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WHAT CHANGES IN FRANCE

On the Agenda: What’s happening in France this week

From the end of the spring school holidays to May Day demonstrations and traditions plus a deadline for voting, here's what is happening in France this week.

Published: 28 April 2024 09:24 CEST
Updated: 29 April 2024 08:22 CEST
On the Agenda: What's happening in France this week
A young French girl with the word 'non' painted on her forehead during a demonstration on May 1st in 2005 in Paris. (Photo by Damien MEYER / AFP)

Monday

School holidays end – Pupils in Zone A, which includes both Lyon and Bordeaux, will go back to school after their spring holidays on Monday. Zone C (Paris and the south-west) schools have already gone back but schools in Zone B (northern France) have another week off. Meanwhile schools in Corsica are just starting their two-week spring holiday.

Do France’s school holiday zones make any sense?

Heathrow strike – For those looking to visit the UK with flights going through London’s Heathrow airport, beware that border force officers are expected to strike from Monday, April 29th to Thursday, May 2nd.

Tuesday

End of Passover – The Jewish festival of Passover which began on April 22nd will end after nightfall on April 30th.

Wednesday

May day – Also known as the fête du travail or labour day, May 1st is a paid holiday (jour férié) for workers in France. There are plenty of traditions surrounding it, including widespread protests and mobilisations for workers’ rights and other social issues. In Paris, several unions including CGT have called for people to meet at Place de la République at 2pm for the march.

On May Day, you might also notice people giving each other muguet, or lily-of-the-valley in English.

READ MORE: Muguet: France’s lucky May flower

Elections deadline – If you are eligible to vote in the European elections, you should verify you are properly registered. May 1st is the deadline for online registrations, while May 3rd is the deadline for those sent by the post. The elections themselves will take place in June.

Friday

Movie screening – For those in the Paris area, Lost in Frenchlation will screen French films with English subtitles throughout the month of May. The first screening will be on Friday, May 3rd for the film ‘Pas de vagues’.

READ MORE: French films with English subtitles to watch in May 2024

Saturday

Olympic anniversary – Saturday, May 4th marks 100 years since the last time Paris hosted the Olympic Games, in 1924.

Sunday

Orthodox Easter – Christians who follow the eastern Orthodox calendar will celebrate Easter on Sunday, May 5th this year.

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WHAT CHANGES IN FRANCE

On the Agenda: What’s happening in France this week

In which there’s another public holiday – the last one for some time – some important tax deadlines, a strike, two big sporting events and a very special day for families.

Published: 19 May 2024 09:15 CEST
Updated: 21 May 2024 08:24 CEST
On the Agenda: What’s happening in France this week

Monday 

Pentecost Officially, Monday is a public holiday in France, the fourth and final one this month. But Pentecost is an unusual jour ferie, in which many people – rather than take the day off – work for free. It’s also the last public holiday in France before the Fête nationale on July 14th.

READ ALSO Why do many in France work for free on Pentecost public holiday? 

European elections campaigning for the European elections in June officially begins on Monday. Because of the aforementioned public holiday, it’s more likely that town halls will start erected their grey election billboards on Tuesday but technically parties can start the official bit of the campaign from May 20th.

Tuesday

Tax deadline Day 1 Tuesday is deadline day for anyone who prefers to make their tax declarations using a paper form rather than the online one. If you do your declarations online you have a little bit more time, depending on where you live.

READ ALSO REMINDER: When are France’s 2024 tax declaration deadlines?

Rail strike SNCF forecasts ‘major disruption’ to RER and Transilien rail services in the greater Paris region of Île-de-France, after unions called a one-day strike over Olympic Games’ bonuses. Paris city services like the Metro, bus and tram routes will not be affected.

Wednesday

Fête de la Nature Thousands of events at venues across the country will mark the five-day Fête de la Nature in France, which starts on Wednesday, May 22nd, and runs to Sunday, May 26th. For more information, and a full list of events, click here.

Thursday

Tax deadline Day 2 If you’re filing your tax declaration online, May 23rd is deadline day for anyone living in the départements 01 (Ain) to 19 (Corrèze). This is also the date to file for people living outside of France.

READ ALSO The bumper French tax guide for 2024

Saturday

Rugby Top 14 side Toulouse take on URC giants Leinster in the Champions Cup final at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London. The two sides boast nine titles between them, but this is the first time they have met in the showpiece match, which kicks off at 3.45pm. 

Football Lyon face Paris Saint-Germain in the Coupe de France final at Lille’s Stade Pierre-Mauroy. The match kicks off at 9pm.

Sunday

Mother’s Day Don’t forget that Mother’s Day in France falls on a different day to the UK and US. 

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