1st March 2022
With spring in the air in France, time to check out the public holiday dates this year.
There are 11 public holidays in France. This year, 7 out of the 11 days occur on a weekday, when there is then the opportunity for the French to create a 'bridge' ('faire le pont' and enjoy an accustomed short holiday.
Three of the public holidays - Ascension Day, Bastille Day and All Saints' Day - all occur on a Tuesday or a Thursday, which normally means most French will take a four-day break.
Other shorter breaks will be possible for Easter Monday, Whit Monday and Assumption.
Both Labour Day and VE Day occur on a Sunday. Although it is not compulsory for employers to grant a day in lieu on such days, most do so.
With 4 public holidays in May, it is a month when it can sometimes seem as if the whole of the country has closed down.
The list of public holidays for this year is as follows.
- Saturday 1st January - New Year's Day (Jour de l'an)
- Monday 18th April - Easter Monday (Lundi de Pâques)
- Sunday 1st May - Labour Day (Fête du Travail)
- Sunday 8th May - VE Day - (Fête de la Victoire 1945)
- Thursday 26th May - Ascension Day (l'Ascension)
- Monday 6th June - Whit Monday (Lundi de Pentecôte)
- Thursday 14th July - Bastille Day (Fête Nationale)
- Monday 15th August - Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Assomption)
- Tuesday 1st November - All Saints' Day (La Toussaint)
- Friday 11th November - Armistice Day (Armistice 1918)
- Sunday 25th December - Christmas Day (Noël)
In terms of school holidays, you can find the dates at French School Calendar 2022/23.
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