Naturally, France celebrates the Christian Holidays such Easter and Christmas, but it does have its own unique public holidays too. Such as Bastille Day on the 14th of July commemorates the day when the French public stormed Bastille, which resulted in the French Revolution. It is celebrated with a military parade down the Champs-Élysees. France also celebrates its labor day on the first of May and Europe Day on the eighth.
FRENCH NATIONAL HOLIDAYS
- January 1: New Year's Day (Jour de l'an)
- April 14: Good Friday – applicable only to Alsace and Moselle/Lorraine.
- April 17: Easter Monday (Lundi de Pâques)
- May 1: Labour Day (Fête du premier mai)
- May 8: WWII Victory Day (Fête du huitième mai or Jour de la Victoire 45)
- May 25: Ascension Day (Jour de l'Ascension, 40 days after Easter)
- June 5: Whit Monday – also known as Pentecost Monday (Lundi de Pentecôte).
- July 14: Bastille Day (Fête nationale)
- August 15: Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Assomption)
- November 1: All Saints Day (La Toussaint)
- November 11: Armistice Day (Jour d'armistice)
- December 25: Christmas Day (Noël)
- December 26: Boxing Day/St Stephen's Day (Deuxième jour de Noël): applicable only to Alsace and Moselle/Lorraine.
IMPORTANT FRENCH HOLIDAYS
- March 26: Clocks go forward one hour as daylight saving time (DST) starts.
- April 1: April Fool’s Day (Poisson d'Avril)
- May 28: Mother’s day (last Sunday in May)
- June 18: Father’s day (third Sunday in June)
- October 29: Clocks go back one hour (DST ends).
