fériés

Fériés, or public holidays, are days designated by law, regulation, or traditional practice when regular work is suspended or reduced and public life slows. They often memorialize historical events, celebrate religious observances, or mark seasonal cycles. The term is used in French-speaking countries and, more broadly, refers to days considered non-working or special days within a given jurisdiction.

In France, the set of jours fériés is defined by law and comprises eleven official holidays. They include both fixed-date holidays and movable feasts, such as New Year’s Day, Labour Day, VE Day, Bastille Day, Christmas Day, as well as religious observances like Easter Monday, Ascension, and Whit Monday. If a holiday falls on a weekend or is shifted, the observance may vary by sector or contract, with some employers moving the day to a nearby weekday.

Across other countries, fériés vary widely. In Francophone regions and countries, they typically include national commemorations and religious or regional holidays. Observance is determined by national law or cantonal/provincial rules, and may affect schools, government offices, and private employers differently. Some places also recognize regional or local holidays that apply only within certain areas.

Etymology: the word férié derives from Latin feriae, meaning holidays or days of rest; the French adjective férié describes a day designated as a holiday or with holiday status.