Public holidays in France

There are eleven official public holidays in France,[1] of which three are movable days which always fall on a weekday.

The Alsace region and the Moselle department observe two additional days.

[20] The rest of the public holidays are listed in statute law,[21] but law does not dictate that work should stop; however a leave from work may be granted by the employer or by convention collective (agreement between employers' and employees' unions).

In 2005, French prime minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin removed Pentecost (Whit) Monday's status as a public holiday.

[citation needed] Employers are free to decide whether to make Whit Monday a day off or not.