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WHAT CHANGES IN FRANCE

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

From holidays and carnival to crucial political debates and two strike days, here's what is happening in France this week.

On the Agenda: What's happening this week in France?
Preparations for the Menton lemon festival. Photo by VALERY HACHE / AFP

Monday 

Pension reform bill – the controversial pension reform bill heads to the Assemblée nationale where debates – probably stormy ones – will begin.

READ ALSO 5 minutes to understand French pension reform 

Ski world championships – the world championship ski event begins in the French Alpine resorts of Courchevel and Meribel. 

Tuesday

Strike day – a third one-day mass strike will take place on Tuesday, so expect significant disruption on services like trains and city public transport, plus demos in towns and cities across France.

What to expect on the February 7th strike

Final day of sales – the winter sales end in most parts of France on Tuesday. You can learn more about the French winter soldes here.

Wednesday 

Refinery worker’s strike – French oil refinery workers began their 72-hour strike on February 6th. Wednesday was set to be the last day, though unions could call on workers to walk out again.

Friday

Nice Carnival – the fabulous carnival in the southern city of Nice begins on February 10th and runs until February 26th. This year is the event’s 150th anniversary, and you can find more information about schedules and attending on the website here.

Saturday

Another strike – there is another one-day strike action on Saturday, with disruption expected to be similar to Tuesday. 

School holidays – schools in Zone B – which includes most of northern France and also Nice) begin their two-week February holiday on Saturday. Schools in zone A are already on holiday while those in Zone C (south west France and Paris) begin the following week. 

Lemon Festival – on the border between France and Italy is the little town of Menton, which each year hosts a festival of lemons which includes a parade with floats made out of (what else?) lemons.

READ MORE: Bears, lemons and pig-squealing: 9 of France’s strangest festivals

France v Ireland – As part of the second round of the 2023 Six Nations rugby tournament, France will play Ireland in the 6 nations rugby tournament at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin at 3.15pm French time.

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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.

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

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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