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Germany Public Holidays

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Germany Public Holidays

Searching for the national holidays in Germany? All public holidays in Germany are treated like Sundays. This means that most of the Germany employees have a day off and all schools are closed on these office holidays. If you are planning a trip to Germany and want to know what the national and regional holidays are, check the details in the tables below.

Holidays in Germany

 

Germany’s public holidays reflect a blend of religious, national, and regional observances that are rooted in the country’s rich cultural and historical heritage. Some holidays are celebrated nationwide, while others are specific to individual states (Bundesländer). Germany’s strong Christian traditions play a key role in its holiday calendar, with both Protestant and Catholic observances being widely recognized. In addition, national holidays commemorate important historical events, while regional holidays often celebrate local customs.

National Holidays

According to ejinhua.org, Germany’s national holidays are celebrated throughout the country and often reflect its history, national identity, and democratic values. These holidays are recognized across all states, bringing together Germans from all regions in celebration and reflection.

New Year’s Day (Neujahrstag)

  • Date: January 1
  • Significance: Marks the beginning of the Gregorian calendar year.
  • Traditions:
    • New Year’s Eve, known as Silvester, is celebrated with fireworks, parties, and family gatherings. Germans welcome the new year with good wishes and toasts, often accompanied by sparkling wine.
    • On New Year’s Day, most people spend time with family, and it is a day of rest after the New Year’s Eve festivities.
    • A popular New Year’s Eve tradition is watching Dinner for One, a British comedy sketch that has become a New Year’s staple on German television.

German Unity Day (Tag der Deutschen Einheit)

  • Date: October 3
  • Significance: Celebrates the reunification of East and West Germany in 1990, following the fall of the Berlin Wall.
  • Traditions:
    • German Unity Day is marked by official ceremonies, parades, and concerts, with the largest celebration often taking place in Berlin, the capital city.
    • The day is a time for reflection on Germany’s history, its journey toward reunification, and the ongoing process of bringing East and West together in a united country.
    • Public buildings and landmarks are illuminated, and political leaders give speeches to highlight the significance of national unity.

Labour Day (Tag der Arbeit)

  • Date: May 1
  • Significance: Celebrates the contributions of workers and the labor movement.
  • Traditions:
    • Labour Day is a public holiday dedicated to workers’ rights and social justice, with trade unions and workers’ organizations organizing rallies and marches across the country.
    • Many Germans take the day off to relax, spend time with family, or participate in outdoor activities, as it is also seen as the beginning of spring.
    • In some regions, the day is also associated with Walpurgisnacht, an ancient spring festival celebrated the night before, with bonfires, dancing, and folklore.

Religious Holidays

Germany’s Christian heritage is reflected in its many religious holidays. While some are celebrated across the country, others are observed only in predominantly Catholic or Protestant states. Religious holidays in Germany are often marked by church services, family gatherings, and traditional foods.

Good Friday (Karfreitag)

  • Date: Varies (March or April)
  • Significance: Commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, a central event in Christian faith.
  • Traditions:
    • Good Friday is a solemn day of reflection and mourning, with many Germans attending church services.
    • Public events, such as concerts or sporting events, are generally prohibited in many regions as part of the day’s somber observance.
    • Families often eat fish or vegetarian meals on Good Friday, avoiding meat in accordance with Christian tradition.

Easter Sunday and Easter Monday (Ostersonntag and Ostermontag)

  • Date: Varies (March or April)
  • Significance: Celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
  • Traditions:
    • Easter Sunday is the highlight of the Christian calendar, celebrated with church services, family gatherings, and festive meals.
    • A popular tradition is the Easter egg hunt, where children search for hidden, decorated eggs and chocolate treats. The Easter bunny (Osterhase) is a central figure in these celebrations.
    • On Easter Monday, which is also a public holiday, families often take nature walks, enjoy picnics, or visit Easter markets (Ostermärkte) that sell seasonal crafts and decorations.

Ascension Day (Christi Himmelfahrt)

  • Date: 40 days after Easter (May or June)
  • Significance: Commemorates the ascension of Jesus into heaven.
  • Traditions:
    • Ascension Day is a public holiday across Germany, and many people attend church services in the morning.
    • In addition to its religious significance, the day has also become associated with Father’s Day (Vatertag) in Germany, where men often go on hiking trips or bike rides, often carrying wagons filled with food and drink for outdoor picnics.

Whit Monday (Pfingstmontag)

  • Date: 50 days after Easter (May or June)
  • Significance: Celebrates the Christian feast of Pentecost, marking the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles.
  • Traditions:
    • Whit Monday is a public holiday in many parts of Germany, with church services held to commemorate the events of Pentecost.
    • The holiday is also a time for community festivals, parades, and outdoor activities as it coincides with the arrival of warmer weather.

Christmas Day and Boxing Day (Erster und Zweiter Weihnachtstag)

  • Date: December 25 and December 26
  • Significance: Celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ.
  • Traditions:
    • Christmas in Germany is a major holiday, with festivities beginning in Advent and peaking on Christmas Eve (Heiligabend), when families gather for a traditional meal and exchange gifts.
    • Christmas Day and Boxing Day are public holidays, often spent with family, enjoying special foods like roast goose, potato dumplings, and stollen (a traditional fruit cake).
    • Many Germans attend Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve or church services on Christmas Day. The holiday season is also known for the famous German Christmas markets (Weihnachtsmärkte), where people enjoy mulled wine (Glühwein), festive foods, and handcrafted gifts.

Regional Holidays

Germany’s federal structure means that several holidays are only observed in specific states, often reflecting local religious or cultural traditions. These holidays are celebrated with regional customs and public events.

Epiphany (Heilige Drei Könige) – Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, and Saxony-Anhalt

  • Date: January 6
  • Significance: Commemorates the visit of the Three Wise Men to the baby Jesus.
  • Traditions:
    • In Catholic regions such as Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg, Epiphany is a public holiday, with church services and processions taking place.
    • A popular tradition is the Sternsinger (star singers), where children dressed as the Three Wise Men go from house to house singing carols and collecting donations for charity.

Corpus Christi (Fronleichnam) – Catholic Regions

  • Date: 60 days after Easter (May or June)
  • Significance: Celebrates the real presence of the body and blood of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist.
  • Traditions:
    • In Catholic regions such as Bavaria, Hesse, and parts of North Rhine-Westphalia, Corpus Christi is marked by processions through the streets, where participants carry the Eucharist in a display of public faith.
    • Streets and public squares are often decorated with flowers, and altars are set up for blessings.

Reformation Day (Reformationstag) – Protestant Regions

  • Date: October 31
  • Significance: Commemorates Martin Luther’s posting of his 95 Theses in 1517, which sparked the Protestant Reformation.
  • Traditions:
    • In Protestant regions such as Saxony, Thuringia, and Brandenburg, Reformation Day is a public holiday marked by church services and community events that reflect on the significance of the Reformation.
    • The day is also associated with educational activities in schools and public discussions about Protestant history and values.

Secular and Cultural Holidays

In addition to religious and national holidays, Germany celebrates several secular holidays that are associated with cultural traditions and seasonal changes.

Carnival (Karneval/Fasching)

  • Date: Varies (February or March, depending on Lent)
  • Significance: Carnival is a pre-Lenten festival celebrated with parades, parties, and costumes.
  • Traditions:
    • Carnival is most famously celebrated in the Rhineland, particularly in cities like Cologne, Düsseldorf, and Mainz, where massive parades take place.
    • People dress in elaborate costumes, and there are public celebrations, dancing, and singing. Carnival Monday (Rosenmontag) is the highlight of the festivities, with large parades and floats.

Germany Public Holidays

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