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 2012
| Date | Holiday | About |
|---|---|---|
| Sun, Jan 1 | New Year's DayNeujahr | First day of the year, following Silvester fireworks. |
| Fri, Apr 6 | Good FridayKarfreitag | A "silent day" — dancing and loud public events are restricted in most states. |
| Mon, Apr 9 | Easter MondayOstermontag | The Monday after Easter Sunday. |
| Tue, May 1 | Labour DayTag der Arbeit | International Workers' Day, with union rallies and May festivals. |
| Thu, May 17 | Ascension DayChristi Himmelfahrt | Always a Thursday, 39 days after Easter; also celebrated as Father's Day (Vatertag). |
| Mon, May 28 | Whit MondayPfingstmontag | The Monday after Pentecost, 50 days after Easter. |
| Wed, Oct 3 | German Unity DayTag der Deutschen Einheit | Marks reunification on 3 October 1990; the only holiday set by federal law. |
| Tue, Dec 25 | Christmas Day1. Weihnachtstag | Gifts are traditionally exchanged the evening before, on Heiligabend. |
| Wed, 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 2012
- Good Friday & Easter Monday Apr 6 – Apr 9 · 4 days
- Labour Day bridge day: take Mon, Apr 30 offApr 28 – May 1 · 4 days
- Ascension Day bridge day: take Fri, May 18 offMay 17 – May 20 · 4 days
- Whit Monday May 26 – May 28 · 3 days
- Christmas Day & Second Day of Christmas bridge day: take Mon, Dec 24 offDec 22 – Dec 26 · 5 days
With 3 vacation days on the bridge days above you get 13 days off in total.1 holiday falls on a weekend without a substitute day this year.
Plan 2012 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 2012 calendar.
Open Calendar Builder