Francophonie Day 2023: Date, History, Facts, Activities

The International Organization of La Francophonie celebrates Francophonie Day annually on March 20 to honor the French language and Francophone culture. It commemorates the 1970 Niamey Convention, which French-speaking states signed in order to align their mutual interests. On this day, the 220 million francophones on five continents commemorate their language and the diversity and adoration of the French language. The Francophonie day celebrations include, among other activities, the presentation of performances, poetry readings, and art exhibitions. As we learn a language, we become a part of its evolution, because language is capable of change and adaptation. Language acquisition is intricately intertwined with its evolution. The French are proud of International Francophonie Day, of their language and what it has become, and of those who speak it. This day is for those who are part of the French-speaking region or who aspire to acquire this beautiful and significant language.

The background of Francophonie Day

On March 20, the International Day of Francophonie is observed. It is a celebration of the French language and the rich French heritage and culture of Canada. The day commemorates the signature of the Niamey Convention on March 20, 1970, in Niger. This convention in Niamey marked the beginning of the Agence de Cooperation Culturelle et Technique (A.C.C.T. ), now known as the International Organization of La Francophonie. The term “Francophonie,” which means “French-speaking,” first appeared at the close of the nineteenth century. Onesime Reclus, a French geographer, used the term to refer to all French-speaking individuals and nations. Recently, there has been a distinction in the meaning of the term. Francophonie with a capital F refers to French-speaking nations, while Francophonie with a lowercase f refers to French-speaking individuals.

Each country has its own unique variation or development of the Francophone, which is so intriguing. The Quebec region of Canada, for instance, is a completely distinct Francophone environment, and you would not find anyone who speaks English here. Having evolved directly from its European origins, the pronunciation of Metropolitan French differs from that of Canadian French. The Canadian French language has been significantly influenced by factors such as the British and the adjacent United States. Like British and American English, Metropolitan and Canadian French have distinct intonations and words, but the same grammatical rules in their written forms.

The U.N. Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) created the U.N. French Language Day to raise awareness about the importance of French and other languages similar to it, as well as to advance the work of the United Nations. Today, this significant event celebrates the importance of French in bringing diverse people together to promote global peace, understanding, and respect between cultures, and the organization continues to promote the linguistic and humanistic value of the French language around the world.

French Language Day 2023: Date, History, Facts, Activities

FRANCOPHONIE DAY ACTIVITIES

Perform in a production with your pals.

The performance of a play on Francophonie Day is an excellent method to celebrate. Gather some friends, come up with a good narrative, and act out an engaging play to amuse the people around you and spread excitement on this lovely day.

Utilize poetry

Writing a poem on this day is a great method to demonstrate your appreciation, regard, and regard for Francophones. Create a poem describing the glory of the Francophone people and the festivities, and then share it with your family. This can serve as a reminder of the beauty of the people and celebrations and help them anticipate future celebrations.

Attend art exhibits

Creating art during the Francophonie celebrations is an additional method to spread beauty and interest. During the celebrations or gatherings held on Francophonie Day, you can display your artwork.

5 INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT FRANCOPHONIE DAY

The International Organization La Francophonie was originally known as the Agency for Cultural and Technical Cooperation. (A.C.C.T.).

The emblem on the flag of the International Organization of Francophone is comprised of five segments of a circle colored red, blue, yellow, green, and violet to represent the five continents.

On March 20, 1970, the Agency for Cultural and Technical Cooperation (AC.C.T.) gave rise to the International Organization of Francophones.

There are 29 countries that speak French.

The celebration may consist of plays, poetry readings, art exhibitions, film festivals, and culinary festivals.

FRANCOPHONIE DAY DATES

Year	Date	Day
2023	March 20	Monday
2024	March 20	Wednesday
2025	March 20	Thursday
2026	March 20	Friday
2027	March 20	Saturday