What are the public / bank holidays in Germany?

Germany celebrates a blend of national and state-specific holidays.


National Public Holidays:

  1. New Year's Day ('Neujahrstag') - January 1
  2. Good Friday ('Karfreitag') - Date varies (Friday before Easter Sunday)
  3. Easter Sunday ('Ostersonntag') - Date varies (usually in April)
  4. Easter Monday ('Ostermontag') - Date varies (the day after Easter Sunday)
  5. Labor Day ('Tag der Arbeit') - May 1
  6. Ascension Day ('Christi Himmelfahrt') - Date varies (40 days after Easter)
  7. Whit Monday ('Pfingstmontag') - Date varies (50 days after Easter)
  8. German Unity Day ('Tag der Deutschen Einheit') - October 3
  9. Christmas Day ('Erster Weihnachtstag') - December 25
  10. St. Stephen's Day ('Zweiter Weihnachtstag') - December 26


Regional public holidays (and the states they are observed In):

  1. All Saints' Day ('Allerheiligen') - November 1
    Observed in Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, and Saarland
  2. Reformation Day ('Reformationstag') - October 31 (annually, starting in 2021)
    Observed in Brandenburg, Bremen, Hamburg, Lower Saxony, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, and Schleswig-Holstein
  3. Corpus Christi ('Fronleichnam') - Date varies (60 days after Easter)
    Observed in Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Hesse, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, and Saarland
  4. Assumption Day ('Mariä Himmelfahrt') - August 15
    Observed in Saarland and parts of Bavaria
  5. Day of Prayer and Repentance ('Buß- und Bettag') - Date varies (the last Wednesday before November 23)
    Observed in Saxony
  6. International Women's Day ('Internationaler Frauentag') - March 8
    Observed in Berlin


To determine, which public holidays apply to you / your employee(s), you'll need to review the federal state (Bundesland) where your workplace (not your home) is located.


It's essential for both employers and employees to understand the terms and conditions related to public holidays, which should be outlined in employment contracts or collective agreements. 


We hope you found this article to be helpful. Please reach out to support@joinhorizons.com if you require further information about working hours in Germany.




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