Les jours fériés

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French workers get 11 "jours fériés" (public holidays) a year added to their annual holiday entitlement. Sharing a meal with friends and family is of course the best way to spend it!

Should the bank holiday land on a weekend, French employees do not get a day off in lieu. You would think that this is bad luck but, bearing in mind that the annual holiday entitlement is 5 weeks, they are not doing too badly!

When the bank holiday fall on a Tuesday or a Thursday, it is quite common practice to “faire le pont” (to do the bridge) – ie take the bridging day (Friday or the Monday) as a day off and extend the weekend to 4 days! Any excuse!

The list of bank holidays is as follows:






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