Public Holidays in Germany

There isn’t really one Germany or one German culture. But one aspect of German culture that plays a significant role in the lives of its citizens independent of their whereabouts and feisty dialect is public holidays or as we call them: Feiertage which literally means: days to celebrate. I mean the English “holy days” takes that concept a step further but as you might have learned in one of my other posts, Germany isn’t as religious as one might think.

With a total of nine national public holidays and additional regional holidays, Germans have plenty of opportunities to celebrate and spend time with family and friends. Just kidding. Who’d want that. But the fear of having to spend more time with one’s family is easily overcome by the fact that one does not have to go to work.

Let’s explore the various public holidays in Germany, including their significance and how they are celebrated across the country and why knowing the holidays is important for you to know should you happen to be in Germany on such a day.

National Public Holidays in Germany

Germany celebrates a number of national public holidays throughout the year. These holidays are observed across the entire country and are important for both cultural and historical reasons.

Here’s an overview over the national and regional public holidays in Germany along with their English translations:

The Origin Story Of The German Public Holidays

1. New Year’s Day has been observed in Germany since the adoption of the Gregorian calendar, which was introduced in Catholic territories in 1582 and in most Protestant German states by the early 18th century (e.g., Prussia in 1700). Before that, New Year often began on 25 December, 1 March, or Easter, depending on the region.

   1 January became the civil start of the year and a public holiday across German-speaking Europe following the Gregorian reform and was officially recognized in modern Germany after 1949 under Bundesrecht as a national holiday. If you feel like diving deeper into the one day that ensures every gym’s financial survival, you’ll enjoy this wikipedia article.

2. Good Friday commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and has been part of the Christian liturgical calendar since at least the 4th century, originating in the Eastern and Western churches as part of Holy Week.
   In Germany, Karfreitag has been observed as a publicly recognized Christians holiday since the Middle Ages. It became a state-protected holiday in several Protestant territories, particularly after the Reformation (16th century).
   Its status as a legal public holiday nationwide in modern Germany was codified in the various Feiertagsgesetze (Holiday Acts) of the German Länder after 1949.

   Good to know: Karfreitag is classified as a “stiller Feiertag” (day of silence), meaning public dancing, music, and entertainment events are restricted by law in most states. There’s only two other holidays that come with a Tanzverbot and that’s Totensonntag (Sunday of the Dead) and Volkstrauertag (National Day of Mourning). But it’s not a public holiday so if you have to work on Totensonntag, you just drew the proverbial Arschkarte. – It would lead to far to explain that to you here. I will create an extra blog post for that at one point.

3. Easter Monday (Ostermontag) – Monday after Easter: It is a day for family gatherings and outdoor activities. In Europe, Germany is particularly known for its Easter traditions, one of which is the tradition of lighting up huge bonfires. If you ever get the chance of participating in one do so. You even find them on the outskirts of bigger cities, see Berlin. One thing I just learned writing this post is that Easter Monday seems to be particularly important in Protestant traditions – I grew up Catholic- and Easter walks (“Osterspaziergänge”) are a thing and a cultural reference of them can found even in Goethe’s Faust. I can’t remember having participated in such a Spaziergang so I guess they are rather a Protestant thing but my family wasn’t really strictly Catholic so maybe I just missed out on that particular tradition.
4. Labor Day (Maifeiertag, Erster Mai) –
   Labour Day, or Tag der Arbeit, is a public holiday in Germany celebrated every year on May 1st. It honors the rights of workers and the history of the labor movement. It was first celebrated in Germany in 1890, later made an official holiday in 1933. Today, trade unions organize marches and events across the country. The day is used to raise awareness for social and labor issues.

   In the past Berliners had the pleasure to witness a quite unique event in the evenings, where der Schwarze Block and the Berliner Polizei engaged in quite a battle so much that they asked other German states for reinforcement. Lately, the police put more effort into de-escalation techniques and those Straßenschlachten pretty much lost their edge if they even happened at all. I’ve been living here for over 25 years now and the last 3-5 years I haven’t read much about them anymore.

5. Ascension Day, or Christi Himmelfahrt, is a public holiday in Germany that falls 40 days after Easter Sunday, always on a Thursday. It marks the ascension of Jesus into heaven, according to Christian belief. The holiday has been celebrated since the 4th century and was later made a public holiday in Germany, officially recognized in all federal states after 1949.
   Interestingly, in Germany, it’s also celebrated as Father’s Day (Vatertag or Herrentag), when many men take hikes or outings, often with beer and little carts to lighten the burden of having to schlepp all that beer around — it’s a mix of tradition and social custom I guess. I participated in that a couple of times at around 18 years old. And man, did we get hammered. I think once we even rented a beer-bike, the kind you can still see on Berlin’s streets occasionally. Here a short documentary of this very German custom.
6. Whit Monday, or Pfingstmontag, is a nationwide public holiday in Germany that falls 50 days after Easter Sunday, directly after Pentecost (Pfingsten). It celebrates the descent of the Holy Spirit on the apostles, marking the birth of the Christian Church according to tradition. The holiday has been observed since the 4th century in Christian communities. In Germany, Pfingstmontag became a legal public holiday in all federal states after 1949. It’s often part of a long weekend and is usually used for family activities or short trips.
7. German Unity Day, or Tag der Deutschen Einheit, is Germany’s national holiday, celebrated every year on October 3rd. It marks the official reunification of East and West Germany in 1990, following the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989. This date was chosen instead of the more symbolic 9 November (the date the Wall fell), because 9 November is also the anniversary of the 1938 Kristallnacht, making it inappropriate for a national holiday. Here’s a short video with imagery from that night.
   October 3rd was declared a nationwide public holiday by law in 1990.Each year, a different federal state hosts the official celebrations. In Berlin you’ll find the Straße des 17. Juni

8. Christmas Day, or 1. Weihnachtstag, is celebrated in Germany on December 25th and is a nationwide public holiday. It marks the birth of Jesus Christ and is one of the most important holidays in the Christian calendar.
   In Germany, the evening of December 24th (Heiligabend) is traditionally when families exchange gifts, but the 25th is the official Christmas holiday with church services and quiet family time. The day has been observed in Christian Europe since the 4th century.
9. Boxing Day, or 2. Weihnachtstag, is celebrated on December 26th and is a nationwide public holiday in Germany. Unlike in the UK and Commonwealth countries, where the term “Boxing Day” is common, in Germany it’s simply called the “Second Christmas Day.”
   It is primarily a continuation of Christmas celebrations, often reserved for extended family visits (the Schwiegereltern), even more oppulent meals, and rest from all the usual family upheaval. While not rooted in a specific biblical event, I learned that this day is traditionally dedicated to Saint Stephen (Stephanus) in the Christian calendar. I guess I was a lousy Catholic back in the days. The 26th has been observed as a public holiday in Christian Europe since the early Middle Ages, and it remains a protected day of rest in modern Germany.

Regional Public Holidays in Germany

In addition to national public holidays, Germany also observes regional public holidays that vary by state or city. These regional holidays provide a glimpse into the diverse traditions and cultural heritage across different parts of the country. I leave the research to you for now.

Other Important Dates in Germany

In addition to national and regional public holidays, we also celebrate certain cultural, religious or historical events that pretty much every German at least heard of. These dates are not considered public holidays. Below are some of the other important dates in Germany:

1. New Year’s Eve (Silvester) – December 31st
2. St. Martin’s Day (Martinstag) – November 11th: It commemorates the life of St. Martin of Tours; on this day, children participate in lantern processions (Laternenumzüge) through the streets and eat either a Kiepenkerl – A cookie looking like a dude smoking a pipe or a Martinsgans, well, a cookie goose.
3. St. Nicholas’ Day (Nikolaustag) – December 6th: Children eagerly await St. Nicholas’ arrival, who fills their boots with sweets and small gifts. But as a child, all I got was a bit of chocolat or a small toy. I mean, who puts a Feiertag so close to Weihnachten in the first place. And we don’t really have that tradition to hang out socks at the fireplace. That’s something from the US I guess.
4. German Beer Day (Tag des Deutschen Bieres) – April 23rd: A day to honor Germany’s brewing traditions and the cultural significance of beer. Just messing with you. Nobody celebrates this but it’s funny that we really have a Feiertag for everything. Not sure why we need that but hey, better to celebrate a bit too much than to drool over the futility of existence, am I right?
5. Carnival (Karneval or Fasching) – Date varies (usually in February or March): Known for its vibrant parades, costumes, and street celebrations and excessive alcohol consumption, Carnival marks the beginning of Lent for Christians. A tiny bit like the Ramazan in that the true Christian reflects, repents and practices self-denial. Many people give up things like sweets, alcohol, or meat during the 40 days (not counting Sundays) starting from Ash Wednesday (Aschermittwoch) until Easter. But unlike Muslims in Ramazan (Ramadan in German), they are allowed to eat and drink during the day.
6. Day of Mourning (Volkstrauertag), you remember? One of three “silent holidays” The sunday two weeks before Advent: A day of remembrance for the victims of war and tyranny.
7. And of course zee Oktoberfest which lasts from late September to early October: This iconic festival is a celebration of Bavarian culture, known for its lively atmosphere, traditional music, dancing, and, of course, beer. And as you know me by now, here’s a nice documentary also showing the dark side of this event. And if you feel very brave work your way through this article about the infamous “Kotzhügel” (hill of vomit) No worries, it’s just showing a few Schnappsleichen struggling with the side effects of a light or less light alcohol poisoning. By the way, ironically, weed is a no-go on Oktoberfest. Rumor has it that it’s because there’s no money to be made with pot-heads. Well… the beer-lobby has a tight grip on the Bavarians it seems.

All these important dates hold a special place in the hearts of many Germans and are marked with various festivities, traditions, and cultural celebrations. As a 52 year old German from the north of Germany I have to admit that I have never made it to Oktoberfest and very likely will also die without having ever made this experience. I’ve gotten drunk more than enough time in my life when I was younger that I really don’t need to repeat that and honestly unless you are a true Münchener or at least Bavarian, the Oktoberfest is nothing more than a Sauf- und Fressfest like so many others.

Why is it Important to Know German Holidays?

Understanding German holidays is crucial for several reasons but mainly for the following cases:

1. you can’t go shopping for anything and the days before and after the holidays it’s hell to go to any supermarket.
2. the same goes for travelling with Deutsche Bahn or for flying. You don’t want to travel the days before a public holiday. You really don’t.
3. you are not allowed to work unless … see paragraph somewhere above
4. if you are doing business with Germany then for you it’s good to know that you won’t find anyone to talk with on such days.
5. doctors and pharmacies are closed. There is a so called Notdienst for pharmacies but they are likely a lot further away than your usual one. And of course you can always go to the Notaufnahme (emergency ward) of any nearby hospital. But unless you are heavily and visibly injured expect loooooong waiting hours.
6. Schools and Kindergartens and of course any public administration are closed. If you work from home for a foreign company that doesn’t care about holidays, you need to find somone or somethign to occupy your kids
7. One rather tricky phenomenon is the so called Brückentag which occurs when a public holiday falls on a Thursday or Tuesday. In such cases schools and sometimes public administration are closed on the adjacent Friday or Monday which are the bridge over to the weekend. We call such longer weekends “langes Wochenende”. The latter also applies when we have a Friday or Monday off of course.

FAQs on Public Holidays in Germany

As always some frequently asked questions regarding German public holidays for the search engines.

What is a traditional German holiday?

A “traditional German holiday” is, of course, a day when the country collectively decides to stop working (officially) to remember something — be it religious, political, or vaguely seasonal. These range from the well-known, like Christmas and Easter, to the more niche entries like Reformation Day, which mostly serves to remind people in certain regions why stores are closed.

On such days, Germans may engage in time-honored rituals like eating too much, avoiding loud music (if it’s a “silent” holiday), and gathering with relatives they normally try to avoid — all in the name of tradition and cultural continuity.

What are the most celebrated holidays in Germany?

The most celebrated public holidays in Germany include Christmas Day and Easter. Christmas is a cherished holiday in Germany, with festive traditions like decorating Christmas trees, exchanging gifts, and enjoying oppulent meals with loved ones or with one’s family. Easter is another widely celebrated holiday, with Easter egg hunts and bonfires. Back when I was still a Catholic those two holidays where the only times when I’d have to go to church. They were THAT important … to my father.

German Unity Day, though not really a thing individuals care about much in my experience, is commemorating the reunification of Germany, and is also highly celebrated with public events and cultural festivities at least here in Berlin.

Even if they are not religious, in Germany, it is common for people to gather with their families and celebrate Christmas and Easter together.

How many public holidays are there in Germany?

There are a total of nine public holidays in Germany each year. In addition to these, there are regional holidays celebrated in certain German states, which can vary in number. This means that some German states have more public holidays than others, offering locals the opportunity to enjoy up to 13 days of public holidays a year, making it one of the highest public national holidays in Europe. You’ll find a nice overview higher up in this blog post.

What is the most important public holiday in Germany?

The most important public holiday in Germany is clearly Christmas, even for some Muslims it seems, celebrated on December 25th. It is a significant religious and cultural holiday observed throughout the country. Germans gather with family and friends to exchange gifts, enjoy festive meals, and attend church services. Christmas Day represents a time of joy, reflection, and togetherness, making it the highlight of the holiday season in Germany.

There’s no public holiday based on Muslim culture yet but Muslim kids get a day off on certain Muslim holidays. And certain occasions are celebrated together at school at least here in Berlin. The newest sign of a merging of the cultures is a Ramadan (Advents)kalender. Business unites.

Summing Up: All You Need to Know About Public Holidays in Germany

Opposite to popular belief, Germany doesn’t really have one culture — just a lot of stubborn regional habits wrapped in dialects no one outside the village understands. But one thing unites us all: the sacred art of not working on public holidays (called Feiertage, literally: days to celebrate doing nothing). The English term holy days might suggest a touch more piety, but as you’ve hopefully learned by now: Germans aren’t as religious as their calendar might suggest.

There are nine nationwide public holidays in Germany — enough to regularly disrupt your shopping routine — plus a generous helping of regional extras, depending on where you happen to live (or where tradition refuses to die quietly). While many of these public holidays were originally meant for prayer, reflection, or solemn remembrance, nowadays they mostly serve to close supermarkets at the worst possible moment and to gently nudge you into panic-shopping the day before. And remember: no travelling right before public holidays.