Does anyone know if there is a religious holiday in France, during May? I was in Belgium one time in May. Unbeknownst to me there was a religious holiday where just about everything was shut down. It was quite a surprise. So this time I want to be prepared.
Posted by
Brooklyn, NY
4270 posts
Are you thinking of Ascension Thursday. It varies every year - 40 days after Easter Sunday. This year it is May 10.
Posted by
Portland
3643 posts
I’m sure someone will correct me if I’m wrong about this; but I believe that France is officially a secular country. Therefore, things should be open on Ascension Day. You can check on websites of specific attractions to be certain. The only caveat I would add is that it being a Thursday, many people might make it into a 4-day weekend. You would then encounter larger than usual crowds in some places.
Posted by
Chicago
8561 posts
France has a bunch of religious holidays in May. It means more people on the road or in museums as people get days off, but it doesn't affect museums, shops, restaurants etc.
Posted by
L'Occitanie, France
10634 posts
One religious —Ascension, May 10
One war commemoration—VE Day, May 8
One for workers—Labor Day, May 1
And don’t forget Mom— Mother’s Day in France, May 27th
Posted by
OP
Boulder, CO, USA
103 posts
Thank you everyone for the information. I have that cleared up now and I'm sure some places will be open. I know that even on Sundays, the Marais District shops are open.
Posted by
Rick Steves' Europe
16895 posts
Trains will be full/busy/expensive, even if the strikes stop, with every holiday stretching into a long-weekend opportunity to get out of town. Many things do close on May 1. Other big events in May include the Cannes Film Festival and the Monaco Grand Prix.
Posted by
France
408 posts
They're all what are known as jours fériés, or civil holidays. Ascension is religious in origin, but as France is a secular country, it's technically a civil holiday that many workers get off.
That said, you might say that the average French worker, no matter how secular, is positively religious about taking all the holidays they can get, along with associated bridge (pont) days to (or from) the weekend.