The School Holiday System in France
In France, the school holiday system is organized into three academic zones: A, B, and C. This arrangement helps stagger holiday dates to reduce traffic congestion and provide more consistent support to the tourism industry throughout the year. Each zone has different holiday dates for winter and spring breaks, while the summer and Christmas holidays are the same for all zones. The Ministry of National Education sets these dates in collaboration with academic authorities for each school year.
The main holiday periods in France include:
- Christmas Holidays: These typically start a few days before December 25 and extend to the first week of January. This period allows students to enjoy the year-end festivities and rest after the first school term.
- Winter Holidays: These holidays, often referred to as "February holidays," are spread across the different academic zones, lasting from mid-February to mid-March. They last two weeks and often include winter sports activities like skiing.
- Spring Holidays: Also known as "Easter holidays," they occur around the Easter period and last about two weeks. The dates vary by zone, from April to May.
- Summer Holidays: The long summer break typically begins at the end of June or the start of July and extends until early September. They last about eight weeks and are the longest break of the school year.
- All Saints' Holidays: These occur at the end of October and the beginning of November, around the All Saints' Day. They usually last two weeks.
This holiday calendar helps distribute the flow of holidaymakers across the country, balancing the impact on tourism and transportation systems. The variation in dates also helps reduce congestion on roads and at tourist sites, while taking regional specificities and local traditions into account.
School Holiday Dates in France 2024-2025
Zone A
- Christmas Holidays: 21 December 2024 - 6 January 2025
- Winter Holidays: 10 February 2025 - 24 February 2025
- Spring Holidays: 7 April 2025 - 21 April 2025
- Summer Holidays: 5 July 2025
Zone B
- Christmas Holidays: 21 December 2024 - 6 January 2025
- Winter Holidays: 24 February 2025 - 10 March 2025
- Spring Holidays: 21 April 2025 - 5 May 2025
- Summer Holidays: 5 July 2025
Zone C
- Christmas Holidays: 21 December 2024 - 6 January 2025
- Winter Holidays: 17 February 2025 - 3 March 2025
- Spring Holidays: 14 April 2025 - 28 April 2025
- Summer Holidays: 5 July 2025
Public Holidays in France 2024-2025
- New Year's Day: 1 January 2024
- Easter Monday: 1 April 2024
- Labor Day: 1 May 2024
- Victory in Europe Day: 8 May 2024
- Ascension Day: 9 May 2024
- Whit Monday: 20 May 2024
- Bastille Day: 14 July 2024
- Assumption Day: 15 August 2024
- All Saints' Day: 1 November 2024
- Armistice Day: 11 November 2024
- Christmas: 25 December 2024
- New Year's Day: 1 January 2025
- Easter Monday: 21 April 2025
- Labor Day: 1 May 2025
- Victory in Europe Day: 8 May 2025
- Ascension Day: 29 May 2025
- Whit Monday: 9 June 2025
- Bastille Day: 14 July 2025
- Assumption Day: 15 August 2025
- All Saints' Day: 1 November 2025
- Armistice Day: 11 November 2025
- Christmas: 25 December 2025
