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French School holidays, Public Holidays (Fêtes Nationale), festivals, and events in France 2012 and 2013.
There are eleven public holidays in France. They are; 1st January, the 1st and 8th May, Easter Monday, Ascension day, Whit Monday, the 14th July, the 15th August, the 1st and 11th November and the 25th December.
Unlike in the United Kingdom where Public Holidays generally fall on a Monday or Friday, in France "Jours Fériés" and "Fêtes Nationales" (14th July) are taken strictly on the day on which they fall. Many larger shops now open on Public Holidays, but it is always best to check before you go.
It is worth noting that when Public Holidays in France fall on a Tuesday or Thursday, it is commonplace to take off the Monday or Friday as well. This can mean extra crowds at tourist places although it shouldn't affect the opening of shops. Known as "Faire le pont" (making a bridge).
Whit Monday. Having been abolished in 2005 it was restored in 2008.
Events in France • Brittany • Nord Pas de Calais • Normandy • Belgium • Food & Wine • Musical • French Public holidays • Holiday shopping • Sales • Shows about France • Skiing dates to watch • Ski Testing events • Strikes in France • Annual French markets • Xmas shopping • Tour de France
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Many shops are closed on Public Holidays in France and Belgium – check our Holiday Shopping page before you go. Police stations and hospitals stay open.
Shoppers should look at the France, Belgium and Luxembourg columns (YES = Public Holiday in that country).
Key; (red text) Fr – Public Holiday or Religious day (some shops may be closed) in France. Otherwise United Kingdom so may be busy on ferries and Eurotunnel.
| Date | United Kingdom | France | Belgium | Luxembourg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January 1st. Sunday Dimanche |
YES New Years Day |
YES (1) – Jour de l'an |
YES | YES |
| January 2nd. Monday Lundi |
YES | NO | - | - |
| Luxembourg – February 21st. Tuesday Mardi |
NO | NO | NO | YES – Carnival Day |
| April 6th. Friday Vendredi |
YES – Good Friday | NO | NO | NO |
| April 9th. Monday Lundi |
YES – Easter Bank Holiday | YES (2) – Lundi de Pâques | YES | YES |
| April 23rd. Monday Lundi |
NO – St George's Day | NO | NO | NO |
| May 1st. Tuesday Mardi |
NO | YES (3) – Fête du premier mai | YES | NO |
| May 7th. Monday Lundi |
YES – May Day Bank Holiday | NO | NO | NO |
| May 8th. Tuesday Mardi |
NO | YES – Victory Day / Armistice 1945 (4) – Fête de la Victoire 1945 | NO | NO |
| May 17th. Thursday Jeudi |
NO – Ascension Day | YES (5) – l'Ascencion | YES | YES |
| May 27th. Sunday Dimanche |
NO – Whitsun | NO FR – la Pentecôte | YES | NO |
| May 28th. Monday Lundi |
NO – Whit Monday | YES (6) Fr – Lundi de Pentecôte | YES | YES |
| June 4th. Monday Lundi |
YES – Spring Bank Holiday | NO | NO | NO |
| June 5th. Tuesday Mardi |
YES – Diamond Jubilee Holiday | NO | NO | NO |
| Luxembourg – June 23rd. Saturday Samedi |
NO | NO | NO | YES – National Day |
| Belgium – July 11th. Wednesday Mercredi |
NO | NO | Parts – Flemmish Community Holiday | NO |
| July 14th. Saturday Samedi |
NO | YES – Bastille Day (7) – Fête national | NO | NO |
| Belgium – July 21st. Saturday Samedi |
NO | NO | YES – National day | NO |
| August 15th. Wednesday Mercredi |
NO | YES – Assumption Day (8) – Assomption | YES | YES |
| August 27th. Monday Lundi |
YES – Summer Bank Holiday Monday | NO | NO | NO |
| Luxembourg – September 3rd. Monday Lundi |
NO | NO | NO | YES – City only |
| Belgium – September 27th. Thursday Jeudi |
NO | NO | Parts – French Community Holiday | NO |
| November 1st. Thursday Jeudi |
NO | YES – All Saints Day (9) – La Toussain | YES | YES |
| November 11th. Sunday Dimanche |
No – Remembrance Day | YES – Armistice 1918 (10) – Jour d'armistice 1918 | YES | NO |
| Belgium – November 15th. Thursday Jeudi |
NO | NO | YES – King's Birthday (www.monarchie.be) / German Community Holiday | NO |
| December 25th Christmas Day. Tuesday Mardi |
YES | YES (11) – Noël | YES | YES |
| December 26th Boxing Day Holiday (St Etienne). Wednesday Mercredi |
YES | NO Alsace and Lorraine only | YES | YES |
| January 1st 2013. Tuesday Mardi |
- | YES | - | - |
2012 Bank Holidays United Kingdom.
January 1st. Sunday – New Years Day. Fr (1) – Jour de l'an
January 2nd. Monday – New Year's Day Public Holiday
April 6th. Friday – Good Friday
April 9th. Monday – Easter Monday. Fr (2) – Lundi de Pâques
April 23rd. Monday – Saint George's Day
May 1st. Tuesday – May Day. Fr (3) – Fête du premier mai
May 7th. Monday. Public holiday in the United Kingdom.
May 17th. Thursday – Ascension. Fr (5) – l'Ascencion
May 27th. Sunday – Whit Sunday. La Pentecôte
May 28th. Monday – Whit Monday. Fr (6) – Lundi de Pentecôte. Restored as a Public holiday in France in 2008
June 4th. Monday – Spring Bank Holiday Monday
June 5th. Tuesday – Diamond Jubilee Holiday
August 15th. Wednesday – Assumption. Fr (8) – Assomption
August 27th. Monday – Summer Bank Holiday
November 1st. Thursday – All Saints Day. Fr (9) – La Toussain
November 11th. Sunday – Armistice Day. Fr (10) – Jour d'armistice
December 25th Christmas Day. Tuesday. Fr (11) – Noël
December 26th Boxing Day Holiday (St Etienne). Wednesday. Fr – Alsace and Lorraine only
January 1st 2013. Tuesday.
2012 Bank Holidays France;
Key; Fr – Public Holiday or Religious day in France (some shops may be closed). There are 10 Public Holidays in France.
January 1st. Sunday / Dimanche – New Years Day. Fr (1) – Jour de l'an
April 9th. Monday / Lundi – Easter Monday. Fr (2) – Lundi de Pâques
May 1st. Tuesday / Mardi – May Day. Fr (3) – Fête du premier mai
May 8th. Tuesday / Mardi – WWII Victory Day. Fr (4) – Fête de la Victoire 1945
May 17th. Thursday / Jeudi – Ascension. Fr (5) – l'Ascencion
May 27th. Sunday / Dimanche – Whit Sunday. La Pentecôte
May 28th. Monday / Lundi – Whit Monday. Fr (6) – Lundi de Pentecôte. Restored as a Public holiday in France in 2008
July 14th. Saturday / Samedi – Bastille Day. Fr (7) – Fête national
August 15th. Wednesday / Mercredi – Assumption. Fr (8) – Assomption
November 1st. Thursday / Jeudi – All Saints Day. Fr (9) – La Toussain
November 11th. Sunday / Dimanche – Armistice Day. Fr (10) – Jour d'armistice
December 25th Christmas Day. Tuesday / Mardi. Fr (11) – Noël
December 26th Boxing Day Holiday (St Etienne). Wednesday / Mercredi. Fr – Alsace and Lorraine only
January 1st 2013. Tuesday / Mardi
Shoppers should look at the France, Belgium and Luxembourg columns (YES = Public Holiday in that country).
Key; (red text) Fr – Public Holiday or Religious day (some shops may be closed) in France. Otherwise United Kingdom so may be busy on ferries and Eurotunnel.
There are 12 Public Holidays a year in France. TO BE UPDATED.
| Date (2012) | United Kingdom | France | Belgium | Luxembourg |
| January 1st. Sunday / Dimanche | YES – New Years Day | YES (1) – Jour de l'an | YES | YES |
| January 2nd. Monday / Lundi | YES – New Year's Day Public Holiday | NO | - | - |
| February 21st. Tuesday / Mardi | NO | NO | NO | YES – Carnival Day |
| April 6th. Friday / Vendredi | YES – Good Friday | NO | NO | NO |
| April 9th. Monday / Lundi | YES – Easter Monday | YES – Fr (2) – Lundi de Pâques | YES | YES |
| April 23rd. Monday / Lundi | NO – St George's Day | NO | NO | NO |
| May 1st. Tuesday / Mardi | NO – May Day | YES (3) – Fête du premier mai | YES | NO |
| May 7th. Monday / Lundi | YES – May Day Bank Holiday | NO | NO | NO |
| May 8th. Tuesday / Mardi | NO – WWII Victory Day | YES – Victory Day / Armistice 1945 (4) – Fête de la Victoire 1945 | NO | NO |
| May 17th. Thursday / Jeudi | NO – Ascension Day | YES (5) – l'Ascencion | YES | YES |
| May 27th. Sunday / Dimanche | NO – Whitsun | NO FR – la Pentecôte | YES | NO |
| May 28th. Monday / Lundi | NO – Whit Monday | YES Fr – Lundi de Pentecôte | YES | YES |
| June 4th. Monday / Lundi | YES – Spring Bank Holiday | NO | NO | NO |
| June 5th. Tuesday / Mardi | YES – Diamond Jubilee Holiday | NO | NO | NO |
| June 23rd. Saturday / Samedi | NO | NO | NO | YES – National Day |
| July 11th. Wednesday / Mercredi | NO | NO | Parts – Flemmish Community Holiday | NO |
| July 14th. Saturday / Samedi | NO | YES – Bastille Day (6) – Fête national | NO | NO |
| July 21st. Saturday / Samedi | NO | NO | YES – National day | NO |
| August 15th. Wednesday / Mercredi | NO | YES – Assumption Day (7) – Assomption | YES | YES |
| August 27th. Monday / Lundi | YES – Summer Bank Holiday Monday | NO | NO | NO |
| September 3rd. Monday / Lundi | NO | NO | NO | YES – City only |
| 27th September – Thursday / Jeudi | NO | NO | Parts – French Community Holiday | NO |
| November 1st. Thursday / Jeudi | NO | YES – All Saints Day (8) – La Toussain | YES | YES |
| November 11th. Sunday / Dimanche | No – Remembrance Day | YES – Armistice 1918 (9) – Jour d'armistice 1918 | YES | NO |
|
15th November – Thursday / Jeudi |
NO | NO | YES – King's Birthday (www.monarchie.be) / German Community Holiday | NO |
|
December 25th. Tuesday / Mardi |
YES – Christmas Day | YES (10) – Noël | YES | YES |
| December 26th. Boxing Day Holiday (St Etienne). Wednesday / Mercredi | YES | NO Alsace and Lorraine only | YES | YES |
|
January 1st 2013. Tuesday / Mardi |
YES – New Year's Day | YES | - | - |
.
Grandmother's Day (Fête des Grand-mères) – First Sunday in March every year. Sunday 4th March 2012 (2013 3rd March).
Mother's Day – Sunday 18th March 2012 – in France it is on Sunday 3rd June 2012 (26th May 2013).
Father's Day – Sunday 17th June 2012 (16th June 2013).
Halloween – 31st October.
Valentines Day – 14th February.
Shrove Tuesday (Mardi Gras) – 21st February 2012 (12th February 2013).
Spring (Printemps) 20th March, Summer (Été) 21st June, Autumn (Automme) 22nd September, Winter (Hiver) 21st December.
New Year's Day – is devoted to visiting parents and older relatives and exchanging gifts (instead of on Christmas Day). Don't forget to tip your concierges as they will expect it.
At Easter – Chocolate eggs, fish and bells can be found in the shops. Church bells do not ring in France from the Thursday before Good Friday till Easter morning. This is because Catholic tradition suggests that all the church bells in France fly off to the Vatican on Good Friday taking with them all the misery and grief of those who mourn the crucifixion. The traditional Easter egg hunts start after the church bells have rung on Easter morning.
May 1 – is a legal holiday in France. A French custom is to present muguets (lilies of the valley) to friends and loved ones to bring them happiness and porte bonheur (good luck). Everyone is entitled to pick wild muguet, found in the forests surrounding Paris. May 1st is the only day of the year that anyone can sell muguet or other flowers without a license. If you find yourself at the Elysées Palace, you might see Les Forts des Halles (porters of the Paris market), dressed in the traditional porters outfits, presenting muguet to the President of France.
Assumption – celebrations such as harvest festivals and the blessing of the sea happen on this day.
All Souls Day – it is the custom in France to visit the graves of relatives on the day before the Jour des Morts or on the day itself. Flowers (usually chrysanthemums) are placed on the graves. Chrysanthemums were the seasonal flowers before greenhouses existed, and are the traditional flowers used on this day. Thursday don't even consider offering chrysanthemums when invited to people's houses for dinner, etc.
Christmas – Midnight Mass, called la Messe de Minuit on Christmas eve is an important part of festivities in many parts of France. Le Réveillon, the main Christmas dinner follows. Traditional holiday foods include; oysters, boudin blanc (white sausage), foie gras, pheasants, saumon fumé, huîtres, and bûches de Noël (yule log-shaped cake), chestnuts and turkey (Burgundy). It's also traditional in France for children to place their shoes in front of the fireplace in the hope that Father Christmas will fill them with small gifts. Tradition dictates that bad children get a visit from Pere Fouettard who delivers spankings.
New Years Eve (Saint-Sylvestre) is celebrated with a feast "le Réveillon de Saint-Sylvestre". Traditional foods include foie gras and champagne.
New Years Day (le Jour de l'An) is when presents and cards are exchanged.
Epiphany on the 6th January, marks the end of the festive season. It is celebrated with a special cake called "la galette des rois" (cake of Kings). Inside is a trinket or fève which brings good luck and fortune for the year ahead. The person who gets the portion containing the trinket is crowned King or Queen for the rest of the day and is honoured by the rest of the family.
Christian holidays – Dates change each year
| 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | |
|
Good Friday * |
6th April | 29th March | 18th April |
| Easter (Pâques) | 8th April | 31st March | 20th April |
| Easter Monday | 9th April | 1st April | 21st April |
| Ascension (l'Ascencion) | 17th May | 9th May | 29th May |
| Pentecost (la Pentecôte) | 27th May | 19th May | 8th June |
| Whit Monday | 28th May | 20th May | 9th June |
* In Alsace and Lorraine only.
These dates can vary depending on the authority (we have used Kent's dates) Skiing
| Spring 2011 | Summer 2012 | Winter (Xmas) 2012 | Spring 2013 | Summer 2013 | Winter (Xmas) 2013 | Spring 2014 | |
| Holiday begins / ends. local.direct.gov.uk | 31st March to 15th April 2012 | 21st July to 3rd September 2012 | 22nd December 2012 to 6th January 2013 | 29th March to 14th April 2013 | 25th July to 2nd September 2013 | - | - |
| Half Term (begins – ends) | 26th May to 3rd June 2012 | 6th October to 4th November 2012 | From 9th or 16th to 24th February 2013 | 25th May to 2nd June 2013 | 26th October to 3rd November 2013 | - | - |
Summer 2012 – Summer holidays begin 21st July and ends 2nd September 2012.
Kent. 2011/12 (pdf file)
Kent. 2012/13 (pdf file)
Kent. 2013/14 (pdf file)
Other U.K. school holidays. www.myschoolholidays.com
www.education.gouv.fr (French)
French schoolchildren and teachers have five holidays a year. One week at the end of October, two weeks at Christmas, two more in February, two in spring, and the whole of the summer in July and August.
To avoid chaos on the roads, the French school holidays are staggered by grouping schools into 3 separate zones.
The first day indicates the first day of the holiday, the second the date of return (Rentrée des élèves).
|
Zones |
Areas |
Xmas 2011 Noël |
Winter 2011 Hiver |
Spring 2012 Printemps |
Summer 2012 Été |
Autumn 2012 Toussaint |
Xmas 2012 Noël |
Winter 2013 Hiver |
Spring 2013 Printemps |
|
| ZONE A
(Yellow) |
Caen, Clermont-Ferrand, Grenoble, Lyon, Metz, Montpellier, Nancy, Nantes, Rennes, Toulouse. |
17th December 2011 to 2nd January 2012 | 11th to 26th February 2012 | 7th to 22nd April 2012 | 5th July to 3rd September 2012 |
27th October to 7th November 2012 |
22nd December 2102 to 6th January 2013 | 23rd February to 10th March 2013 | 20th April to 5th May 2013 | |
ZONE B(Blue) |
d'Aix-Marseille, Amiens, Besançon, Dijon, Lille, Limoges, Nice, Orléans-Tours, Poitiers, Reims, Rouen, Strasbourg. |
25th February to 11th March 2012 | 21st April to 6th May 2012 | 16th February to 10th March 2013 | 13th to 28th April 2013 | |||||
|
ZONE C (Red) |
Bordeaux, Creteil, Paris, Versailles |
18th February to 4th March 2012 | 14th to 29th April 2012 | 2nd to 18th March 2013 | 27th April to 13th May 2013 |
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