Public Holidays Germany

Germany is a country that is proud of its rich history and cultural heritage. German holidays are a great way to experience this culture, as they celebrate important historical events, religious occasions and traditions that are still important today. If you live in Germany, you benefit from 9 public holidays per year.

There are a number of different types of public holidays in Germany that are worth mentioning:

German holidays
In Germany there are nine national holidays that are celebrated. These include New Year’s Day, Easter Monday, Labor Day, Ascension Day, Whit Monday, Christmas Day and Boxing Day. In addition, there are regional holidays, which are only celebrated in certain regions or states.

German religious holidays
Germany is a predominantly Christian country, so many of the holidays are based on Christian religious practices. Some of the most important religious holidays in Germany are Easter, Pentecost and Christmas. During these holidays, many Germans attend church services and spend time with their families.

Easter in Germany
Easter (Ostern) is one of the most popular holidays celebrated in Germany, after the Christmas period. Easter in Germany is from March 29 – April 1, 2023. Good Friday (Karfreitag) and Easter Monday (Ostermontag) are public holidays, so Germans have paid leave on those two days.

Cultural holidays
Germany has a rich cultural history and the holidays reflect this. For example, Oktoberfest (September 21 – October 6) is a world-famous festival that celebrates German culture, music and food. Other cultural holidays include Karneval (February 8 – February 13), which is celebrated in some regions of Germany, and St. Martin’s Day (November 11), which is celebrated with parades and lantern parades.

Meaning of Holidays
Every holiday in Germany has a unique meaning that is rooted in the country’s history, religion or culture. For example, Oktoberfest originated in Munich in 1810 as a celebration of a royal wedding. Today it is an internationally recognized festival that attracts millions of visitors every year.

List of public holidays in Germany:

  • January 1 New Year’s Day Neujahr January
  • 6 Three Kings Heilige Drei Könige March
  • 8 Women’s Day Frauentag April
  • 7 Good Friday Karfreitag April
  • 9 Easter Sunday Ostersonntag Sunday
  • April 10 Easter Monday Ostermontag Monday
  • May 1 Labor Day Labor Day ,
  • May 18 Ascension Day Christi Himmelfahrt ,
  • May 28 Pentecost Pfingstsonntag
  • , May 29 Maundy Monday Pfingsmontag ,
  • June 8 Corpus Christi Fronleichnam ,
  • August 15 Ascension Day Mariä Himmelfahrt
  • September 20 World Children’s Day Weltkindertag
  • October 3 Day of German Unification Tag of German Einheit Tuesday
  • October 31 Reformation Day Reformation Day Tuesday November
  • 1 All Saints’ Day All Saints’ Day Wednesday
  • November 22 Day of Conversion and Prayer Buss- en Bettag Wednesday
  • December 25 Christmas Day Erster Weihnachtstag Monday
  • December 26 Boxing Day Zweiter Weihnachtstag Tuesday

Informal holidays

  • Karneval • February 8 – February 13, 2024
  • Maifest (Mayfest) • May 1, 2024
  • Vatertag (Father’s day) • May 9, 2024
  • Muttertag (Mother’s Day) • May 12, 2024
  • Oktoberfest • September 21 – October 6, 2024
  • Martinstag (St. Martin’s Day) • November 11, 2023

In Germany, public holidays mean that most businesses are closed, just like on Sundays. Employees get a day off and are paid as normal. Each German state has different public holidays; For example, Women’s Day is a public holiday in Berlin, but not Epiphany or Corpus Christi. Bavaria has 13 public holidays, while Berlin has only 10. Some businesses are open in Berlin on Sundays.