La rentrée (pronounced lah ron-tray) literally means "the return." In France, it's the word for the back-to-school season — and so much more. It's the moment, in the first days of September, when the whole country comes back to life after the long summer holidays.
Every year, French schools reopen in early September on a day simply called la rentrée des classes. But the phenomenon extends far beyond the classroom: employees return to the office (la rentrée in business), Parliament resumes (la rentrée politique), and theatres, concert halls and galleries launch their new seasons (la rentrée culturelle).
After the quiet of les grandes vacances — when much of France goes on holiday for weeks at a time — Paris and other cities suddenly fill up again with traffic, chatter and energy. September feels like a second New Year.
La rentrée has its own traditions. In publishing, la rentrée littéraire brings a wave of hundreds of new novels competing for attention and prizes. Television networks, record labels and museums all time their biggest releases to the season. Even the French President holds a press conference at la rentrée to set out priorities for the year ahead.
Children arrive at the school gates clutching their cartable (schoolbag) and long lists of fournitures scolaires (school supplies), while parents exchange bisous and stories of their summers.
La rentrée embodies a very French idea: that a new season is a new beginning. If you've ever thought about learning French, this is the perfect time to start — explore the French classes of the Alliance Française de San Diego and make la rentrée your own fresh start. Bonne rentrée à tous !
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