PUBLIC HOLIDAY. In May 2024, the next public holidays fall on Wednesday, May 8 and Thursday, May 9, Ascension Day. Do students take the bridge on May 10? Find out everything about the public holiday calendar.
[Mis à jour le 13 juillet 2024 à 7h11] In the calendar for the year 2024, there are now only 4 public holidays left: the National Day, the Assumption, All Saints’ Day, the Armistice of 1918 and Christmas. The summer holidays are marked by two public holidays. On the one hand, July 14, which falls this Sunday, offering no opportunity for a long weekend this year.
On the other hand, Assumption on Thursday, August 15, which allows you to treat yourself to a 4-day weekend for those who are not on vacation! Check out the list of 2024 public holidays to find out when to go and download our calendar of School vacation with public holidays.
Here is the official calendar for the 2023-2024 school year which contains, in addition to the traditional holiday periods by zone, the dates of public holidays in France:
Check the dates of the 11 public holidays in 2024 in France, in order to plan your vacation well in advance!
- Monday January 1, 2024 : New Year’s Day
- Monday April 1, 2024 : Easter Monday
- Wednesday May 1, 2024 : Labor Day
- Wednesday May 8, 2024 : Armistice 1945
- Thursday May 9, 2024 : Ascension
- Monday May 20, 2024 : Whit Monday
- Sunday July 14, 2024 : National Holiday
- Thursday August 15, 2024 : Assumption
- Friday, November 1, 2024 : Toussaint
- Monday, November 11, 2024 : 1918 Armistice
- Wednesday, December 25, 2024 : Christmas
How many public holidays are there in France each year?
Public holidays commemorate a civil or religious holiday or a significant event, the list of which is defined by the Labour Code. In France, there are 11 public holidays per year, compared to 10 in Belgium, 12 in Spain and 9 in Germany. In Europe, Cypriots have the most public holidays with 15 days per year. Conversely, in the United Kingdom, there are only 8. These dates have been determined according to the history and culture of the countries. There are therefore two types of public holidays in our country, civil and religious.
There are 5 civil holidays: New Year’s Day, a public holiday since the First Empire in 1810, May 1st (Labor Day) declared a holiday in 1919, May 8 commemorating the capitulation of Germany, July 14 celebrating the capture of the Bastille and which has been a public holiday since July 6, 1880, and November 11, the day of the Armistice of the First World War. And 6 religious holidays: the Assumption, the Ascension, All Saints’ Day, Christmas, Pentecost and Easter are the 6 religious holidays that are public holidays in France.
The first four became public holidays from 1802 following the signing of the Concordat between Bonaparte and the papacy. Easter Monday and Pentecost Monday were added in 1886. Note: there are some local peculiarities: in Alsace-Moselle, Easter Monday and Pentecost Monday are the same day. Good Friday and December 26 are also public holidays and in the French overseas departments, we commemorate the abolition of slavery.
Are public holidays paid?
May 1st, Labor Day, is the only mandatory day off in France that is paid by companies (but there may be some professions that are exceptions). For other public holidays, the law provides that when the day is not worked in a company, the employee must be paid from 3 months of seniority. If the public holiday is worked, the employer is not obliged to pay his employee more, however, some collective agreements provide for an increase.
It is therefore advisable to consult your collective agreement to find out your situation. As regards bridges, there is no obligation for the employer to grant them. If the collective agreement does not specify this particularity, the employer remains free to decide. In any case, he is not obliged to pay his employee on that day. On the other hand, the employer can impose a bridge on employees.
Is a public holiday a non-working day?
A public holiday is not necessarily a non-working day. The employer has the right to ask his employee to work on a public holiday, with the exception of May 1st, Labor Day. Indeed, May 1st is the only mandatory public holiday for all employees of all companies in France. It is therefore mandatory and paid, unlike other public holidays. However, if May 1st falls on a regular day of rest in the company (for example, a Sunday), it will not be paid and does not entitle you to additional rest.