Stan Streason Posted August 17, 2009 Share Posted August 17, 2009 I have posted before (and been told in no uncertain terms to lighten up) about my frustration for French opening hours but its getting worse.Flying visit this last weekend bringing down some furniture, doing some odd jobs and preparing some provisions for a friend and his children who was arriving late Sunday evening.Painting some shutters Saturday morning - finally got the hang of "closing for lunch" so about 3pm Saturday afternoon popped to the shops for some pool chemicals, some DIY stuff and some provisions both for our visitors and for our evening meal.What on earth is Assunption Day?What sort of place has a bank holiday on a Saturday?Why did no one on here warn me? (someone normally posts to warn us of bank holidays). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Théière Posted August 17, 2009 Share Posted August 17, 2009 Stan you know all that useless information you get at the front and back of diaries?Well now you have a use for it![:D] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NormanH Posted August 17, 2009 Share Posted August 17, 2009 The 15th August is one of the main holidays ("holy" days remember?) in the Catholic calender, and has always been a major Bank Holiday in France as long as I can remember. It remembers the 'assumption' that is the taking up whole without passing by the grave and the corruption of the flesh that would be implied by that , of the Blessed Virgin Mary, who, as the totally pure Mother of Jesus mustn't be put to that indignity.It is a Europe wide bank holiday in many Catholic countries, so your question reveals more about your ignorance that it does about the 'strangeness' of France. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pickles Posted August 17, 2009 Share Posted August 17, 2009 [quote user="Stan Streason"]I have posted before (and been told in no uncertain terms to lighten up) about my frustration for French opening hours but its getting worse. Painting some shutters Saturday morning - finally got the hang of "closing for lunch" so about 3pm Saturday afternoon popped to the shops for some pool chemicals, some DIY stuff and some provisions both for our visitors and for our evening meal.What on earth is Assunption Day? [/quote](taken from Wikipedia and shortened) The Assumption of Mary is the traditional belief held by many Christians that the Virgin Mary at the end of her life was physically taken up into heaven. The feast day of the Assumption on August 15th is a Public Holiday in many countries, including France, Belgum, Spain, Greece and Chile.[quote user="Stan Streason"]What sort of place has a bank holiday on a Saturday?[/quote]A country in which public holidays occur only on the same fixed date every year and are not arbitrarily moved to the nearest Monday.[quote user="Stan Streason"]Why did no one on here warn me? (someone normally posts to warn us of bank holidays).[/quote]Errrr .... you didn't ask?RegardsPickles Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony F Dordogne Posted August 17, 2009 Share Posted August 17, 2009 Sorry, I agree with Norman. You have a house in France and don't understand the French bank holiday system. Just because it's not the same as it is in the UK, doesn't mean it's in any way strange or wrong.And remember, if the bank holiday was on a Sunday, none of the stupid UK 'day off in lieu' or the 10 day close down at Xmas, people here do actually stay open on days many Brits now would expect to have off.Sorry Stan, in future, better to check in advance rather than expect people to give you information without asking. Assume = makes an ass u me! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benjamin Posted August 17, 2009 Share Posted August 17, 2009 Here's a bit of a pre-warning for you Stan. In 2010 Christmas day falls on a Saturday and in 2011 on a Sunday. French Monday to Friday workers will not get any other day off. It's just tough and they accept it as such.In 1992 I worked the Winter in France and just couldn't understand why no one else turned up for work on Remembrance Day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sunday Driver Posted August 17, 2009 Share Posted August 17, 2009 I usually get my warning of imminent bank holidays when SuperU put a notice in their window saying they're only open from 9-12.30.....[Www] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clair Posted August 17, 2009 Share Posted August 17, 2009 [quote user="Benjamin"]Here's a bit of a pre-warning for you Stan. In 2010 Christmas day falls on a Saturday and in 2011 on a Sunday. [/quote]Benjamin, you forgot to mention Christmas will be on 25th December in 2010 and in 2011.I'll have to check for 2012...[Www] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christine Animal Posted August 17, 2009 Share Posted August 17, 2009 I just don't know what to say. That original post just tops the lot ! [6] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patf Posted August 17, 2009 Share Posted August 17, 2009 To be fair to the OP though, I guess many or even most french people don't know what the holidays are in aid of. Especially the religious hols. They are so anti- religion. I've asked people a few times and they shrug and say "je ne sais pas", or don't care, as long as it's a day off.By the way, good pun in the title [:)] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clair Posted August 17, 2009 Share Posted August 17, 2009 [quote user="Christine Animal"]I just don't know what to say. That original post just tops the lot ! [6][/quote]Here is a list of bank holidays in France, so Stan can plan his visits more constructively: 2009 2010 2011 Jour de l'an 1 Jan1 Jan1 Jan Lundi de Paques 13 Avril 5 Avril 4 Avril Fête du Travail 1 Mai 1 Mai 1 Mai 8 Mai 1945 8 Mai 8 Mai 8 Mai Jeudi de l'Ascension 21 Mai 13 Mai 12 Mai Lundi de Pentecôte 1 Juin 24 Mai 13 Juin Fête Nationale 14 Juillet 14 Juillet 14 Juillet Assomption 15 Août 15 Août 15 Août La Toussaint 1 Nov 1 Nov 1 Nov Armistice 11 Nov 11 Nov 11 Nov Noêl 25 Déc 25 Déc 25 Déc Please note: the Jour de l'an always falls on Jan. 1stFête du Travail always falls on May 1stFête du 8 mai 1945 always falls on May 8thFête Nationale always falls on July 14thAssomption always falls on Aug. 15thLa Toussaint always falls on Nov. 1stArmistice always falls on Nov. 11thNoël always falls on Dec. 25th (I was pulling your leg earlier! [:D]) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Russethouse Posted August 17, 2009 Share Posted August 17, 2009 Do I feel a 'sticky' coming on ? [:)] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clair Posted August 17, 2009 Share Posted August 17, 2009 [quote user="Russethouse"] Do I feel a 'sticky' coming on ? [:)][/quote]Do we need one?[:D] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stan Streason Posted August 17, 2009 Author Share Posted August 17, 2009 Woooooooooooosh!I'm sorry, I thought the ridiculousness of my final point gave a pretty good indication that my post was tounge in cheek. I was obviously wrong.Yes I know its my fault - (I even have an Ipod app with french bank holidays on it - I didn't check).Did not make my frustration on Saturday afternoon any less though, nor my 45km trip to my nearest Peage service station to buy milk bread and water any shorter. PS Thanks Patf - it wasnt all in vain! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quillan Posted August 17, 2009 Share Posted August 17, 2009 If you have Microsoft Outlook you can visit the Microsoft website and download a plugin that shows public holidays for a particular country. You can load more than one so for instance I have loaded the UK and France. To get this go to www.microsoft.com and type in Public Holidays for a search then you can select the version of Outlook and the countries you want. You can then download them in to a mobile phone (one that supports downloads from calendars) and take the dates with you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christine Animal Posted August 17, 2009 Share Posted August 17, 2009 Don't forget that your local boulangerie, etc. and (where we are) Intermarché are often open on a Sunday morning.When public holidays fall on a Saturday or Sunday it's really inconvenient for the French as they lose a long weekend. [:)] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edward Trunk Posted August 17, 2009 Share Posted August 17, 2009 The Germans call the Assumption "Maria Himmelfahrt" - "Mary goes to heaven." We have a wonderful pious poster illustrating it. It shows the BVM ascending, with sort of rocket trails coming out of her dress. Maybe that's where Werner von Braun got his inspiraton for the V2. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnOther Posted August 17, 2009 Share Posted August 17, 2009 [quote user="Russethouse"] Do I feel a 'sticky' coming on ? [:)][/quote]Stans t' reason to me [:)]If the OP was written tongue in cheek then I don't think I'd be applying for a job as a comedy writer [Www] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benjamin Posted August 17, 2009 Share Posted August 17, 2009 Having been one of the ones who had a smile at your expense this morning you are not far out in your rant. The list Clair gave maybe the official one but increasingly in recent years many supermarkets are opening on the morning of these holidays. If my memory isn't failing me I'm pretty certain that the Ecomarché in our village opened on the morning of ILD this year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clair Posted August 17, 2009 Share Posted August 17, 2009 It's worth repeating that the only French bank holiday when workers cannot be made to work is May 1st (essential services excluded).All other bank holidays, when they do not fall on a Sunday, are potential working days, subject to negotiations, contracts, etc... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Braco Posted August 17, 2009 Share Posted August 17, 2009 Assumption day is the third most important day of the year in the Christian calendar. Orthodox = Easter, Christmas, and then Assumption day. I expect that the UK will have something similar when the blessed Barbara Windsor finally pops her clogs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woolybanana Posted August 17, 2009 Share Posted August 17, 2009 Assumption day is a festival of the Marian cult. Surely it was developed after the two churches split and could not be so important to the Orthodox sect? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnOther Posted August 17, 2009 Share Posted August 17, 2009 If we all became atheists, (IMO the only religion for the thinking man [Www]), then none of this would matter a jot and there would be no confusion [;-)] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woolybanana Posted August 17, 2009 Share Posted August 17, 2009 Ideally yes, but until then, our lives are interfered with by these superstitious practices.By the way, Assumption day is only an old Roman holiday, dedicated to all the gods, a sort of catch all day. Guess the Cathos needed something to cover it with so they decided to give Mary an outing! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stan Streason Posted August 17, 2009 Author Share Posted August 17, 2009 [quote user="Benjamin"]Having been one of the ones who had a smile at your expense this morning you are not far out in your rant. The list Clair gave maybe the official one but increasingly in recent years many supermarkets are opening on the morning of these holidays. If my memory isn't failing me I'm pretty certain that the Ecomarché in our village opened on the morning of ILD this year.[/quote]If they were open in the morning that just makes it even more galling as I finally recognise that things close at lunchtime so waited till after lunch so as not to be hurried. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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