Holidays in France
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
| Date | English Name | Local Name | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 1 | New Year's Day | Jour de l'An | |
| January 6 | Epiphany | Fête des Rois | (not a public holiday) |
| February 2 | Candlemas | La Chandeleur | (not a public holiday) |
| moveable | Easter | Pâques | Sunday, date varies |
| moveable | Easter Monday | Lundi de Pâques | Monday after Easter |
| May 1 | Labour Day | Fête du Travail | |
| May 8 | V-E Day | Victoire 1945 | End of WWII |
| moveable | Ascension Day | Ascension | Thursday, 40 days after Easter |
| moveable | Pentecost | Pentecôte | Seventh Sunday after Easter1 |
| July 14 | Bastille Day | Fête Nationale | National Day |
| August 15 | Assumption | Assomption | |
| November 1 | All Saints Day | Toussaint | |
| November 11 | Veterans Day Armistice Day Remembrance Day |
Armistice 1918 | End of WWI |
| December 25 | Christmas Day | Noël |
Note: Only labour day (May 1st) is a public holiday by statute. The rest of the holidays are granted by convention collective (agreement between employers' and employees' unions) or by agreement of the employer.
1: The Raffarin administration has suppressed Pentecost as a public holiday for state public workers, and has authorized private companies to add one working day to their schedule, starting from 2005. This scheme is meant to raise money for a fund for the elderly and handicapped. This action and its legality were controversial and it is unknown whether it will still be current in 2006.
