Lily and bridges : May in France

Let me tell you about the month of May, here in France.

I had been dreaming about this the 10 years I lived in Pittsburgh.

There is a saying in France stating "En mai, fais ce qu'il te plait", meaning "In May, do as you wish". That's already a good thing.
May starts on May day, May First, which is, as almost anywhere in the occidental world : Labor day meaning, of course : A DAY OFF. On top on that, it is customary in France to offer Lilly of the Valley as a token of good luck and love. It's a tradition dating from the 16th century, which was made popular at the beginning of the 20th century.
On May 8, France celebrates the end of WW2. It's a public holiday and thus : A DAY OFF.
40 days after easter the catholic church celebrates the Ascension, it falls on a Thursday. Even though France is technicaly a non-religious republic, the day is a public holiday and A DAY OFF.
And finally, let me introduce you to Pentecost Monday, happening 7 weeks after Easter, always on a monday, as before, even though France is technicaly a non-religious republic, the day is a public holiday and A DAY OFF. For a few years it was a holiday but people had to work . Payroll taxes collected on that day were benifiting elderly people.
So, May has 4 days off. This year May day and the 8 fell on a Friday and people usually take off the Friday after the Ascension.
Taking a PTO day in beetween a public holiday and a weekend is called "faire le pont" wich translates into "doing a bridge".