Paris Bakers Staggered Summer Vacations

From 1790 until 2015, Paris bakers had to notify city hall before closing for vacation, allowing roughly half to close in July and the other half in August. French lawmakers introduced the rule after bread shortages helped fuel the 1789 French Revolution, when bread served as a main food staple for poor citizens. The rotation ensured that every Paris neighborhood retained access to fresh baguettes throughout the summer. In 2015, the mayor abolished the 225-year-old rule to reduce bureaucracy.

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