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If not, your German English translation may need a bit of glossing to give some added information. For instance, the 1st November – Allerheiligen (All Saints Day) - here in Austria is quite an important event, involving laying wreaths on graves, whereas 31st October – Halloween – is rather a non-event in German-speaking countries.
I’ve included major events which are not official German holidays, such as Rosenmontag, but you’ll usually find offices closed or understaffed on these days!
| Date | Feiertag (Holiday) | English translation/equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| 1 January | Neujahrstag | New Year’s Day |
| 2 January | Bercholdstag | Saint Berchtold (Switzerland only) |
| 6 January | Heilige Drei Könige | (“Holy Three Kings”) Epiphany |
| 2 February | Maria Lichtmess | Candlemas (also Groundhog Day)Catholic) |
| 14 February | Valentinstag | Valentine’s Day |
| 1st Sunday in March | Tag der Kranken | Day of the Ill (only Switzerland) |
| (Feb.- March) | Rosenmontag | “Rose Monday” (start of the carnival season in Southern & Western Germany), costumed street parades, held on Collop Monday |
| (Feb.- March) | Veilchendienstag (“Violet Tuesday”) A quiet day after the excesses of Rosenmontag!) | Shrove Tuesday |
| (Feb.- March) 46 days before Easter | Ashermittwoch | Ash Wednesday (1st day of Lent) |
| Easter Sunday -2 days | Karfreitag | Good Friday |
| (March/April) | Ostersonntag | Easter Sunday |
| Easter Sunday +1 day | Ostermontag | Easter Monday |
| Easter Sunday +39 days | Christi Himmelfahrt | Ascension Day (Also Father’s Day in Germany) |
| 1 May | Tag der Arbeit | Labor Day |
| Easter Sunday +50 days | Pfingsten | Whitsun |
| Easter Sunday +60 days | Fronleichnam | Corpus Christi/td> |
| 2nd Sunday in May | Mutter Tag | Mothering Sunday (2nd Sunday in May, Germany, Austria & Switzerland) |
| 1st Sunday in June | Vatertag | Father’s Day (Switzerland) |
| 2nd Sunday in June | Vatertag | Father’s Day (Austria) |
| 1 August | Schweizer Nationaltag | Swiss National Holiday |
| 15 August | Mariä Himmelfahrt | Assumption Day |
| 15 August | Nationalfeiertag (Deutschland) | Germany’s National Holiday |
| 3rd Sunday in September | Eidgenössicher Dank-, Buß- und Bettag | Federal Day of Thanksgiving, Repentance & Prayer (Switzerland) |
| 3 October | Tag der Deutschen Einheit | Day of German Unity (commemorates German reunification in 1990) |
| 31 October | Reformationstag | Reformation Day (Protestant holiday, commemorates Martin Luther |
| 1 November | Allerheiligen | All Saints Day |
| 2 November | Allerseelen | All Soul’s Day Similar to the Day of the Dead, (Catholic) |
| November | Buß- und Bettag | Day of Repentance and Prayer (Protestant Germany) |
| 11 November | Karneval – Germany, Fasching - Austria | Carnival season starts at 11 minutes past the 11th hour on 11.11) |
| 26 October | Nationalfeiertag (Austria) | Austrian National Holiday |
| 8 December | Maria Empfangnis | Feast of the Immaculate Conception |
| 25 December | Christtag | Christmas Day |
| 26 December | Stephanitag | Boxing Day |
You’ll notice a difference between the German holidays in Catholic regions (Austria, Southern Germany – Bavaria,) and more predominantly Protestant regions (Northern Germany, Switzerland).
You should also be aware that holidays such as Father’s Day and Mother’s Day are on dates different to those in the UK and US – so don’t mix up your dates in your German English translation (or forget to call your parents on the relevant day if you're abroad!).
Other articles in this German language series include:
Guide to pronouncing the German alphabet
The German umlaut – an explanation and keyboard commands
German currency – the Euro!
Common German abbreviations, their meanings and translations
The world of German SMS language – from A to L
The world of German SMS abbreviations – from M to Z
German loan words – so familiar we forget they’re German!
Return from German holidays to German language
Return from German holidays to Home