French Public Holidays / Bank Holidays in France
A complete list of Public Holidays in France (Bank Holidays)
The following is a list of the Public Holidays in France up to and including 2012:
· 1st January - New Year's Day (1 Jan each year)
· Good Friday (only in the Moselle, the Bas-Rhin and the Haut-Rhin) (
Fri 10 Apr 2009, Fri 2 Apr 2010, Fri 22 Apr 2011, Fri 6 Apr 2012)
· Easter Sunday (Sun 12 Apr 2009, Sun 4 Apr 2010, Sun 24 Apr 2011, Sun 8 Apr 2012)
· Easter Monday (Mon 13 Apr 2009, Mon 5 Apr 2010, Mon 25 Apr 2011, Mon 9 Apr 2012)
· Ascension Day (40 days after Easter Sunday) (Thurs 21 May 2009, Thurs 13 May 2010, Thurs 2 June 2011, Thurs 17 May 2012)
· Pentacost/Whit Sunday (7th Sunday after Easter) (Sun 31 May 2009, Sun 23 May 2010, Sun 12 June 2011, Sun 27 May 2012)
· Monday following Pentacost/Whit Monday (Mon 1 Jun 2009, Mon 24 May 2010, Mon 13 June 2011, Mon 28 May 2012)
· 1st May - Labour Day (1 May each year)
· 8th May - VE Day (8 May each year)
· 14th July - Bastille Day (14 July each year)
· 15th August - Assumption Day (15 Aug each year)
· 1st November - All Saints Day (1 Nov each year)
· 11th November - Armistice Day (11 Nov each year)
· 25th December - Christmas Day (25 Dec each year)
· 26th December - Boxing Day (only in the Moselle, the Bas-Rhin and the Haut-Rhin) (26 Dec each year)
A possible reduction in the number of French Public Holidays...
The French government wants to reduce the number of Public Holidays from 11 (13 in certain the Moselle, the Bas-Rhin and the Haut-Rhin) to 10 (12). Please note that these figures exclude those Public Holidays which always fall on a Sunday (ie; Easter Sunday and Whit Sunday).
A time for businesses to shut-down
Most offices, businesses and shops in France will close for a Public Holiday although the smaller supermarkets in many towns will open for a couple of hours in the morning (except for on Christmas day). Bakers will operate a limited morning service as they do on Sundays. Restaurants can be relied upon to respond to the market demand so opening will depend upon place and season. Book well in advance for Christmas day though.
Fixed dates for nearly all Public Holidays in France
With the exception of those associated with Easter, Public Holidays in France are fixed. In other words, Public Holidays do not move to attach themselves to the nearest weekend as in the UK. And no time off in lieu is granted when a Public Holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, as it is in the UK.
"Faire le pont"
When a Public Holiday falls on a Tuesday or a Thursday, it is very common to take the Friday or Monday off to create a long weekend (“faire le pont”). Many businesses, especially the smaller ones are therefore closed for the entire period, including many estate agencies.
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