How Public Holidays Work in Germany
Germany has 9 nationwide public holidays. There are no substitute days: a holiday that falls on a weekend is simply lost.
States add up to 5 more, e.g. Epiphany (BW, BY, ST), Corpus Christi (mostly Catholic states), Reformation Day (northern and eastern states), and All Saints' Day (BW, BY, NW, RP, SL). Bavaria has the most.
All Germany Holidays in 1940
| Date | Holiday | About |
|---|---|---|
| Mon, Jan 1 | New Year's DayNeujahr | First day of the year, following Silvester fireworks. |
| Fri, Mar 22 | Good FridayKarfreitag | A "silent day" — dancing and loud public events are restricted in most states. |
| Mon, Mar 25 | Easter MondayOstermontag | The Monday after Easter Sunday. |
| Wed, May 1 | Labour DayTag der Arbeit | International Workers' Day, with union rallies and May festivals. |
| Thu, May 2 | Ascension DayChristi Himmelfahrt | Always a Thursday, 39 days after Easter; also celebrated as Father's Day (Vatertag). |
| Mon, May 13 | Whit MondayPfingstmontag | The Monday after Pentecost, 50 days after Easter. |
| Thu, Oct 3 | German Unity DayTag der Deutschen Einheit | Marks reunification on 3 October 1990; the only holiday set by federal law. |
| Wed, Dec 25 | Christmas Day1. Weihnachtstag | Gifts are traditionally exchanged the evening before, on Heiligabend. |
| Thu, Dec 26 | Second Day of Christmas2. Weihnachtstag | St Stephen's Day, usually spent visiting family. |
Click a date to see it on the monthly calendar.
Long Weekends in 1940
- New Year's Day Dec 30 – Jan 1 · 3 days
- Good Friday & Easter Monday Mar 22 – Mar 25 · 4 days
- Labour Day & Ascension Day bridge day: take Fri, May 3 offMay 1 – May 5 · 5 days
- Whit Monday May 11 – May 13 · 3 days
- German Unity Day bridge day: take Fri, Oct 4 offOct 3 – Oct 6 · 4 days
- Christmas Day & Second Day of Christmas bridge day: take Fri, Dec 27 offDec 25 – Dec 29 · 5 days
With 3 vacation days on the bridge days above you get 14 days off in total.
Plan 1940 Around These Holidays
Add your vacation and bridge days to a calendar, then export it as a printable PDF. For the full year at a glance see the 1940 calendar.
Open Calendar Builder