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 2042
| Date | Holiday | About |
|---|---|---|
| Wed, Jan 1 | New Year's DayNeujahr | First day of the year, following Silvester fireworks. |
| Fri, Apr 4 | Good FridayKarfreitag | A "silent day" — dancing and loud public events are restricted in most states. |
| Mon, Apr 7 | Easter MondayOstermontag | The Monday after Easter Sunday. |
| Thu, May 1 | Labour DayTag der Arbeit | International Workers' Day, with union rallies and May festivals. |
| Thu, May 15 | Ascension DayChristi Himmelfahrt | Always a Thursday, 39 days after Easter; also celebrated as Father's Day (Vatertag). |
| Mon, May 26 | Whit MondayPfingstmontag | The Monday after Pentecost, 50 days after Easter. |
| Fri, Oct 3 | German Unity DayTag der Deutschen Einheit | Marks reunification on 3 October 1990; the only holiday set by federal law. |
| Thu, Dec 25 | Christmas Day1. Weihnachtstag | Gifts are traditionally exchanged the evening before, on Heiligabend. |
| Fri, 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 2042
- Good Friday & Easter Monday Apr 4 – Apr 7 · 4 days
- Labour Day bridge day: take Fri, May 2 offMay 1 – May 4 · 4 days
- Ascension Day bridge day: take Fri, May 16 offMay 15 – May 18 · 4 days
- Whit Monday May 24 – May 26 · 3 days
- German Unity Day Oct 3 – Oct 5 · 3 days
- Christmas Day & Second Day of Christmas Dec 25 – Dec 28 · 4 days
With 2 vacation days on the bridge days above you get 8 days off in total.
Plan 2042 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 2042 calendar.
Open Calendar Builder