a good harvest and prosperity for the rest of the year.
Source:
https://bonjourparis.com/archives/crepes-are-flipping-all-over-france-its-la-chandel/
Pako Festa
What is Pako Festa?
Pako Festa is an annual festival held in Pakington Street, Geelong West each year around late February. The festival is held to promote cultural diversity and show appreciation for the artwork and fashion designed by citizens of the Geelong area.
The first festival was held in 1983, and currently attracts the participation of around 30 cultural community groups, up to 60 community groups and a total attendance in excess of 100,000 people.[1] It is the largest multicultural festival in Victoria.[2]
Source:Wikipaedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pako_Festa
Bastille Day
Photos are from the Bastille Day Dinner in 2018
What is Bastille Day?
The French National Day commemorates the Storming of the Bastille on 14 July 1789, an important event in the French Revolution,as well as the Fête de la Fédération which celebrated the unity of the French people on 14 July 1790. Celebrations are held throughout France. The oldest and largest regular military parade in Europe is held on the morning of 14 July, on the Champs-Élysées in Paris in front of the President of the Republic, along with other French officials and foreign guests.
Bastille Day is the common name given in English-speaking countries to the French National Day, which is celebrated on 14 July each year. In France, it is formally called la Fête nationale (The National Celebration) and commonly and legally le 14 juillet (14th July).
Source: Wikipaedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bastille_Day
Beaujolais Nouveau
What is Beaujolais Nouveau?
Beaujolais nouveau is a red wine made from Gamay grapes produced in the Beaujolais region of France. It is the most popular vin de primeur, fermented for just a few weeks before being released for sale on the third Thursday of November.
This “Beaujolais Nouveau Day” used to see heavy marketing, with races to get the first bottles to different markets around the globe.
The current release practice is to ship the wine ahead of the third Thursday of November, and release it to the local markets at 12:01 a.m. local time.
Source: Wikipaedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beaujolais_nouveau