why is this Monday a public holiday in France?

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This Monday, November 11 marks a special day for France. A specificity marked by the fact that most people do not work: November 11 is a public holiday. By chance of the calendar, in 2024, November 11 falls on a Monday, which therefore offers some lucky people a three-day weekend.

November 11, 1918, a historic day

And if, exactly 106 years ago, the atmosphere was probably festive in homes, we cannot say that this was the case a few weeks before.

Because November 11, 1918 indeed marks the Armistice, a document, a sort of ceasefire, signed at the request of the cornered Germans. It was the beginning of the end of the First World War (1914-1918).

At 5:15 a.m., in a wagon specially designed for the occasion, Marshal Foch, Commander-in-Chief of the Allied Armies, assisted by Admiral Wemyss, First Lord of the Sea, and Secretary of State Erzberger, President of the German delegation, affix their stamp, and the fighting stops.

However, we will have to wait until Peace Treaty of Versaillesat the end of June 1919, for the war to officially end.

Commemorations throughout France

From 1920, commemorations began to be regularly organized to honor soldiers who died in combat. And the date of November 11 is chosen.

Every year, the President goes to the Arc de Triomphe to pay tribute to these millions of fallen soldiers, and everywhere in France, from the smallest to the largest city, ceremonies are organized with officials.

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