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 2016
| Date | Holiday | About |
|---|---|---|
| Fri, Jan 1 | New Year's DayNeujahr | First day of the year, following Silvester fireworks. |
| Fri, Mar 25 | Good FridayKarfreitag | A "silent day" — dancing and loud public events are restricted in most states. |
| Mon, Mar 28 | Easter MondayOstermontag | The Monday after Easter Sunday. |
| Sun, May 1 | Labour DayTag der Arbeit | International Workers' Day, with union rallies and May festivals. |
| Thu, May 5 | Ascension DayChristi Himmelfahrt | Always a Thursday, 39 days after Easter; also celebrated as Father's Day (Vatertag). |
| Mon, May 16 | Whit MondayPfingstmontag | The Monday after Pentecost, 50 days after Easter. |
| Mon, Oct 3 | German Unity DayTag der Deutschen Einheit | Marks reunification on 3 October 1990; the only holiday set by federal law. |
| Sun, Dec 25 | Christmas Day1. Weihnachtstag | Gifts are traditionally exchanged the evening before, on Heiligabend. |
| Mon, 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 2016
- New Year's Day Jan 1 – Jan 3 · 3 days
- Good Friday & Easter Monday Mar 25 – Mar 28 · 4 days
- Ascension Day bridge day: take Fri, May 6 offMay 5 – May 8 · 4 days
- Whit Monday May 14 – May 16 · 3 days
- German Unity Day Oct 1 – Oct 3 · 3 days
- Christmas Day & Second Day of Christmas Dec 24 – Dec 26 · 3 days
With 1 vacation day on the bridge days above you get 4 days off in total.2 holidays fall on a weekend without a substitute day this year.
Plan 2016 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 2016 calendar.
Open Calendar Builder