PUBLIC HOLIDAY. The next public holiday of the year 2024 is approaching. It is the Assumption. And after? Here are the next public holidays 2024 and all the public holidays of 2025, to anticipate bridges and vacations.
[Mis à jour le 21 juillet 2024 à 13h43] The summer holidays are now marked by only one public holiday: the Assumption, which allows you to enjoy a 4-day weekend for those who are not on vacation! The Assumption is a Christian holiday that celebrates the ascension into heaven of the Virgin Mary, the mother of Christ.
On his sitethe Catholic Church in France explains that the Assumption is a holiday that originated in the East. It is celebrated on August 15, in reference to the consecration of a church for the Virgin Mary that took place on that date, in the 6th century. In the West, the Assumption was established by Pope Sergius I (687-701). August 15 is a public holiday in accordance with the decree of April 19, 1802 resulting from the Concordat and according to article 42 of the law of December 9, 1905 on the separation of Church and State. Consult the list of public holidays for 2024 and 2025 to find out when to go and download our calendar of School vacation with public holidays.
What are the 2024 public holidays in France?
There are only 4 public holidays left this year 2024. Check out the next public holidays of the year in France:
- Thursday August 15, 2024 : Assumption
- Friday, November 1, 2024 : Toussaint
- Monday, November 11, 2024 : 1918 Armistice
- Wednesday, December 25, 2024 : Christmas
What are the 2025 public holidays in France?
Check the dates of the 11 public holidays in 2025 in France, in order to plan your vacation well in advance!
- Wednesday, January 1, 2025 : New Year’s Day
- Monday April 21, 2025 : Easter Monday
- Thursday May 1, 2025 : Labor Day
- Thursday, May 8, 2025: Armistice 1945
- Thursday May 29, 2025 : Ascension
- Monday June 9, 2025 : Whit Monday
- Monday July 14, 2025 : National Holiday
- Friday, August 15, 2025 : Assumption
- Saturday, November 1, 2025 : Toussaint
- Tuesday, November 11, 2025 : 1918 Armistice
- Thursday, December 25, 2025: Christmas
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:
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.