INSEE, the National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies, will begin the next sample census throughout France from Thursday, January 19th with a selection of approximately 9 million of the population.

Where a Bank holiday falls on a Tuesday or a Thursday, many small businesses will ‘faire le pont’ (make a bridge) and take Friday or Monday off too to ;make a long weekend. This rarely applies to large shops, supermarkets etc, many of whom no longer close for most of the public holidays.