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Why 2020 is a good year for public holidays in France

The Local France
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Why 2020 is a good year for public holidays in France
Photo: AFP

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.

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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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Anonymous 2020/05/22 19:29
Sweetheart. Ascension Day always falls on a Thursday. That’s okay.

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