Public holidays in France
| Public Holidays in France: | 2012 | 2013 |
|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day | 1 Jan | 1 Jan |
| Good Friday (only celebrated in Alsace and Lorraine) | 6 Apr | 29 Mar |
| Easter Sunday | 8 Apr | 31 Mar |
| Easter Monday | 9 Apr | 1 Apr |
| Labour Day (Worker's Day) | 1 May | 1 May |
| WWII Victory Day | 8 May | 8 May |
| Ascension Day | 17 May | 9 May |
| Pentecost | 27 May | 20 May |
| Whit Monday | 28 May | 21 May |
| Bastille Day | 14 Jul | 14 Jul |
| Assumption of the Virgin Mary | 15 Aug | 15 Aug |
| All Saints' Day | 1 Nov | 1 Nov |
| Armistice Day | 11 Nov | 11 Nov |
| Christmas Day | 25 Dec | 25 Dec |
| 2nd day of Christmas (only celebrated in Alsace and Lorraine) | 26 Dec | 26 Dec |
As many expats may already know, the French adore their holiday time, and it should come as little surprise then that when the opportunity strikes for a long weekend, many indulge. Meaning, that when a public holiday in France occurs on a Tuesday or Thursday, employees and employers will often ‘faire le pont’ (bridge the gap), and take/give the day off in-between (the Monday or the Friday, respectively).
Additionally, expats living in France should note that when public holidays fall on a Sunday, time-off is then given on the following Monday. Easter Sunday and Whit Sunday are the exceptions to this rule.
