Why are we bridging this Friday?

The Ministry of National Education has clarified On its website : “Classes begin Friday, May 27, 2022 and Saturday, May 28, 2022.” From kindergarten to high school, all French students will benefit from the long four-day weekend. But why make the bridge a public holiday after Ascension Thursday?

What is the origin of Ascension?

Ascension is a Christian holiday. According to the website Eglise.catholique.fr, Which marks the last day that Jesus will be seen after his resurrection and before his ascension to heaven. In other words, this feast symbolizes the presence of Christ on earth, but also in the Christian faith and scripture.

As a reminder, the Ascension is celebrated every year from April 30 to June 3, for Catholics and Protestants, forty days after Easter. This year it is celebrated on May 26th. In 2023, it will take place on May 18th.

Why is Ascension a public holiday?

In France, Ascension became a one-day holiday during ancient rule. At that time, France was a mostly rural country where the countryside lived with the rhythm of Christian festivals. Before the French Revolution, there were about twenty religious holidays.

During the French Revolution, secular celebrations replaced the Christian holidays of Christmas, the Ascension of Christ, the Assumption of Mary and All Saints. These were re-established in the calendar by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1801 under a treaty signed with Pope Pius VII.

Who will build the Ascension Bridge?

So much for the Thursday boom. But what about the silver and famous bridge? Among schools in France, this Friday Bridge was founded in 2015 by Education Minister Najat Vallad-Belcasem, and the Ascension Bridge is of greater concern to all students and teachers from kindergarten to high school. Prior to this date, the bridge was either decided directly by the Rectorates according to school zones or informally by families as specified. South West.

At the time, this government decision was aimed at combating the issue of not appearing in class, which is considered to be the most popular event every Friday following Ascension Thursday. In 2018, the exception to the rule was decided. In fact, Ascension fell two days after Thursday, May 8, celebrating the 1945 German surrender. That year, students went to class on Fridays to avoid loading a week too lightly.