2023 will be the year of bridges and long weekends. Unlike 2022, when many public holidays fell on a Sunday (including May 1st and 8th, Christmas and New Year), this year almost all of them will fall on weekdays. It’s even possible for those who work Monday to Friday to get 64 days of vacation by only requesting 26 days of vacation. Europe 1 explains how to optimize your year to take advantage of the many rest days the calendar allows.
Seven long weekends
First of all, without taking even the slightest day off, there will be seven long weekends in 2023. As usual, those on Easter Monday April 10th and Whit Monday May 29th. And also this year May 1st, May 8th, Christmas and New Year 2024 fall on a Monday. The national holiday, July 14, falls on a Friday this time.
Thanks to the other holidays of 2023, workers can regularly use the many bridges that the calendar allows.
Take advantage of the arrival of spring in April
From April, thanks to the Easter weekend, nine days of vacation are possible if you take four days from Tuesday 11th to Friday 14th.
Only work 12 days in May
As every year, the month of May is the month when active people can make the most of the bridges. And especially this year.
First option: if you take four days from Tuesday 2nd to Friday 5th May, you can take advantage of 10 days off thanks to the long weekends of Monday 1st and 8th May.
Second option: land on Friday May 19th to use a four-day bridge allowed until Ascension Thursday May 18th.
Third option: Take a day off on Friday May 26th or Tuesday May 30th to have a long weekend of four days (or five if you both ask) for the Pentecost weekend.
Holidays in July…
Then you have to wait until July to use the public holidays. Since the national holiday falls on a Friday, you have two options.
Ask either four days from Monday 10th to Thursday 13th to take advantage of nine days of vacation.
Either take five days off the following week, July 17-21, to have ten days off this time.
… and in August
In relation to the month of August, the Assumption of Mary (15 August) falls on a Tuesday. If you take four days off on Monday 14th, then Wednesday 16th to Friday 18th, you can benefit from nine days off.
A nice rest week in autumn
This year November 1st falls on a Wednesday. If you take four days off during All Saints’ Week (Monday 30th and Tuesday 31st October, then Thursday 2nd and Friday 3rd November), you can again use nine days off.
The only downside of 2023 seems to be the November 11th ceasefire, which will fall on a Saturday.
Long Christmas vacation
Since Christmas and New Year fall on a Monday this year, all you have to do is ask for four days from the 26th to the 29th to have a great 10 day holiday.
Enough to make the most of 2023 by just taking 26 (or max 28) days off.