August 15 bank holiday in France: what is celebrated and will shops be open?

Tomorrow (August 15) is a public holiday in France, providing many – but not all – workers with a day off. 

The holiday, like many in France despite the concept of laïcité (separation of church and state), has its roots in the Catholic Church. 

The day celebrates the ascent of Mary, the mother of Christ, to heaven, and it is celebrated as a public holiday across many Catholic European countries, including in Monaco.

Businesses and offices will most likely shut their doors for the day, however this does not necessarily extend to shops. 

Many, including supermarkets and larger high-street chains will be open alongside smaller boutiques, most likely operating their Sunday hours (later opening and earlier closing times). 

If you are planning to use the day to go shopping, it is best to double-check if the shops you want to visit will be open but it is most likely that they will be. 

Why can shops remain open on a public holiday? 

Despite France having a high number of public holidays, only one – May 1, worker’s day – is a strict non-working day (jour non chomé).

On May 1, all workers must be given the day off with the exception of essential public service workers such as hospital staff or public transport drivers and businesses cannot open. 

All other public holidays in France can see business remain open, if they wish. 

The closure of places of employment on public holidays depends on a collective agreement between worker representatives and the employer, or on the sole decision of the employer (depending on the size of the company). 

These rules may stipulate that the business must remain closed on certain, or all, other public holidays. 

As these rules allow for businesses to remain open on these days, some people have to work.

It is common for not only shops but businesses in the tourism and food/restaurant industries to remain open as they tend to be busier due to the influx of additional people on the streets.

People who work on a public holiday must be compensated with a paid day off in lieu at the very least. In many cases they are also paid extra depending on the collective agreement or employer’s rules.

Read more: Can my French employer insist I take my holiday in the summer?

Workers will look to ‘faire le pont’ 

The Assumption holiday is one of many this year that also see workers able to benefit from an extended weekend, either by the holiday falling on a Monday or Friday, or by falling on a Tuesday or Thursday. 

In cases of the latter, many workers take the day off between the weekend and the bank holiday, called ‘faire le pont’ or making the bridge, to obtain a four-day weekend. The extra day is part of workers’ holiday allowance.

However, employers / managers are under no obligation to accept a holiday request for this if they deem it may be disruptive to the work.

In addition, as August is a traditionally quiet month with many on holiday, bosses may be more likely to say ‘no’ to people taking another holiday. 

If you are planning on benefitting from a four-day weekend, note that traffic is set to be some of the busiest this year, as the roads will be packed with people returning from longer holidays, and going away for the weekend or a late August holiday. 

Read more: Bad traffic weekend looms - these are the French roads to avoid