|
Calendars, Clocks, and Electricity
Some of the most obvious cultural differences between France and
other countries include public holidays, school schedules, and
hours of operation for stores and banks. This page documents the
differences, and because we couldn't figure out where else to put
it, also describes French electrical service!
Public Holidays
On public holidays banks, shops, and almost everything else will be closed.
They may even close in the afternoon of the day before. When a holiday
falls on a Tuesday or a Thursday, many French will faire le pont
(make the bridge) by taking off the day between the holiday and the weekend.
If a holiday is coming, be sure to get enough cash while the banks are
open. Some service stations will also close, so if driving is in your
holiday plans, especially in the countryside, a full tank of gas is
recommended.
Here are the major public holidays and the dates on which they occur:
English name
New Year's
Easter
Easter Monday
May Day
VE Day 1945
Ascension
Whit Monday
Bastille Day
Assumption
All Saints Day
Armistice 1918
Christmas Day
|
French name
Jour de l'An
Pâques
Lundi de Pâques
Fête du travail
Victoire 1945
Ascension
Lundi de Pentecôte
Fête Nationale
Fête de l'Assomption
Toussaint
Fête de l'Armistice
Noël
|
2005 date
January 1
March 27
April 28
May 1
May 8
May 9
May 16
July 14
August 15
November 1
November 11
December 25
|
2006 date
January 1
April 16
April 17
May 1
May 8
May 25
June 5
July 14
August 15
November 1
November 11
December 25
|
School Schedules
French school children are on vacation five times a year:
two weeks in February, two weeks in April,
the summer months of July and August, one week for All Saints Day,
and two weeks at Christmas. The dates for the February and
April breaks are staggered among three schedules to help reduce
highway congestion.
Tourist destinations are more crowded at these times.
You can check the current school calendar at the web site of the
French Ministry
of Education.
Timezones
All of France keeps the same time. During the winter months this is one
hour later than Universal Time (UT, formerly Greenwich Mean Time or GMT).
France also observes daylight saving time. It begins on
the last Sunday in March and ends on the last Sunday in October.
Daylight saving time in France is two hours later than Universal Time.
Here are some times around the world, relative to Paris time:
Paris
London
New York
Chicago
Denver
Los Angeles
Hong Kong
Tokyo
Sydney
|
Noon
11h
06h
05h
04h
03h
18h
19h
20h
|
Daylight saving time in the U.S. begins one week later, on the
first Sunday in April, and ends on the same day in October. The
difference between Paris time and continental U.S. time is therefore
always the same except during one week in the spring.
Hours for Stores and Banks
Banks in Paris and most of northern France are open 09h to 16h30 or
17h, Monday through Friday.
Provincial banks are usually open 08h to 16h30, Tuesday through Saturday.
Some banks close from 13h to 15h, and some are open Saturday mornings.
Note that banks may close earlier than usual the day before a national holiday.
Here are the
hours for some Paris banks.
Most stores are open from 10h to 19h. In larger cities, some
stores remain open until 22h.
Outside of Paris they will often close for lunch from 13h to 15h.
Follow this link to see the
hours for a few stores.
Electricity
France has 220-volt 50-hertz electrical service.
Before you leave, check whether your
electric shavers, travel irons, hair dryers, or other
personal appliances will operate at the higher voltage.
If not, you must buy new appliances or bring a voltage converter,
also called a transformer.
Dual-voltage hair dryers are quite easy to find, and electric
shavers are often dual-voltage, so you may not need a transformer.
If you find yourself in Paris without a converter, try the
BHV.
Remember that outlet prongs are shaped differently.
France uses European-style plugs, having two round pins and
requiring the use of mechanical plug adapters for American appliances.
These are inexpensive and available from many sources,
including hardware stores.
Keep in mind, however, that plug adapters are not electrical converters;
they merely adapt the plug so it can be connected.
Finally, since current alternates at 50 cycles, not 60 as in the U.S.
and some other countries, expect your dual-voltage hair dryer, for example,
to run a little slower.
|
Calendars, Clocks, and Electricity