How Many Types of Holidays Are There in Germany?

In Germany, there are two main types of holidays: national holidays and regional holidays. German citizens generally don't work on national holidays. However, each region has its own holidays. At the time people in Bavaria are celebrating a holiday, those in Berlin have to go to work.

So, let's see if there are many holidays in your region (Bundesland)!

National Holidays

• New Year's Day (January 1st): New Year is celebrated on the first day of every year. While in big cities many Germans celebrate with fireworks on the night of December 31st, others prefer to spend the occasion quietly at home with their family.
• Good Friday: This is a Christian holiday commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus. It's celebrated two days before Easter Sunday. Due to its calm and somber atmosphere, dancing events or concerts aren't allowed on this day.
• Easter Monday: Easter celebrations in Germany are quite similar to those in America. This annual holiday follows Easter Sunday and commemorates the resurrection of Christ. The German people celebrate this holiday with egg hunts and candle processions. Shops and stores are closed on this day.
• Labor Day (May 1st): Labor Day in Germany is celebrated on May 1st every year. People celebrate this day to appreciate the contribution of workers to society. Additionally, they also recognize it as an ancient festival to welcome spring and drive away evil spirits.
• Ascension Day: This day is celebrated to mark Christ's ascension to heaven. It's celebrated in May, 40 days after Easter, also known as Father's Day or Men's Day in some German regions.
• Whit Monday: It's celebrated fifty days after Easter. It's the last holiday of this season.
• German Unity Day (October 3rd): German Unity Day is celebrated every year to commemorate the unification of the country on October 3, 1990. To celebrate this day, various activities are organized every year across the country in each German state, including fireworks and cultural concerts.
• Christmas Day (December 25th): Just like in other countries, Christmas is a national holiday in Germany. People generally spend this day with their family and close friends. Grand meals with traditional dishes are served, like boiled potatoes and meatballs, and decorations are displayed throughout the country.
• Boxing Day / St. Stephen's Day (December 26th): This is also a day off for the general population. December 26th is a quiet day to rest after Christmas. Public transport services on this day vary depending on where you live or where you plan to go.

Regional Holidays

• Epiphany / Three Kings' Day (January 6th): Epiphany is an annual holiday celebrated in Baden-Württemberg, Saxony-Anhalt, and Bavaria to mark the visit of the Magi (three wise men) to the infant Jesus. In these regions, most businesses and schools are closed, but public transport operates as usual.
• International Women's Day (March 8th): Don't be surprised if this special day isn't widely celebrated in Germany, only in Berlin. In 2019, Berlin made it an official holiday, allowing students and workers to take the day off.
• Assumption Day (August 15th): This day is celebrated to commemorate the moment Mary left this life and went to heaven. It's celebrated in Saarland and Bavaria.
• Reformation Day (October 31st): It's celebrated in 9 German regions to commemorate Martin Luther's Reformation in the 16th century (these regions are: Brandenburg, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Hamburg, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Schleswig-Holstein, Thuringia, Lower Saxony, and Bremen).
• All Saints' Day (November 1st): People celebrate this Christian holiday to honor the lives of all saints, pay tribute to their deceased loved ones, and visit their graves. All Saints' Day is a holiday in Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, and Saarland.
• Day of Repentance: Today this is a holiday only in Saxony. On this day, Protestant Christians pray and engage in deep thoughts or calm reflections on their lives.

Note: For students arriving in Germany during the holidays, you need to buy food and drinks at the train station or airport because supermarkets and most stores are closed on those days.

In Summary

To sum up, during your studies in Germany, you'll be able to enjoy many holidays. The number of holidays can vary depending on where you live. Let's see together how many holidays there are in your region!