French holidays

 
Calendar:

Under law, every French worker is entitled to 5 weeks of vacation.
Most of the natives take their summer vacations in July or August, and many major businesses are then closed.
All of France takes to the roads, railroads, boats, and airways. Consequently, traveling in France during August is generally not recommended for foreigners.

Public Holidays

1^st January New Year's Day (Jour de l'an)

1^st May Labor Day (Fête du premier mai)

8 May WWII Victory Day (Fête de la Victoire 1945; Fête du huitième mai)

14 July Bastille Day (Fête nationale)

1 November All Saints Day (La Toussaint)

11 November Armistice Day (Jour d'armistice)

25 December Christmas Day (Noël)

Moveable holidays

Easter (Pâques): 27 March

Easter Monday: 28 March

Ascension (l'Ascencion): 5 May

Pentecost (la Pentecôte): 15 May

Note that when a holiday happens to fall on a Tuesday or Thursday, many French workers may take the Monday or, respectively, Friday, off as well. This is not official and does not apply to institutions such as banks or government, but is sufficiently commonplace to cause difficulties doing business on occasion.

sources: www.discoverfrance.net