French Lessons: Faire le pont

Tis the season for holidays in France. The month of May typically sports four: May Day (Labor Day), Victory in Europe Day, Ascension, and Pentecost. When they fall on a Tuesday or Thursday, you’ll often hear the question Est-ce que tu vas faire le pont? “Are you going to take the bridge?” Le pont is “bridge,” and faire is the verb “to make,” hence you’d be making/taking the bridge over the weekend, for a lovely 4-day reprieve from work. (Funny, as a freelancer, I know longer have the full appreciation I once did). Joyeuses Fêtes! (Happy Holidays!)

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9 comments

  • Melissa

    May 3, 2012 at 4:50 am // Reply

    I remember learning about this in my French Culture class when I studied abroad in Dijon. I also remember being really jealous and added it to my list of reasons I should live in France. :) Bonnes vacances!

  • Robín

    May 3, 2012 at 6:40 pm // Reply

    When this happens, in Spain, that is relatively often, compared to the US standards; a 4 or 5 day “bridge” holyday, we call it ” disfutar del acueducto” = ” enjoy the aqueduct”; aqueduct being considered here as a long-long bridge.

    http://fotos.euroresidentes.com/fotos/segovia/acueducto-de-segovia/imagepages/image10.html

    Known singer Brassens had -also- a song where ,this time, you had to cross the bridge for adventure to Instantly begin (like Lennon Instant Karma) :

    “Il suffit de passer le pont; c´est tout de suite l´aventure..”

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZHt3AiCDrc

    Last one, for us, was the working feast of first May. And in Madrid community/province, 2nd May was also a “fiesta” rememoring the rising of the spanish people in Madrid against Napoleon Bonaparte army..all very European, certainly.

  • dbennett2.wordpress.com

    June 29, 2013 at 7:09 am // Reply

    I usually do not comment, but I looked at a few of the comments here French
    Lessons: Faire le pont | Prêt à Voyager. I actually do
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