One way to celebrate a birthday in France is to bring the special person a bouquet of flowers. Although this tradition is common for women, giving flowers to a man is rare.
Another birthday tradition that occurs several times throughout the day is that people will wish the birthday boy or girl a "happy birthday" in French, and sing to the lucky gal or guy whose birthday it is. The traditional French birthday song is simply the same song sung in America, but translated into French. The melody is the same, and the words in French are:
Joyeux anniversaire,
Joyeux anniversaire,
Joyeux anniversaire [name],
Joyeux anniversaire !
The above song is easy to learn and easy to sing. For those up to the challenge, another French birthday song goes like this:
Bon anniversaire
Nos voeux les plus sincères
Que ces quelques fleurs
Vous apportent le bonheur
Que l'année entière
Vous soit douce et légère
Et que l'an fini
Nous soyons tous réunis
Pour chanter en choeur
Bon anniversaire !
In Québec, yet another song is sung on birthdays, notably an alternate text of the song Gens du pays, by Gilles Vigneault. Whichever song text is used, the function of singing the happy birthday song is to celebrate the person whose day it is and make that person feel special.