Three strikes and out

Why Parisians have a spring in their step'

Scientifically speaking, exactly what makes April in Paris delightful? A computer scientist of my acquaintance, a Paris native now living abroad, analysed the question and wrote up a study that will be published soon, albeit pseudonymously. His data imply that vacations and strikes are what drive Parisians to behave as they so famously do.

Paris school vacation periods are scheduled with clockwork regularity. This scientist believes that strikes are nearly as predictable. The two quasi-metronomes make Parisians tick.

Striking, in France, is not limited to the employed. In December 1997, hundreds of jobless Parisians went on strike and took to the streets, demanding an end-of-the-year bonus.

Striking is limited by vacations. The schoolteachers who went on strike in May 2003 suspended the strike at the end of June, just in time for their summer break, and resumed the strike at the beginning of the next school year.

Strikes seldom happen in July and August, when most of the workforce is away on vacation. The scientist explains that "at this time of the year, Paris is populated with tourists and the grumpy quarter of Parisians who got stuck at work while the others are chilling out on the Riviera or camping in Normandy. This might be an explanation for the poor image of Parisians that tourists tend to have, but that is a topic for another study."

In September, vacationers return to work. Expect strikes from mid-September to early October. These end by late October, in time for the school year's first break.

Striking then resumes, occurring intermittently until mid-December. The scientist points out that "some privileged categories of indispensable workers regularly threaten to go on strike during the holidays, but generally the issues get resolved in time for everyone to enjoy the end-of-year festivities".

Then comes a chilly period with few strikes. The winter break from late February to mid-March, and the spring break from mid-April to early May, help Parisians keep busy until the return of warm weather. There is little free time for a proper strike or protest.

May is packed with official vacation days, as many as 10 in a good year. About half the citizens are away; the others work a low-pressured day-or-two a week.

Come June, summer vacations are imminent and everyone is eager to be outdoors. After the French Open tennis tournament, "expect major protests with demonstrations en masse. This is the favourite time of the year for students to take to the streets, as end-of-the-year exams approach. The strikes and demonstrations will most likely stop in time for Parisians to travel to their favorite summer spot come July".

"So," writes the scientist, "this is why April is clearly the best time to visit Paris: the weather might not be great yet, but the chance of major social disturbances is low, and Parisians, either coming back from a vacation or about to go on a vacation, are likely in the best mood they'll be in all year."
