Ten million French people are celebrating their neighbors tomorrow!
France is preparing tomorrow, Friday, May 23, to celebrate the twenty-fifth edition of "la Fête des Voisins" or "Neighbors' Day," with the participation of about ten million people across the country. The event aims to strengthen social ties among residents in neighborhoods through simple and friendly gatherings.
This year, more than 5,000 municipal councils and housing associations support this initiative, which started in 1999 in the 17th arrondissement of Paris by "Atanas Perivan". The initiative, which was launched due to the touching story of an elderly woman who passed away and whose absence went unnoticed for two months, aims to break the isolation of individuals and restore the spirit of community to French society.
Birifan said in a previous interview that he did not receive a warm welcome at first, as only about 30 people participated in the first edition of the celebration. However, the event quickly spread, and in its first year, around 800 residential buildings participated, attracting media attention and making it an annual tradition.
Since 2000, the "Neighbors' Day" has started to spread in various regions of France, despite the varying responses between areas. While it was easy to implement the idea in Côte d'Azur and Alsace, resistance was stronger in Brittany and the southwest of France due to the reserved nature of the population.
By 2004, the event transformed into a European version under the name "European Neighbors' Day," initially involving seven countries, reaching over 50 countries by 2025.
In addition to the festive version, the "Les Voisins Solidaires" initiative was launched in 2007 to encourage residents to continue the spirit of solidarity in their daily lives, not just during the celebration.
Perivan encourages foreign residents, especially English speakers, to participate, seeing the event as a great opportunity for community integration. He cited the case of a British couple in southwestern France who succeeded in building strong relationships with their neighbors by organizing the celebration.
Organizers advise interested parties to choose a simple location and place advertisements at building entrances or in mailboxes. Invitations and posters can be downloaded from the event's website. Perivan emphasizes that there is no need for a budget or qualifications: "All you need is a heart and will."