 | Public Holidays in France |
The French for: bank holiday/public holiday/legal holiday is un
jour férié
- French organisations and businesses close on public holidays.
-
Although some shopping centres and grocers open for part of the day, the majority of shops do not.
-
Police stations and hospitals do not close.
-
When a public holiday falls on a Thursday or Tuesday, it is common practice to
"make the bridge" (faire le pont) by taking off the Friday or
Monday so creating a very long weekend. When this happens you may find
businesses running on short staff or smaller family run business closed for the
full period.
National Public Holidays in France 2008
| 1 January |
New Year's Day/Nouvel An
(Tuesday) |
| 23 March |
Easter Sunday/Paques |
| 24 March |
Easter Monday/Lundi de Paques |
| 1 May |
Labour Day/Fête du Travail (Thursday) |
| 1 May |
Ascension Day (Thursday) |
| 8 May |
WWII Victory
Day/Fête de la Victoire 1945 (Thursday) |
| 11 May |
Pentecost (Sunday) |
| 12 May |
Pentecost Monday (reinstated 2008) |
| 14 July |
Bastille Day, France's national holiday
(Monday) |
| 15 August |
Assumption Day (Friday) |
| 1 November |
All Saints' Day/Toussaint
(Saturday) |
| 11 November |
Armistice Day 1918 (Tuesday) |
| 25 December |
Christmas Day/Noël (Thursday) |
Other holidays in France in 2008
| 21 March |
Good Friday (Vendredi Saint) observed in Alsace and
Moselle only |
| 26 December |
Second Christmas Day (Friday) observed in Alsace
and Moselle only |
National Public Holidays in France 2009
| 1 January |
New Year's Day/Nouvel An
(Thursday) |
| 12 April |
Easter Sunday/Paques |
| 13 April |
Easter Monday/Lundi de Paques |
| 1 May |
Labour Day/Fête du Travail (Friday) |
| 8 May |
WWII Victory
Day/Fête de la Victoire 1945 (Friday) |
| 21 May |
Ascension Day (Thursday) |
| 31 May |
Pentecost (Sunday) |
| 1 June |
Pentecost Monday |
| 14 July |
Bastille Day, France's national holiday
(Tuesday) |
| 15 August |
Assumption Day (Saturday) |
| 1 November |
All Saints' Day/Toussaint
(Sunday) |
| 11 November |
Armistice Day 1918 (Wednesday) |
| 25 December |
Christmas Day/Noël (Friday) |
Other holidays in France in 2009
| 10 April |
Good Friday (Vendredi Saint) observed in Alsace and
Moselle only |
| 26 December |
Second Christmas Day (Saturday) observed in Alsace
and Moselle only |
- See French government website Service
Public
- The Ministère du Travail has information on the law as it affects
employment and national public holidays: Click
here (in French)
- For the dates of French school holidays from the Department of Education: Click
here
Public Holidays Worldwide
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