Have you made plans for the turn of the year yet? With so much to see and do, it isn’t always easy to know where to start. Here are our top 5 ways to spend New Year on the French Riviera.
Abundant mistletoe brings good luck and inspires celebratory kisses, while chefs put on their best whites and take to their kitchens to create the crowning dishes of the year.
1. Know your traditions
In many households, New Year’s eve celebrations begin with a nationwide screening of “les vœux présidentiels”. At 8pm on the 31st the French President reflects on the year gone by, and lays out his vision for the one to come. The speech is broadcast live from the Élysée Palace. Then it’s time to se metre sur son 31 (‘dress up like it’s New Year’s eve’) and head out for dinner and dancing!
Everyone loves a New Year fancy dress ball with confetti, streamers and kisses under mistletoe at midnight. Unlike elsewhere in Europe, in France mistletoe is a New Year’s rather than a Christmas tradition. Similarly, people send greetings cards to celebrate New Year rather than Christmas. Pretned your a local and send your cartes de voeux du nouvel an on or after 1st January.
2. Feast with friends
New Year’s eve is otherwise known as La Sainte-Sylvestre in France, because it’s Saint Sylvestre’s feast day. Perhaps that explains the the country’s focus on fine food and drink during New Year festivities. Many restaurants across the region serve lavish multi-course set menus on New Year’s Eve. These are invariably followed by seafood lunches paired with fine champagnes on New Year’s Day. Le Figuier de Saint-Espirit is a wonderful choice for New Year’s dining here in Antibes. Or if you’d like to venture further from Parc du Cap, there are a host of exquisite options on offer at the various restaurants of Monte Carlo Société des Bains de Mer. Wherever you decide to celebrate, make sure you book in advance!
3. Countdown to midnight
For an unbeatable countdown to midnight, head to Cannes or Nice. Pop a champagne cork on Promenade de la Croisette in Cannes as a movie-themed fireworks light up the bay. Alternatively, you could join the crowds in Place Massena in Nice to welcome in 2019 at midnight.
4. Swim at Le Bain du Jour de l’An
A new year’s day swim in the Mediterranean isn’t for the faint hearted, but it is a much loved tradition by a group of brave ocean-lovers. They’ll welcome you to join them for very first dip of the year. Meet at 11.30am on Salis Beach, otherwise known as le Bain du Jour de l’An.
5. Enjoy a musical start to 2019
The music begins at 11am on New Year’s Day in France. Conductor Benjamin Levy invites you on a waltz through time in Juan-Les-Pins’ Palaises Congrès on 1st January 2019. Also think about heading to the Concert du Nouvel An 2018 at the Acropolis in Nice to enjoy some of the masterpieces by Johann Strauss, led by György G. Ráth. Tickets to the Palaises Congrès are €25 and bookable in advance, whilst the concert at the Acropolis is free and un-ticketed (but seats tend to fill up very early).
Thank you for dipping into our Life.Style journal this year. We can’t wait to share more of our insider knowledge with you throughout 2019!
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