French Bank Holidays - Stumbling In The Dark

We stumbled across our first national holiday in France on “le quatorze juillet”; as every French citizen will tell you, is known as Bastille Day which marks the start of the French Revolution. The fourteenth of July is the anniversary of the storming of the Bastille in Paris in 1789 and is still celebrated (not with decapitation in honour of Monsieur Guillotine) but with a military parade along the Champs Elysées and the awarding of the “Légion d’honneur” created by Napoleon Bonapart.

 

Waking up the morning after our arrival in Brittany we soon realised on visiting our village for the obligatory baguette, we were unlikely to be able to purchase anything; let alone our daily bread. The village was completely deserted and all the little shops firmly closed and sealed. But, all was not lost for all over France local councils arrange celebrations for the 14^th July and our little village was no exception. There was a bonfire, fireworks and dancing late into the early hours of the following morning; not forgetting of course we are in France where good food is never far away. And of course no celebration is complete without champagne.

 

At around two o’clock in the morning we left the village and began a walk homewards into the countryside. It was then we realised we had forgotten something else besides the national holiday; a torch! There are no street lights in the middle of fields.  As I have already mentioned we stumbled (literally) into the French National holidays.

 

Prior to us forgetting Bastille Day, we also forgot “les fêtes de Pâques”, Easter. Although for some in France Easter retains a religious significance, for others it is predominantly a time to share with the family; and an excuse to buy and give attractive chocolate eggs.  In France it is the church bells (les cloches) and not Easter bunnies that drop eggs into people’s gardens for children to find; but the delighted faces are very much the same.

 

May in France has three bank holidays.  First, there is “la fête du Travail” (May Day), which has been a Bank Holiday since 1947.   Next, on the 8^th May, it is “la fête de la Victoire”, which celebrates the end of World War II, followed by “le jeudi de l’Ascension” Ascension Day, traditionally, the Thursday but one, before Whitsuntide.

 

It is interesting to note that on May Day, whilst the British custom is to merrily cavort around a Pole streaming with ribbons, the French celebrate it by a parade of Worker’s Unions in Paris; that is why in France it is called the Workers Holiday. (Difficult to say which is the most fun?)

 

But, there is a more charming side to “le premier mai” and that is the little posy given to family and friends. It is a little plant originating in Japan which in France is called “le muguet” and we know it as Lily of the Valley. This little perfumed plant is reputed to be a good luck charm and is a symbol of springtime rebirth. If you visit family and friends on the first of May, don’t forget to take that sprig of Lily of the Valley. It can also be an opportunity to earn some pocket money, because anyone is permitted to sell this little flower on May Day!  

 

All Saints Day is also a jolly affair in France, which being a Bank Holiday allows plenty of time to celebrate the occasion by decorating the graves of the dear departed with an over abundance of potted chrysanthemums. We observed this colourful custom first hand in our own pretty French village where there is a well kept cemetery surrounded by a high wall. As is our habit of stumbling over the French national holidays, it was in all innocence that we strolled past the usually peaceful cemetery which we couldn’t fail to notice was unusually noisy, (the usual occupants are renowned for keeping themselves to themselves). Peering through the large iron gates we came face to face with a hive of activity! Groups of families bearing not only their floral tributes but their picnic baskets, children on bikes or in pushchairs and with the family dog tied to a gate post had invaded this quiet corner of the village. Toussaint is a family day- out for all the family; inclusive.

 

In order not to be taken by surprise by any further bank holidays or to miss the fun, I armed myself with an agenda of French public holidays, (Le jour férié) which I hope will prove of some use to you. However, I cannot guarantee you will not stumble over a few unexpected extras.  

 

National Public Holidays in France 2009

 

					1 January			New Year's Day/Nouvel An (Thursday)
					12 April			Easter Sunday/Paques
					13 April			Easter Monday/Lundi de Paques
					1 May			Labour Day/Fête du Travail (Friday)
					8 May			WWII Victory Day/Fête de la Victoire 1945 (Friday)
					21 May			Ascension Day (Thursday)
					31 May			Pentecost (Sunday)
					1 June			Pentecost Monday
					14 July			Bastille Day, France's national holiday (Tuesday)
					15 August			Assumption Day (Saturday)
					1 November			All Saints' Day/Toussaint (Sunday)
					11 November			Armistice Day 1918 (Wednesday)
					25 December			Christmas Day/Noël (Friday)