Can anyone shed light on this holiday vis-a-vis the "tourist scene"? I seem to remember that this day (07/01/09) and perhaps the Sunday before have been a matter for some confusion these past few years. Might be a good day to cook in (staying in an apartment) but was curious as to what might and might not be open (restos, museums, supermarkets, shops). Thanks, EJ

This holiday is less and less a holiday in the strictest sense of the word; more stores are open. I can't tell you specifically what is open or closed, but I think you will find enough places open to be able to enjoy the day. You could check the websites for the museums you're interested in or email them. A few years ago I was going to be in Paris on WhitMonday (having been there a few years before that and most places were closed) and emailed Galeries Lafayette early in the new year; at that point they hadn't made a decision; I checked in, say, March or April, and the decision had been made for them to be open.

Isn't Whitsun the same as Pentecost; 40 days after Easter? If so then Whitsun is not in July. In 2009 it's May 31. Perhaps you meant that Whitmonday is June 1. If you're going to Paris in July you won't have a problem!

Thanks for answering, grandmere and adrienne. You are correct adrienne, I hit the wrong key and WhitMonday is indeed 06/01/09. EJ

Ooops, I missed the date you gave. It is rarely in June, but Easter is very late this year, I assume.

elsiejune - did you get your question answered (I guess you'll be in Paris on June 1)? I checked a few of the larger museums and they do not show closed on June 1 so it looks like museums are open, although some small ones may close. Even on May 1 there are restaurants open, although not many. I was in Paris on May 1 once and many things were closed so I did 2 walking tours that day with Paris Walks. You can always look at churches that day as I'm sure they'll be open. I think you'll find plenty of things to do.

I'm glad this was posted because I forgot about Whit Monday, and will be in Paris during that time. Actually June 1st is my huusband's birthday, and we had planned on dining at Jules Verne that night. Hope it's open!!

Pentecost Monday was even cancelled as a holiday for 3 years and they just put it back last year because they had created chaos throughout France.

It all goes back to the great heat wave. After that, to try to look as though it was doing something, the government said that henceforth Pentecost Monday would be a "day of solidarity" -- people would work on that day, but it wouldn't be counted as work and salaries and company activities from that day would be put into a fund to help old people (this biggest victims of the heat wave). The actual reason for doing this was to attack the 35-hour work week that the Socialists had put in place by stealing back a day of vacation from everybody.

Easier said than done, because lots of traditional festivals and activities had been based on Pentecost Monday being a holiday for many years, and on top of that schools remained closed on that day, which complicated the lives of parents who had to work.

So they put back the holiday, but people have to give up a day of vacation anyway out of "solidarity." (I always thought that solidarity was a freely given action and not something imposed like an extra obligatory tax, but apparently the French government sees it differently.)

Thanks to all. Kerouac, I knew you would have the backstory on this. Merci, EJ