New Year’s Day (1 January) in Germany is a nationwide public holiday and the quiet counterpart to the explosive celebrations of New Year’s Eve (Silvester). After fireworks, parties, and champagne toasts at midnight, most people spend the day recovering with family walks, hearty brunches, or watching the famous New Year’s Concert from Vienna on TV. It’s also the time for making resolutions and exchanging wishes of ‘Guten Rutsch’ (a good slide into the new year). Shops, schools, and most businesses remain closed, though bakeries and cafés in tourist towns may open for limited hours.

This is a public holiday in Germany.

Good Friday (Karfreitag, date varies) is one of the most solemn Christian holidays in Germany, marking the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. As a ‘silent day’ (Stiller Feiertag), public dancing and loud events are restricted in most states. Church services, organ concerts, and meditations dominate the day, while families often serve fish dishes instead of meat. Although not as festive as Easter itself, Karfreitag sets the reflective tone for the weekend ahead. Shops and businesses are closed nationwide.

This is a public holiday in Germany.

Easter Monday (Ostermontag, date varies) extends the Easter weekend with family visits, festive meals, and outdoor activities. Many Germans travel to see relatives or enjoy spring walks through blooming landscapes. In some regions, traditional Easter bonfires or egg-rolling games continue from Easter Sunday. It is a nationwide public holiday: shops, schools, and offices are closed, though tourist attractions and restaurants often welcome guests.

Labour Day (Tag der Arbeit, 1 May) has been a public holiday in Germany since 1933, but its roots go back to 19th-century workers’ movements demanding fair wages and shorter working hours. Today, trade unions organize rallies and demonstrations across the country, especially in Berlin and Hamburg. It also coincides with spring festivals, maypole dancing, and the traditional ‘Tanz in den Mai’ (Dance into May) on the night before. While large retailers are closed, beer gardens and outdoor events mark the start of warmer days.

Ascension Day (Christi Himmelfahrt, date varies, 40 days after Easter) celebrates the Christian belief in Christ’s ascension to heaven. It is also widely known as Father’s Day (Vatertag) in Germany, when groups of men (and increasingly mixed groups) go on hiking or cycling tours with beer and picnics in handcarts. Churches hold special services, while the countryside comes alive with outings. Shops are closed, but restaurants, beer gardens, and parks bustle with holidaymakers.

This is a public holiday in Germany.

Whit Monday (Pfingstmontag, date varies) concludes the Pentecost weekend and is celebrated with church services focusing on the descent of the Holy Spirit. Many regions host parades, open-air masses, and local fairs. In rural areas, traditions such as decorating trees with ribbons or holding community dances survive. It is a nationwide public holiday, giving families another day to enjoy spring before returning to work and school.

This is a public holiday in Germany.

This is a public holiday in Germany.

German Unity Day (Tag der Deutschen Einheit, 3 October) is the national holiday of Germany, commemorating reunification in 1990 after decades of division. The day honors the peaceful protests of 1989 that led to the fall of the Berlin Wall and the end of the Cold War. A different federal state hosts the official national celebrations each year, featuring a citizens’ festival, concerts, fireworks, and cultural exhibitions. Across the country, cities display flags and families enjoy a day of rest. It is the only federal holiday enshrined in the constitution.

This is a public holiday in Germany.

This is a public holiday in Germany.

This is a public holiday in Germany.

Christmas Day (1st Christmas Day, 25 December) in Germany follows the festive Christmas Eve (Heiligabend). Families gather for church services and lavish meals, often featuring roast goose, carp, or duck with dumplings and red cabbage. It is a quiet day for family and reflection, with gift-giving already having taken place the night before. Shops are closed, and streets are calm except in tourist resorts and ski areas.

This is a public holiday in Germany.