German Holidays
There are many traditional celebrations and holidays in Germany. Some have a religous tradition and some are set by the government. In the following you´ll find a description of the whole year. Dates for public holidays can be found online.
Neujahrstag
Holiday: New Year's Day
Date: 1 January
Where valid: all over Germany
photo: Silvester in Leipzig
Heilige Drei Könige
Holiday: Epiphany
Date: 6 January
Where valid: Baden Wurttemberg, Bavaria, Saxony Anhalt
photo: nativity figures
Karfreitag
Holiday: Good Friday
Date: Easter Sunday - 2 days
Where valid: all over Germany
photo: church window with crucifixion of Christ
Ostermontag
Holiday: Easter Monday
Date: Easter Sunday +1 day
Where valid: all over Germany
photo: girl searching Easter eggs (tradition in Germany)
Tag der Arbeit
Holiday: Labour Day
Date: 1 May
Where valid: all over Germany
photo:set up of May tree in Bavaria
Christi Himmelfahrt
Holiday: Ascension Day
Date: Easter Sunday + 39 days
Where valid: all over Germany
photo: painting in a church
Pfingstmontag
Holiday: Whit Monday
Date: Easter Sunday + 50 days
Where valid: all over Germany
photo: mosaic showing holy spirit coming down to apostels and disciples
Fronleichnam
Holiday: Corpus Christi
Date: Easter Sunday + 60 days
Where valid: Baden Wurttemberg, Bavaria,
Hesse, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate,
Saarland
photo: ceremonial procession for Corpus Christi
Mariä Himmelfahrt
Holiday: Assumption Day
Date: 15 August
Where valid: most parts of Bavaria, Saarland
photo: Madonna in a church
Tag der Deutschen Einheit
Holiday: German Unity Day
Date: 3 October
Where valid: all over Germany
photo: part of the Berlin Wall which separated the today's capital from 1961-1989
Reformationstag
Holiday: Reformation Day
Date: 31 October
Where valid: Brandenburg, Mecklenburg-
Vorpommern, Saxony, Saxony- Anhalt,Thuringia
photo: Martin Luther, Dresden Frauenkirche
Allerheiligen
Holiday: All Saints
Date: 1 November
Where valid: Baden Wurttemberg, Bavaria, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland
photo: cemetery with grave lights and flowers
Buß- und Bettag
Holiday: Repentance and Prayer Day
Date: 2nd Wednesday before 1st Advent
Where valid: Saxony
photo: woman praying in the church
Weihnachtstag
Holiday: Christmas Day
Date: 25 December
Where valid: all over Germany
photo: christmas tree
2. Weihnachtsfeiertag
Holiday: St Stephens Day / Boxing Day
Date: 26 December
Where valid: all over Germany
photo: christmas decoration