December 2024 Saint-Barthélemy — With 2025 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 Wednesday which sets up the New Year to begin with a nice short holiday week.
Next up would actually be an unofficial holiday, the afternoon of the Carnavale parade on Tuesday, March 4th.
After the vibrant fun of Mardi Gras, the island settles into preparation for Easter or Pâques, Sunday, April 20th. Local residents often celebrate the long Pâques weekend (which includes Easter Monday, April 21st) 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 Thursday, May 1st which is the Labor Day (Fête du Travail) in France. A week later, Thursday, May 8th is a holiday to mark the anniversary of World War II victory (Victoire de 1945). Thursday, May 29th is Ascension and on Monday, June 9th 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 Monday, July 14th in 2025.
August is a popular month for Europeans to take vacations and includes a couple of holidays, Assomption on Friday, August 15th and then the local holiday celebration of the Saint-Barthélemy feast day on Sunday, 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 Saturday, November 1st All Saints Day (Toussaint) and then Tuesday, November 11th Armistice Day (Armistice de 1918). Although not officially a St Barts holiday, the American Thanksgiving on Thursday, November 27th serves as an unofficial kick off of the high tourist winter season. November rounds out with the end of Atlantic Hurricane season on Sunday, November 30th.
Lastly, December is highlighted with the Noël or Christmas holiday on Thursday, December 25th and then the New Year’s Eve (Saint-Sylvestre) celebration on Wednesday, December 31st to complete the annual cycle.
List of Official French Holidays for 2025:
New Year’s Day (Jour de l’An), Wednesday, January 1, 2025
*Fat Tuesday (Carnavale / Mardi Gras), Tuesday, March 4, 2025
Easter (Pâques), Sunday, April 20, 2025
Easter Monday (Lundi de Pâques), Monday, April 21, 2025
Labor Day (Fête du Travail), Thursday, May 1, 2025
World War II Victory Day (Jour de la Victoire), Thursday, May 8, 2025
Ascension (Jour de l’Ascension), Thursday, May 29, 2025
Pentecost Monday (Lundi de Pentecôte), Monday, June 9, 2025
Bastille Day (Fête Nationale), Monday, July 14, 2025
Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Assomption), Friday, August 15, 2025
*Saint-Barthélemy Day, (Fête de Saint-Barthélemy), Sunday, August 24, 2025
All Saints’ Day (La Toussaint), Saturday, November 1, 2025
Armistice Day (Jour d’Armistice de 1918), Tuesday, November 11, 2025
Christmas Day (Noël), Thursday, December 25, 2025
*Local holidays celebrated on Saint-Barthélemy but not officially French holidays.
