Jours Feries

Firstly, apologies, I just realised that grammar/spelling was even more shocking in last entry than normal. Will sort that out soon and am fully blaming tiredness.

The French have 11 public holidays a year and most of them seem to be this week! Ok, slight exageration but May really is full of them, literally a Merry month, not much time for work! So,

May 1st Fête du premier mai
Traditional to give "Lily of the Valley" (muguet des bois) to friends/family etc to bring good luck. Little stalls selling it pop up in towns. Also "Fete du travail", Labour day.

May 8th Fête de la Victoire 1945
Commemeration of the end of WWII in Europe

May 12th (this year) Whit Monday
Day after Pentecost

Also Ascension Day/Pentecost

But, the best bit is yet to come! If two of these dates fall on, for example a Thursday and a Monday, the Friday is taken as a "pont" (bridge) by many people so they get to have the full weekend off! So, the teachers/kids at my school came back from holidays did two and a half days, have five days off, will go back for a day, have Wednesday off (it's a "free Wednesday") and then back for two days (and the weekend arrives!)! HOWEVER, there is now a teachers strike on the Thursday!!! So if the teachers choose to do that too the they will be in school for three and a half days of the two weeks following their (2 week)Spring holiday!!!