Public Holidays in Germany
Complete list of official public holidays (Gesetzliche Feiertage) in Germany for , including national holidays and state-specific observances across all 16 federal states. Data sourced live from official government records.
Found … public holidays in Germany for .
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About Public Holidays in Germany
Germany's public holiday system (Gesetzliche Feiertage — "statutory holidays") is regulated at the state (Bundesland) level, not the federal level. This means that while there are 9 nationwide public holidays observed in every German state, each of the 16 Bundesländer adds its own additional holidays, giving some states up to 13 or 14 public holidays per year.
The 9 national public holidays observed across all 16 states include: New Year's Day (Neujahrstag), Good Friday (Karfreitag), Easter Monday (Ostermontag), Labour Day (Tag der Arbeit, May 1), Ascension Day (Christi Himmelfahrt), Whit Monday (Pfingstmontag), German Unity Day (Tag der Deutschen Einheit, October 3), Christmas Day (1. Weihnachtstag, December 25), and Second Day of Christmas (2. Weihnachtstag, December 26).
German Unity Day on October 3 is the most significant purely national holiday, commemorating the reunification of East and West Germany in 1990. It is the only public holiday established by federal law and observed uniformly in all states.
The most significant source of variation between states is religious heritage. Historically Catholic states such as Bavaria (Bayern), Baden-Württemberg, North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), Rhineland-Palatinate, and Saarland observe additional Catholic holidays including Corpus Christi (Fronleichnam), the Assumption of Mary (Mariä Himmelfahrt, August 15), and All Saints' Day (Allerheiligen, November 1). These are not observed in predominantly Protestant states like Berlin or Hamburg.
Conversely, Reformation Day (Reformationstag, October 31) is a public holiday in the historically Protestant states of Brandenburg, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Thuringia, Schleswig-Holstein, Hamburg, Lower Saxony, and Bremen. It was added to these states in 2018 to commemorate the 500th anniversary of Martin Luther's Reformation and retained as a permanent holiday. Bavaria and other Catholic states do not observe it.
Frequently Asked Questions — Germany Holidays
How many public holidays does Germany have?
Germany has 9 national public holidays observed in all 16 federal states. On top of these, each state adds between 1 and 5 additional state-specific holidays, meaning workers in Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg enjoy up to 13–14 public holidays per year, while workers in Berlin or Hamburg may have only 10. The exact number depends on which Bundesland you live and work in.
Is Good Friday a public holiday in Germany?
Yes, Good Friday (Karfreitag) is a public holiday in all 16 German federal states — it is one of the 9 universal national holidays. Good Friday is a strictly observed day in Germany, and many forms of entertainment (dancing, loud music) are legally restricted in public on this day in most states. It is one of the most solemn days in the German calendar.
Why does Bavaria have more holidays than Berlin?
Bavaria (Bayern) has more public holidays because it is a historically Catholic state and observes several Catholic religious holidays not recognized in predominantly Protestant or secular states like Berlin. Bavarian-specific holidays include Corpus Christi (Fronleichnam), the Assumption of Mary (August 15), and All Saints' Day (November 1). Bavaria typically has 13 public holidays per year, while Berlin has only 10.
When is German Unity Day?
German Unity Day (Tag der Deutschen Einheit) is always on October 3. It commemorates the official reunification of West Germany (Federal Republic of Germany) and East Germany (German Democratic Republic) on October 3, 1990. It is the only German public holiday established by federal law, making it the only holiday observed uniformly in all 16 states. It is Germany's national day, equivalent to Independence Day or Bastille Day in other countries.
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