French Community Day

The French Community Day^[1] (French: Fête de la Communauté française) is an annual holiday held in the French Community of Belgium on 27 September. It is also variously translated as the Day of the French Community, French Community Holiday, Feast Day of the French Community,^[2] Festival of the French Community,^[3] or other variants.

French Community Day
Official name	French: Fête de la Communauté française
Observed by	French Community of Belgium
Date	27 September
Next time	27 September 2025 (2025-09-27)
Frequency	annual
Related to	Flemish Community Day, Day of the German-speaking Community, Day of the Walloon Region, King's Feast

This date was chosen by the French Community of Belgium after an important episode in the Belgian Revolution.

Origins

The area of the French Community of Belgium

The Belgian Revolution from the United Kingdom of the Netherlands erupted on the night of 25 August 1830, following a performance of Daniel Auber's sentimental and patriotic opera La Muette de Portici, a tale suited to fire National Romanticism, for it was set against Masaniello's uprising against the Spanish masters of Naples in the 17th century. The play caused a riot and the crowd poured into the streets after the performance, shouting patriotic slogans, and swiftly took possession of government buildings.

The affable and moderate Crown Prince William, who represented the monarchy in Brussels, was convinced by the Estates-General on 1 September that the administrative separation of north and south was the only viable solution to the crisis. His father rejected the terms of accommodation that he proposed.

King William I attempted to restore the establishment order by force, but the royal army under Prince Frederik was unable to retake Brussels in bloody street fighting on 23 to 26 September. A provisional government was declared in Brussels on 26 September, and during the night of the 26–27 the Dutch troops retreated.^[4]

Fernand Massart, a Walloon politician active in the 1960s and 1970s, proposed Walloons celebrate on 27 September in commemoration of the victory. On 24 June 1975, the date was chosen by the French Community as French Community Day, and it was first celebrated that same year.^[5]

Modern celebrations

All schools are closed for the holiday, though many business remain open. The festival is celebrated with many free concerts featuring francophone acts. These take place throughout the French Community, in cities such as Mons, Namur, Huy, Liège, Charleroi and Brussels.^[4] Theatrical performances and sporting events also take place in some areas.

The Flemish Community has a parallel holiday called the Flemish Community Day, held on 11 July. It commemorates the Battle of the Golden Spurs in 1302.^[2]

See also

• History of Belgium
• Public holidays in Belgium

References

1. Times, The Brussels. "French Community Day: What is it and how is it celebrated?". www.brusselstimes.com. Retrieved 23 October 2024.
2. "Belgium in short". Belgium Federal Portal. Retrieved 28 September 2007.
3. "27 septembre : Fête de la Communauté française !". Wallonie-Bruxelles International. 17 September 2007. Archived from the original on 9 October 2007. Retrieved 28 September 2007.
4. "Fête de la Communauté française" (in French). La Communauté français. 2007. Archived from the original on 11 September 2007. Retrieved 28 September 2007.
5. "C'est quoi la fête du 27 septembre?" (in French). RTBF. 27 September 2007. Archived from the original on 22 April 2007. Retrieved 28 September 2007.