Why 2020 is a good year for public holidays in France
Workers in France will get an extra nine days off this year, with many public holidays falling on a Friday or a Monday to create some nice long weekends.
In France public holidays are marked on whichever day of the week they happen to fall - so if the holiday lands on a weekend there is no extra time off work.
French workers get 11 public holidays a year (apart from the lucky folk of Alsace Lorraine, who get 13) and the good news is that in 2020 just two land on a weekend, meaning nine extra days off work.
READ ALSO These are the days off work you are entitled to in France
Even better, five of them will fall either on a Monday or a Friday - meaning a fair amount of long weekends.
This year, Ascension (May 21st) will fall on a Thursday, while the French Fête Nationale (or Bastille Day as it is known to Anglophones) on July 14th will fall on a Tuesday.
In other words, you have two chances to faire le pont (do the bridge) as the French say by taking just one day of annual leave to create a four-day weekend.
Regrettably, Assumption day (August 15th) and All Saints’ Day (November 1st) will fall on a Saturday and a Sunday, so won't give you any time off work.
This is the full list of public holidays in France
New Year's Day: Wednesday, January 1st
Easter Monday: Monday April 13th
Labour Day: Friday May 1st
Victory in Europe Day (end of WWII): Friday May 8th
Ascension: Thursday May 21st
Pentecost: Monday June 1st (although not everybody gets this after recent and confusing changes to the rules).
Bastille Day: Tuesday July 14th
Assumption Day: Saturday August 15th
All Saints' Day: Sunday November 1st
Remembrance Day: Wednesday November 11th
Christmas Day: Friday December 25th
And if you're searching for inspiration on what to do with all your lovely long weekends- why not check out this list of the one place you really should visit in every French département.
See Also
In France public holidays are marked on whichever day of the week they happen to fall - so if the holiday lands on a weekend there is no extra time off work.
French workers get 11 public holidays a year (apart from the lucky folk of Alsace Lorraine, who get 13) and the good news is that in 2020 just two land on a weekend, meaning nine extra days off work.
READ ALSO These are the days off work you are entitled to in France
Even better, five of them will fall either on a Monday or a Friday - meaning a fair amount of long weekends.
This year, Ascension (May 21st) will fall on a Thursday, while the French Fête Nationale (or Bastille Day as it is known to Anglophones) on July 14th will fall on a Tuesday.
In other words, you have two chances to faire le pont (do the bridge) as the French say by taking just one day of annual leave to create a four-day weekend.
Regrettably, Assumption day (August 15th) and All Saints’ Day (November 1st) will fall on a Saturday and a Sunday, so won't give you any time off work.
This is the full list of public holidays in France
New Year's Day: Wednesday, January 1st
Easter Monday: Monday April 13th
Labour Day: Friday May 1st
Victory in Europe Day (end of WWII): Friday May 8th
Ascension: Thursday May 21st
Pentecost: Monday June 1st (although not everybody gets this after recent and confusing changes to the rules).
Bastille Day: Tuesday July 14th
Assumption Day: Saturday August 15th
All Saints' Day: Sunday November 1st
Remembrance Day: Wednesday November 11th
Christmas Day: Friday December 25th
And if you're searching for inspiration on what to do with all your lovely long weekends- why not check out this list of the one place you really should visit in every French département.
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