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German Holidays

Your guide to national celebrations & holidays in Germany, Austria, & Switzerland

If your German translation mentions German holidays, then you may well need to know if these are holidays your audience will recognise, and if they are celebrated in the English-speaking region your audience comes from.

If not, your German English translation may need a bit of glossing to give some added information. For instance, here in Austria the 1st November – Allerheiligen (All Saints Day) –  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 be prepared to find offices closed or understaffed on these days!

German holidays in January to March

german holidays new year's eve fireworksWelcoming in the New Year with fireworks
  • January 1:   Neujahrstag / New Year's Day
  • January 2:  Bercholdstag / Saint Berchold (only in Switzerland)
  • January 6:  Heilige Drei Könige ("Holy Three Kings") / Epiphany. This marks the end of the Christmas season, and here in Austria the day on which the Sternsinger go from house to house, dressed as the three Magi - Caspar, Melchior and Balthazar - singing carols, collecting for a Catholic charity, and blessing your house.
  • February 2:  Maria Lichtmess / Candlemas  (also Groundhog Day)
  • February 14:  Valentinstag / Valentine's Day
  • 1st Sunday in March:  Tag der Kranken ("Day of the ill") (only Switzerland)
German holidays, RosenmontagA Rosenmontag parade
  • Feb/March:   Rosenmontag ("Rose Monday") - Shrove Monday, followed by Fastnacht (Shrove Tuesday), and then Aschermittwoch (Ash Wednesday). This marks the start of carnival season in Southern & Western Germany, costumed street parades, held on Collop Monday
  • Ostern / Easter: Karfreitag /Good Friday, Ostersonntag /Easter Sunday, Ostermontag / Easter Monday, 
  • Easter Sunday +39 days: Christi Himmelfahrt / Ascension Day
German holidays, an Easter egg huntLooking for eggs at Easter, a charming German tradition

German holidays in April to June

  • May 1:   Tag der Arbeit / Labor Day
  • 2nd Sunday in May:   Muttertag / Mother's Day (not the same as the UK which is in March!)
  • Easter Sunday +50 days: Pfingsten / Whitsun
  • Easter Sunday +60 days:   Fronleichnam / Corpus Christi
  • 2nd Sunday in June:  Vatertag / Father's Day (1st Sunday in Switzerland)

German holidays in July to September

german holidaysCelebrating Switzerland on August 1
  • August 1: Schweizer Nationaltag / Swiss National Holiday
  • August 15:  Maria Himmelfahrt / Assumption Day
  • August 15: Nationalfeiertag / Germany's National Holiday
  • 3rd Sunday in September: Eidgenössischer Dank-, Buß- und Bettag / Federal Day of Thanksgiving, Repentence & Prayer (Switzerland)

German Holidays in October to December

german holidays, Tag der Deutschen EinheitSite of the Berlin Wall which fell in 1989, commemorated on the Tag der Deutschen Einheit
  • October 3:  Tag der Deutschen Einheit / Day of German Unity (commemorates German reunification in 1990)
  • October 6: Erntedankfest / Harvest festival
  • October 26: Nationalfeiertag / Austrian National Holiday
german holidays, ReformationstagMartin Luther, a key figure in the Protestant Reformation
  • October 31: Reformationstag / Reformation Day (Protestant holiday commemorating Martin Luther)
  • November 1:  Allerheiligen / All Saints Day
  • November 2:  Allerseelen / All Souls Day

  • November 11: Karneval (Germany), Fasching (Austria) / start of the carnival season at 11 minutes past the 11th hour on 11th day of the 11th month

  • December 6:  Nikolaus / St Nicholas
  • December 8: Maria Empfängnis / Feast of the Immaculate Conception
german holidays, AdventTypical Advent wreath marking the 4 Sundays before Christmas
  • December 24: Heiligabend / Christmas Eve
  • December 25: Christtag / Christmas Day
  • December 26:  Stephanitag / Boxing Day
  • December 31:  Silvester / New Year's Eve

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!).

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Joanna Scudamore-Trezek

I'm a German to English translator living and working in Vienna,  Austria.  I turn German texts into clear and accessible English, allowing clients to present their stories, ideas and information to a completely new audience. My business and marketing clients rely on me to get their message across clearly and effectively.  How can I help you today?