Armistice Day in Guadeloupe
Armistice Day falls on November 11 in Guadeloupe, where it is part of France’s list of public holidays. The date connects the territory’s own First World War history with a national day of remembrance, and the holiday’s status does not by itself mean every employee has the day off.[1][2][3]
A fixed date and a public holiday
French labour law lists November 11 among the country’s public holidays. A 1922 law named November 11 as the day for commemorating victory and peace. The date remains November 11 each year.[1][2]
For private-sector employees, a public holiday is not automatically a day off. The applicable workplace or branch agreement defines which holidays are not worked; if there is no agreement, the employer decides. The special statutory rule making May 1 a non-working day applies to May 1, not to November 11.[1][5]
Guadeloupe’s connection to the First World War
The war reached Guadeloupe through mobilization and its effects on daily life. The Departmental Archives record that general mobilization took effect on August 4, 1914, and that more than 6,000 soldiers left the archipelago. The Archives also describe shortages of basic supplies, isolation, and tensions on the quays of Pointe-à-Pitre and at sugar factories.[3]
The local remembrance is tied to Guadeloupeans who served and died in the war. The Departmental Archives explain that November 11 commemorations in France honor those soldiers, and point readers to military registers, a book of remembrance, and contemporary local newspapers as records of their lives.[4]
Commemorations and what to expect
Armistice Day is observed as a day of remembrance, rather than through a single custom across the whole archipelago. The Departmental Archives connect November 11 with commemorations honoring soldiers and preserve names of Guadeloupeans who died for France. Local ceremonies and events may vary.[4]
Check opening hours with government offices and banks before you go. Check with shops, banks and transport operators before making plans, as their opening hours and service schedules can vary.[1][5]
Frequently asked questions
When is Armistice Day in Guadeloupe?
Is November 11 an official public holiday in Guadeloupe?
Do all workers have the day off?
Sources and references
Sources used for Armistice Day in Guadeloupe:
- Chapitre III : Jours fériés (Articles L3133-1 à L3133-12)- Légifrance
- Loi du 24 octobre 1922 fixant au 11 novembre la commémoration de la victoire et de la paix- Légifrance
- Première Guerre mondiale- Archives départementales de la Guadeloupe
- [FOCUS SUR] Honneur aux soldats de la Guadeloupe de la Première Guerre mondiale.- Archives départementales de la Guadeloupe
- Ponts, week-ends prolongés - Les jours fériés en 2025- Service-Public.fr