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Geneva Local Reference INFOrmation

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Public Holidays in Geneva, Switzerland & France

A calendar of the national vacation days when businesses, schools and banks holiday and people get the day off in Geneva and across the border into France. With links to holidays in the UK and US.

The French for: bank holiday/public holiday/legal holiday is un jour férié

Banks, shops, offices and even some restaurants close on public holidays
Police stations and hospitals do not close
Most of the larger shops (especially supermarkets) open on public holidays but some businesses and banks remain closed

Some public holidays are specific to certain cantons. For example the Jeûne Genevois (Geneva Fast) on the Thursday following the first Sunday in September is celebrated in Geneva only, while the rest of Switzerland has the day off for the Jeûne Fédéral (Federal Fast) on a Monday 10 days later.

Below is information on the national public holidays observed in all cantons throughout the country, and those observed in the cantons of Geneva, Vaud, Jura and Neuchâtel.

2009 Public Holidays in Geneva, Vaud, Jura & Neuchâtel

1 January	New Year's Day (Thursday) all cantons
2 January	St Berchtold’s Day (Friday) Vaud, Jura, Neuchâtel
1 March	Republic's Day (Sunday) Neuchâtel only
10 April	Good Friday all cantons
12 April	Easter Sunday all cantons
13 April	Easter Monday all cantons
1 May	Labour Day (Friday) Jura
21 May	Ascension Day (Thursday) all cantons
1 June	Pentecost/Whitmonday all cantons
11 June	Corpus Christi (Thursday) Jura
23 June	Independence day (Tuesday) Jura only
1 August	Swiss National Day (Saturday) all cantons
15 August	Assumption (Saturday) Jura
10 September	Geneva Fast (Thursday) Geneva only
20 September	Federal Fast (Sunday) all cantons except Geneva
1 November	All Saints’ Day (Sunday) Jura
25 December	Christmas Day (Friday) all cantons
26 December	St Stephen's Day (Saturday) most cantons
31 December	Restoration Day (Thursday) Geneva only

2010 Public Holidays in Geneva, Vaud, Jura & Neuchâtel

1 January	New Year's Day (Friday) all cantons
2 January	St Berchtold’s Day (Saturday) Vaud, Jura, Neuchâtel
1 March	Republic's Day (Monday) Neuchâtel only
2 April	Good Friday all cantons
4 April	Easter Sunday all cantons
5 April	Easter Monday all cantons
1 May	Labour Day (Saturday) Jura
13 May	Ascension Day (Thursday) all cantons
24 May	Pentecost/Whitmonday all cantons
3 June	Corpus Christi (Thursday) Jura
23 June	Independence day (Wednesday) Jura only
1 August	Swiss National Day (Sunday) all cantons
15 August	Assumption (Sunday) Jura
9 September	Geneva Fast (Thursday) Geneva only
19 September	Federal Fast (Sunday) all cantons except Geneva
1 November	All Saints’ Day (Monday) Jura
25 December	Christmas Day (Saturday) all cantons
26 December	St Stephen's Day (Sunday) most cantons
31 December	Restoration Day (Friday) Geneva only

National Public Holidays in France 2009

1 January	New Year's Day/Nouvel An (Thursday)
12 April	Easter Sunday/Paques
13 April	Easter Monday/Lundi de Paques
1 May	Labour Day/Fête du Travail (Friday)
21 May	Ascension Day (Thursday)
8 May	WWII Victory Day/Fête de la Victoire 1945 (Friday)
31 May	Pentecost (Sunday)
1 June	Pentecost Monday
14 July	Bastille Day, France's national holiday (Tuesday)
15 August	Assumption Day (Saturday)
1 November	All Saints' Day/Toussaint (Sunday)
11 November	Armistice Day 1918 (Wednesday)
25 December	Christmas Day/Noël (Friday)

National Public Holidays in France 2010

1 January	New Year's Day/Nouvel An (Friday)
4 April	Easter Sunday/Paques
5 April	Easter Monday/Lundi de Paques
1 May	Labour Day/Fête du Travail (Saturday)
8 May	WWII Victory Day/Fête de la Victoire 1945 (Saturday)
13 May	Ascension Day (Thursday)
23 May	Pentecost (Sunday)
24 May	Pentecost Monday
14 July	Bastille Day, France's national holiday (Wednesday)
15 August	Assumption Day (Sunday)
1 November	All Saints' Day/Toussaint (Monday)
11 November	Armistice Day 1918 (Thursday)
25 December	Christmas Day/Noël (Saturday)