Public Holidays

Public Holidays in Germany

Germany has both nationwide and state-specific public holidays. This is because public holidays are determined partly at the federal level and partly by the individual federal states.

Religious holidays are often more numerous in predominantly Catholic states such as Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg, while other states observe additional historical or cultural holidays.

Most federal states have around 10 to 13 public holidays per year, although the exact number varies by state and, in some cases, by municipality.

List of Public Holidays

January

  • New Year's Day (January 1): Nationwide. Celebrates the start of the new calendar year.
  • Epiphany (January 6): Public holiday in Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, and Saxony-Anhalt. Commemorates the visit of the Wise Men to Jesus.

March and April

  • International Women's Day (March 8): Public holiday in Berlin and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania.
  • Good Friday: Nationwide. A Christian holiday commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.
  • Easter Sunday: A public holiday in Brandenburg.
  • Easter Monday: Nationwide. The day following Easter Sunday.

The dates of Easter-related holidays change every year.

May

  • Labor Day (May 1): Nationwide. Celebrates workers and workers' rights.
  • Ascension Day: Nationwide. A Christian holiday marking the ascension of Jesus Christ. It is also commonly associated with Father's Day in Germany.
  • Pentecost Sunday: A public holiday in Brandenburg.
  • Pentecost Monday: Nationwide. Celebrates the Christian festival of Pentecost.
  • Corpus Christi: Public holiday in Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Hesse, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland, and certain municipalities in other states.

The dates of these holidays change from year to year.

August

  • Assumption of Mary (August 15): Public holiday in Saarland and in parts of Bavaria. It is a Catholic holiday commemorating the assumption of the Virgin Mary into heaven.

September

  • World Children's Day (September 20): Public holiday in Thuringia. It focuses on children's rights and well-being.

October

  • German Unity Day (October 3): Nationwide. Celebrates the reunification of Germany in 1990.
  • Reformation Day (October 31): Public holiday in several northern and eastern federal states. It commemorates the Protestant Reformation.

November

  • All Saints' Day (November 1): Public holiday in Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, and Saarland. It is a Catholic holiday honoring all saints.
  • Day of Repentance and Prayer (Buß- und Bettag): Public holiday in Saxony. It is a day of reflection and prayer.

December

  • Christmas Day (December 25): Nationwide. Celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ.
  • Second Day of Christmas (December 26): Nationwide. The second day of the Christmas holiday.

Public Holidays and Vacation Planning

Public holidays can be a great opportunity to extend your vacation by using bridging days (Brückentage) between holidays and weekends.

Before planning your time off, check the public holidays that apply in your federal state, as the number and dates of holidays can vary by region.

Important Tip

Public holidays are different from your annual paid vacation. A public holiday that falls on a regular working day generally does not need to be taken from your vacation allowance.

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