French Guiana 2025 Public Holidays

New Year's Day

1 January. In many countries the day off moves to the following Monday when it falls on a weekend.

The first day of the Gregorian calendar year, and the most widely observed public holiday in the world — a day off in almost every country that uses the Gregorian calendar, regardless of religion. Several countries extend the break to 2 January, and some in East Asia keep both the Gregorian and a separate lunar new year.

Carnival / Shrove Monday

The Monday before Ash Wednesday.

The Monday of Carnival week, known as Shrove Monday in the English-speaking world and Rosenmontag in Germany.

Carnival / Shrove Tuesday / Pancake Day

The Tuesday before Ash Wednesday.

The last day before Lent — Mardi Gras in France and Louisiana, Pancake Day in Britain and Ireland, the closing day of Carnival almost everywhere it is celebrated.

Carnival / Ash Wednesday

46 days before Easter Sunday.

The day Carnival ends and Lent begins. Where it appears as a holiday it is usually a half day, covering the morning after the final night of Carnival.

Easter Monday

The Monday after Easter Sunday.

A public holiday across most of Europe, the Commonwealth and Latin America, extending the Easter weekend to four days. Notably not a holiday in the United States, Portugal or Spain outside Catalonia and the Balearics.

Labor Day

1 May in most countries; the first Monday of September in the United States and Canada.

The workers' holiday. Almost everywhere it falls on 1 May; in the United States and Canada it was deliberately placed in September to avoid the associations of May Day.

Victory Day

8 or 9 May in Europe; other dates elsewhere.

Marks the end of the Second World War in Europe. Western Europe keeps 8 May; Russia and most post-Soviet states keep 9 May, because the surrender took effect after midnight Moscow time.

Ascension Day

The Thursday 39 days after Easter Sunday.

Marks the ascension of Christ, forty days after Easter. Always a Thursday, which makes it a popular bridge day — in France, Germany, the Nordics and the Benelux many people take the Friday off to reach a four-day weekend.

Whit Monday

The Monday 50 days after Easter Sunday.

The day after Pentecost, and a public holiday in much of continental Europe and francophone Africa. France treats it as a solidarity day on which the holiday status depends on the employer.

Abolition Day

Varies by territory.

Marks the abolition of slavery in the French overseas departments, on a different date in each.

Bastille Day

14 July.

France's national day, marking the storming of the Bastille in 1789 and the Fête de la Fédération a year later. Also a public holiday in several French overseas territories.

Assumption of Mary

15 August.

A Catholic and Orthodox feast marking the assumption of the Virgin Mary. A public holiday across southern and Central Europe, Latin America and francophone Africa, and the peak of the summer holiday season in France and Italy.

All Saints' Day

1 November.

Honours all saints, and in much of Catholic Europe and Latin America is the day families visit and tend graves. A public holiday in France, Spain, Italy, Poland, Portugal, the Philippines and many francophone African countries.

Armistice Day

11 November.

Marks the armistice that ended the First World War at 11am on 11 November 1918. A public holiday in France, Belgium and Serbia; observed as Remembrance Day across the Commonwealth and as Veterans Day in the United States.

Christmas Day

25 December. The day off moves to the following weekday when it falls on a weekend.

The most widely observed public holiday after New Year's Day, a day off in the great majority of countries including many with no Christian majority, where it functions as a secular end-of-year holiday. Orthodox churches following the Julian calendar keep it on 7 January instead.