Kmflett's Blog

The French May Day. Ban on the selling of baguettes relaxed

Keir Starmer, still the Prime Minister, seems to have been oblivious that May Day exists, even though it is International Workers Day and he is alleged to be a Labour PM.

In France May Day is taken much more seriously

While The Times has a long standing obsession with French food it was the Financial Times that reported that the long standing French ban on bakeries opening on May Day and selling freshly baked baguettes was in fact partially lifted in 2026.

There was a fine of 750 Euros for each worker at work on May Day. The remit included bakeries and the selling of baguettes. Essential activities  are allowed to continue including transport and of course cafes and restaurants.

The Chair of France’s National Bakery Confederation complained about the enforced closure of France’s 34,000 bakeries describing the country as the ‘Land of Bread’.

However this year independent bakeries were allowed to open but not chains.

The General Secretary of the CGT union has said that a day off on May 1^st is a ‘fundamental right’ noting that the Socialist International met in Paris in 1890 to declare May Day a day off in memory of the 1886 Chicago Martyrs.

Meanwhile Britain will have an official Bank Holiday on May 4^th when baguettes will still be available, although not up to French standards clearly.

I’m not sure the Financial Times report should be taken too seriously, it appears the baguette law was not that well enforced anyway, but a tradition of taking May Day seriously remains a good one.