Between Céline Dion concerts, the pope’s visit to France, and the numerous climate marches that have swept through the streets of the Hexagon, Heritage Days and other garden festivals no longer struggle to find space on the French calendar.
It must be said that these events are already to be classified among traditional festivities. The Garden Festival held its first edition 29 years ago! As for Heritage Days, they have existed since the 1980s.
Almost as old as the Fête de la Musique, created in 1982 at the initiative of the Ministry of Culture, these appointments have become our postmodern milestones, as important as the great historical and religious commemorations such as Christmas and Bastille Day.
It must be said that these events are already to be classified among traditional festivities. The Garden Festival held its first edition 29 years ago! As for Heritage Days, they have existed since the 1980s.
Almost as old as the Fête de la Musique, created in 1982 at the initiative of the Ministry of Culture, these appointments have become our postmodern milestones, as important as the great historical and religious commemorations such as Christmas and Bastille Day.
The New Homo-Festivus
To be precise: it has been nearly half a century since a new homo-festivus was born in Western societies.In an atmosphere of “quiet force,” of freedom and confidence in the future, the children of the baby-boom generation, then their offspring and grandchildren, claimed the streets for events other than political demonstrations, and it would be fair to say they made the most of it.
After tossing paving stones and building barricades, the habit of reclaiming urban space to entertain oneself, preferably with family, became a kind of privileged modus vivendi for local officials and their delighted populations who could blow off steam without constraints.
Remember the enthusiasm for roller-parades, for example. And note that astronomical phenomena, among other things, are today part of the celebrations.
It only takes a well-publicized eclipse or northern lights to get some people to adjust their vacation choices and cluster with their peers to enjoy an exceptional spectacle and be “where it’s at”!
What about the last Football World Cup, which brought together nearly 7 million spectators across 104 matches, with an average of 65,000 people per match?
Or these marathons that bring together thousands of runners (about 0.01% of the world population) around the world?
Emotions at the Heart of Togetherness
In fact, such practices, whose rise has been undeniable for a little over half a century, were identified very early by sociologists like Michel Maffesoli.
According to him, we have entered a society centered on the present moment and shared pleasure in crowd manifestations that offer both communion and clandestine violence.
This helps define communities that the sociologist, among the first to do so, labeled tribes, reinforcing the notion of social bonds and togetherness to which we are becoming increasingly attached. And this, due to the inability to mobilize around ideologies and grand causes.
In a world that is falling apart where the myth of progress has failed, what holds society together today is what links people to one another. And, at the same time, it is what evokes exceptional emotions which, however fleeting, are necessary for our well-being.
According to him, we have entered a society centered on the present moment and shared pleasure in crowd manifestations that offer both communion and clandestine violence.
This helps define communities that the sociologist, among the first to do so, labeled tribes, reinforcing the notion of social bonds and togetherness to which we are becoming increasingly attached. And this, due to the inability to mobilize around ideologies and grand causes.
In a world that is falling apart where the myth of progress has failed, what holds society together today is what links people to one another. And, at the same time, it is what evokes exceptional emotions which, however fleeting, are necessary for our well-being.
Music on a Grand Scale to Merge People
So what about tourism: when the Quebec diva Céline Dion not only drew 30,000 spectators per show at La Plénitude Arena in Paris but also sparked mini demonstrations at each of her appearances, it’s hardly surprising.
For further proof: did you know Madonna drew 1.5 million free spectators at Copacabana in 2024? And that it is Jean-Michel Jarre’s concert that holds the record for attendance with 3.5 million spectators!
Much more than Jul at the Stade de France on May 15, 2026, who nevertheless gathered 100,000 fans, whereas Indochine in 2022 drew 97,000 and Coldplay: 318,000 but across four concerts! A demonstration of music’s gigantic capacity to bring people together.
And perhaps even more durable, music represents a lucrative “business” for entrepreneurs who are increasingly voracious, chasing economic gains at any price.
For further proof: did you know Madonna drew 1.5 million free spectators at Copacabana in 2024? And that it is Jean-Michel Jarre’s concert that holds the record for attendance with 3.5 million spectators!
Much more than Jul at the Stade de France on May 15, 2026, who nevertheless gathered 100,000 fans, whereas Indochine in 2022 drew 97,000 and Coldplay: 318,000 but across four concerts! A demonstration of music’s gigantic capacity to bring people together.
And perhaps even more durable, music represents a lucrative “business” for entrepreneurs who are increasingly voracious, chasing economic gains at any price.
Lourdes: A Return to Favor
Jesus Christ Superstar?
What can we draw from such signals emitted by our society, unsettled by wars, an ailing economy, and intelligences ready to steal its work, its hopes, and its income?
For the moment, the conclusion is not yet sufficiently backed to chart definitive courses. But it seems that religion combined with mega spectacles headlined by mega stars could well constitute the extra ingredient capable of satisfying at least part of the population.
Could this be the return of Jesus Christ Superstar? No doubt. Because Jesus Christ, after all, is indeed still back…
For the moment, the conclusion is not yet sufficiently backed to chart definitive courses. But it seems that religion combined with mega spectacles headlined by mega stars could well constitute the extra ingredient capable of satisfying at least part of the population.
Could this be the return of Jesus Christ Superstar? No doubt. Because Jesus Christ, after all, is indeed still back…
Lourdes indeed attracts between 3 and 3.5 million visitors from 160 countries, led by France (42%), followed by Italy and Spain.
Among them, 60,000 sick people rely on volunteers to help them reach the Grotto of Bernadette Soubirous and perhaps a miracle!
Sufficient to run its tourist engine which lists about 22,000 hotel beds and around 7,000 more in camping sites, gîtes, communities…
Among them, 60,000 sick people rely on volunteers to help them reach the Grotto of Bernadette Soubirous and perhaps a miracle!
Sufficient to run its tourist engine which lists about 22,000 hotel beds and around 7,000 more in camping sites, gîtes, communities…
Journalist, consultant, speaker, Josette Sicsic has been observing the shifts in the world for more than 25 years to analyze their impact on the tourism sector.
After having developed for more than 20 years the Touriscopie journal, she remains on the front lines of current events where she decodes the present to forecast the future. On the site www.tourmag.com, in the Futuroscopie section, she publishes predictive and analytical articles several times a week.
Contact : 06 14 47 99 04
Email : [email protected]
After having developed for more than 20 years the Touriscopie journal, she remains on the front lines of current events where she decodes the present to forecast the future. On the site www.tourmag.com, in the Futuroscopie section, she publishes predictive and analytical articles several times a week.
Contact : 06 14 47 99 04
Email : [email protected]
