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 French
calendar and annual events
French law guarantees everyone who works (salarié) five weeks
of paid vacation. Aside from the five week vacation, which most people
divide between summer and winter, the French like taking long weekends
(faire le pont) - actually extended weekends created when a holiday
falls on a Thursday or on a Tuesday.
Here is a list of holidays and their respective customs :
- Jour de l'An (January 1 / New Year's Day*) : This day is generally
devoted to visiting parents and exchanging gifts. Concierges expect
to be tipped at this time. Postmen, firemen, street cleaners, etc. solicit
their New Year's gifts as early as November, offering calendars in exchange
for year-end tokens of appreciation (cash).
- Pâques (Easter) and Lundi de Pâques (Easter
Monday*).
- Le Premier Mai (May 1 / Labour Day) : A custom in France on
this day is to present lilies of the valley (muguet) to friends and
loved ones to bring them happiness and good luck.
- Le Huit Mai (May 8 / V Day*) : Celebrates the Victory of 1945
- Ascension (Ascension Day*)
- Pentecôte (Pentecost) and Lundi de Pentecôte (Pentecost
Monday*)
- Le Quatorze Juillet (July 14 / Bastille Day*) : Fête
Nationale
- Le Quinze Août (August 15 / Feast of the Assumption*)
- La Toussaint (November 1 / All Saints' Day*)
- Le Jour des Morts (November 2 / 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.
- Le Onze Novembre (November 11 / Veteran's Day*)
- Noel (December 25 / Christmas*)
- Le Trente et Un (December 31 / New Year's Eve).
National public holidays are denoted with *. Most public offices, schools
and businesses are closed.
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