How to make the most of France’s 2016 holidays

The days off in France this year are not nearly as opportune as they were last year (May alone had four public holidays and three long weekends!)

But this year it's another story.  

And three (yes, three!) public holidays fall on a Sunday, including Christmas Day, robbing workers of an extra day off during the winter holidays.

But that’s not all. Because 2016 is a leap year, there was an extra day of work on February 29th. 

Fortunately, Pentecost on May 16th and Assumption Day on August 15th both fall on Mondays, giving us a couple more long weekends to look forward to.

Remembrance Day on Friday, November 11th provides us with the last three-day weekend of the year.

Here is the full list of France’s national public holidays in 2016:

New Year’s Day: Friday, January 1st

Easter Monday: March 28th

Labor Day: Sunday, May 1st

Ascension Day: Thursday, May 5th

Victory in Europe Day (end of WWII): Sunday, May 8th

Pentecost: Monday, May 16th

Bastille Day: Thursday, July 14th

Assumption Day: Monday, August 15th

All Saints’ Day on Tuesday, November 1st

Remembrance Day: Friday, November 11th

Christmas: Sunday, December 25th