December 2023 Saint-Barthélemy — With 2024 right around the corner, let’s take a look at the French holidays that will impact scheduling in the year ahead. Notably, you can keep informed of Bureau Xavier David business hours and holiday closings via updates on our Twitter feed: @bureauxd.
First, January 1st, New Year’s Day (Jour de l’An), a Monday which sets up the New Year to begin with a nice long holiday weekend.
Next up would actually be an unofficial holiday, the afternoon of the Carnavale parade on Tuesday, February 13th.
After the vibrant fun of Mardi Gras, the island settles into preparation for Easter or Pâques, Sunday, March 31st. Local residents often celebrate the long Pâques weekend (which includes Easter Monday, April 1st) with camping arrangements at the beach. Informally, the Easter holidays mark the end of the traditional winter high season of tourism on the island.
Moving into May, there are typically several official French holidays on the calendar. Beginning with Wednesday, May 1st which is the Labor Day (Fête du Travail) in France. A week later, Wednesday, May 8th is a holiday to mark the anniversary of World War II victory (Victoire de 1945). Thursday, May 9th is Ascension and on Monday, May 20th Pentecost (Pentecôte) celebrates the end of the Easter season.
Although not a cause for celebration, it should also be noted that the Atlantic Hurricane season officially begins Saturday, June 1st.
Mid-July means Bastille Day or the French National Holiday (Fête Nationale) on Sunday, July 14th in 2024.
August is a popular month for Europeans to take vacations and includes a couple of holidays, Assomption on Thursday, August 15th and then the local holiday celebration of the Saint-Barthélemy feast day on Saturday, August 24th.
September is a quiet month...except that it marks the peak of the Cape Verde hurricane threat.
October is a reawakening as the cooler, post-hurricane days signal the return of the upcoming high tourist season.
The next holidays on the French calendar are the Friday, November 1st All Saints Day (Toussaint) and then Monday, November 11th Armistice Day (Armistice de 1918). Although not officially a St Barts holiday, the American Thanksgiving on Thursday, November 28th serves as an unofficial kick off of the high tourist winter season. November rounds out with the end of Atlantic Hurricane season on Saturday, November 30th.
Lastly, December is highlighted with the Noël or Christmas on Wednesday, December 25th and then New Year’s Eve (Saint-Sylvestre) on Tuesday, December 31st to complete the annual cycle.
List of Official French Holidays for 2024:
New Year’s Day (Jour de l’An), Monday, January 1, 2024
*Fat Tuesday (Carnavale / Mardi Gras), Tuesday, February 13, 2024
Easter (Pâques), Sunday, March 31, 2024
Easter Monday (Lundi de Pâques), Monday, April 1, 2024
Labor Day (Fête du Travail), Wednesday, May 1, 2024
World War II Victory Day (Jour de la Victoire), Wednesday, May 8, 2024
Ascension (Jour de l’Ascension), Thursday, May 9, 2024
Pentecost Monday (Lundi de Pentecôte), Monday, May 20, 2024
Bastille Day (Fête Nationale), Sunday, July 14, 2024
Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Assomption), Thursday, August 15, 2024
*Saint-Barthélemy Day, (Fête de Saint-Barthélemy), Saturday, August 24, 2024
All Saints’ Day (La Toussaint), Friday, November 1, 2024
Armistice Day (Jour d’Armistice de 1918), Monday, November 11, 2024
Christmas Day (Noël), Wednesday, December 25, 2024
