Holidays in France: history and old press clippings

Do you know the story of the holidays? Where do we leave, at the time, on vacation? Small historic precise and plunged into the archives of the old press ...

©️Gallica - BnF

The year 2020 will be definitively special. All our habits are turned upside down, even those that promised us relaxation and letting go ... In 2020, we are called to spend our holidays in France. For several reasons, first to limit the spread of the COVVI-19 virus, then to support the national economy and more specifically the tourism sector.

Antiquity holidays in the Renaissance

Tout le monde est évidemment au fait de l’instauration des congés payés en 1936 sous le Front Populaire qui réduit considérablement l’histoire des vacances en France l’été. Néanmoins, avant que celles-ci ne connaissent leur apogée dans les années 1970, sachez que ce « concept » est bien moins récent qu’il n’y parait. En fait, on parlait déjà d’être en vacances depuis l’Antiquité, oui oui ! 

Indeed, the Roman emperor Hadrian did not miss an opportunity to flee Rome during the heat wave and go to Tivoli, in his superb villa. Imitated by many aristocrats, they settled for several months near Naples to take advantage of summer without undergoing the heat and mosquitoes vectors of illness. The Romans will be the first to travel for their pleasure.

In the Middle Ages, the concept of holidays differs more. The unemployed days (like Sunday) and public holidays are decreed by the Church. These days are devoted to meditation and prayer. At the time, we can also be granted a leave to help harvest, harvest or other harvests. In short, in the Middle Ages, only the richest could take advantage of their summer residences while the poorest did not unemployment. 

We have to wait for the Renaissance to really talk about tourism. Indeed, artists and writers go on a trip to Europe to gain knowledge and develop their creativity. In the 18th century, we visited new countries, we go to the mountain (Mont Blanc was climbed for the first time in 1786) and on the seaside - destinations acclaimed by the Anglo -Saxon bourgeoisie following the development of means of transport like the train.

Holidays in the 20th century 

If the children already had before 1914 school holidays (one month in the summer to help the fields) more or less modeled on the Catholic calendar, they have continued to evolve since the law on paid holidays voted by the Popular Front in 1936. 

Après 1936, les grandes vacances « scolaires » ont lieu du 15 juillet au 30 septembre, en plus de quelques jours à Pâques et Noël. Les travailleurs, eux, disposent de 12 jours ouvrables de congés payés par leurs patrons. 

The holiday boom arrived in the 1950s. The wealthiest vacationers rush to the seaside villages to plant the tent. The workers take advantage of this rest at home. Many organizations invest money and time to allow children to go to colonies. This is the case for the Red Cross or even large companies such as SNCF or EDF. 

Since 1981, 5 weeks of paid vacation and RTT has allowed employees to go in summer but also winter, for skiing. We only travel in France but around the world in search of the unusual, the beautiful, the different. 

Holidays in the old press