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
Welcoming 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)
A 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
Easter Sunday +39 days: Christi Himmelfahrt / Ascension Day
Looking 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
Celebrating 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
Site 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
Martin 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
Typical 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!).
Watching German TV and listening to German language radio are great ways of boosting your German language skills: popular German internet TV and radio stations.
Improve your German by reading the online editions of these recommended daily and weekly German newspapers, published in Germany, Switzerland and Austria.
Popular German magazines, covering news and politics, sports, culture, IT etc. Take time to read & relax – a great way to boost your German language skills!
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?
Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. More details here.
Every medical translator needs a great German medical dictionary: your complete guide to the dictionary resources professional German translators actually use.
Hi there, I am of German nationality and have learned German as part of the curriculum in Germany. However, I have always worked in international companies.
A look at the main brands of translator software, or CAT tools, such as Trados or memoQ, available to freelance German translators, with key features and costs.
"Liebe Joanna, ich möchte dir ganz
herzlich für die vielen nützlichen Informationen danken. Es ist extrem
hilfreich. Vielen, vielen Dank!" Silke, Germany
"It's really great to see a website dedicated to the translation of only a single language. There are too many general websites around on the web." Roshni, India
"Thanks, your website is really helpful to read about advice on getting started as a German translator....very grateful!" Georgie, UK
"Ich bin auf deine Webseite gestoßen und finde die Seite super. Informativ, lebendiger Schreibstill. Danke für deine inspirierende Seite! Beste Grüße!" Feng, China