All Saints Day falls on the day after Halloween, although Halloween is a somewhat controversial celebration in France. The second French holiday, the Catholic holy day of La Toussaint or All Saints, is a more private affair where families place flowers – most commonly chrysanthemums – on graves in honor of their dead relatives, and then go home for a huge lunch. The first French national holiday commemorates the storming of the Bastille in 1789 and is a celebration of nationhood with communal fireworks, tricolor flags flying, and moules frites at the mairie. The two most widely celebrated holidays in France are Bastille Day (14 July) and All Saints Day (1 November). You can see which French bank holidays coincide with the best French festivals it’s also a great reason to travel the country and experience French food and culture. Some businesses may opt to close completely during a bridge holiday in France. When holiday fall on a Tuesday or Thursday, employees in France commonly make a bridge holiday ( faire le pont), creating a very long weekend. If a national holiday in France falls on a Saturday, however, no extra day is given during the week. If a national holiday in France falls on a Sunday, the following Monday is usually given as a holiday. The former German territory retained these two extra public holidays when it rejoined France after World War I. Most French holidays apply across the nation, although two regions (Alsace and Lorraine) have two extra public holidays. However, only May Day is a statutory holiday in France the entitlement to other paid holidays and the conditions for working on French national holidays (such as higher pay) are left to the discretion of the employer-employee contract or union, so check the French holiday calendar when looking for jobs in France. Introduction to French public holidaysįrance observes 11 public holidays each year. To ensure you don’t miss out on anything important, our guide puts together a list of France’s public holidays and important dates. However, some shopping centers and grocers may stay open on holidays, even if only for half a day. Many businesses in France close for national holidays. Whether you’re living in France or just visiting, below is a list of important French holidays to mark down. Living in France? Here’s a list of all the French public holidays you need to know in 20, as well as other important dates to make a note of on your calendar.

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