Faire le pont

Most people will have enjoyed our two recent 4-day weeks – in spite of the rain. However, in France, May is definitely holiday month chez les Français with 3 Public Holidays – all of which fall on a Thursday in 2025 !

When a public holiday falls on a Thursday or a Tuesday, who would not want to take a day off after, or prior to, the weekend so they could make the most of a 4-day break ?

To do this is to faire le pont – make a bridge between the public holiday and the weekend.
Vive le super long weekend !
Vive le weekend prolongé !  

Of the 11 French public holidays in 2025, 4 are on a Thursday, 1 is on a Tuesday, 3 are on a Monday, 1 is on a Friday. Lots of potential for des ponts or simply a long weekend.

1 public holiday is on a Saturday so no particular advantage, and one was on a Wednesday (1^st January) which meant just a mid-week break.

However, this week I read an article in the French papers warning parents that repeatedly taking their children out of school for unjustified and unauthorized reasons would leave the parents open to the risk of  fines. Starting point $1500.

French Public Holidays in May

Le 1er mai: The first day of May in France is La Fête du Travail (Labour Day). It is a public holiday, a day off from work for everyone, with one major exception: florists.  May 1 is also La Fête du Muguet, and it’s traditional to offer one’s loved ones a sprig of lily of the valley (un brin de muguet), symbol of spring and of good luck, especially if the sprig has 13 bellflowers –  « Les noces de muguet » symbolise 13 years of marriage in French folklore.

Le 8 mai: Victory Day 1945 (V-E Day) celebrates the end of World War 2 in Europe.

Le 29 mai:  L’Ascension. Ascension Day is the 40^th day after Easter and is the Christian holiday that commemorates Christ’s ascension into heaven. Ascension Day is always on a Thursday which means that those who can and want to will usually « faire le pont ».