|
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.
2008 Public Holidays in Geneva, Vaud, Jura & Neuchâtel
| 1 January |
New Year's Day (Tuesday) all
cantons |
| 2 January |
St Berchtold’s Day (Wednesday) Vaud, Jura, Neuchâtel |
| 1 March |
Republic's Day (Saturday) Neuchâtel
only |
| 21 March |
Good Friday all cantons |
| 23 March |
Easter Sunday all cantons |
| 24 March |
Easter Monday all cantons |
| 1 May |
Labour Day (Thursday) Jura |
| 1 May |
Ascension Day (Thursday) all
cantons |
| 12 May |
Pentecost/Whitmonday all
cantons |
| 22 May |
Corpus Christi (Thursday) Jura |
| 23 June |
Independence day (Monday) Jura only |
| 1 August |
Swiss National Day (Friday) all cantons |
| 15 August |
Assumption (Friday) Jura |
| 11 September |
Geneva Fast (Thursday) Geneva only |
| 22 September |
Federal Fast (Monday) all cantons
except Geneva |
| 1 November |
All Saints’ Day (Saturday) Jura |
| 25 December |
Christmas Day (Thursday) all
cantons |
| 31 December |
Restoration Day (Wednesday) Geneva only |
National Public Holidays in France 2008
-
French organisations and businesses close on public holidays.
-
Although some shopping centres and grocers open for part of the day, the majority of shops do not.
-
Police stations and hospitals do not close.
-
When a public holiday falls on a Thursday or Tuesday, it is common practice to
"make the bridge" (faire le pont) by taking off the Friday or
Monday so creating a very long weekend. When this happens you may find
businesses running on short staff or smaller family run business closed for the
full period.
| 1 January |
New Year's Day/Nouvel An
(Tuesday) |
| 23 March |
Easter Sunday/Paques |
| 24 March |
Easter Monday/Lundi de Paques |
| 1 May |
Labour Day/Fête du Travail (Thursday) |
| 1 May |
Ascension Day (Thursday) |
| 8 May |
WWII Victory
Day/Fête de la Victoire 1945 (Thursday) |
| 11 May |
Pentecost (Sunday) |
| 12 May |
Pentecost Monday |
| 14 July |
Bastille Day, France's national holiday
(Monday) |
| 15 August |
Assumption Day (Friday) |
| 1 November |
All Saints' Day/Toussaint
(Saturday) |
| 11 November |
Armistice Day 1918 (Tuesday) |
| 25 December |
Christmas Day/Noël (Thursday) |
Public Holidays Worldwide
For information on public holidays around the world, see the following links:
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Page generated at 13:42; Monday, May 12, 2008This is the "Public Holidays in Geneva, Switzerland & France" INFOrmation Page at AngloINFO Geneva. AngloINFO Geneva's INFOrmation Pages provide an online encyclopaedia covering all aspects of "Life in and around Geneva, in English!". AngloINFO Geneva is your Geneva information source, for everyone living in the Geneva region or moving to the Geneva region, covering everything from the Geneva property and real estate contacts you need before and during your move to Switzerland, to all aspects of everyday life in the Geneva international community for those living their lives in Switzerland.
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