A calendar of the national vacation days when businesses, schools and banks close and people get the day off in France. With links to holidays in the UK and US
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 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
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