Germany is a country of stability and strict order. The country, which experienced collapse and devastation, was at one time divided into parts, but survived everything with pride and is now practically an exemplary state in terms of economy, infrastructure and politics. Today, many countries look up to Germany and take their example from it.
Germany is a country located in Central Europe. It borders on many European countries (Denmark, Poland, Czech Republic, Austria, Luxembourg, France, Belgium and the Netherlands) and has access to two seas - the Baltic and the North. This country has a large number of rivers and lakes, as well as mountainous terrain, which makes it possible to call it one of the most environmentally friendly countries. The Bavarian Alps alone are worth a lot of attention from people who strive for clean mountain air and nature untouched by man.
The political system allows Germans to be proud of their country. Over the past 60 years, the government has built the entire state system well, which has made it possible to survive the economic crises that swept through Europe in the early 90s of the 20th century and at the beginning of the 21st century, unnoticed by the ordinary population.
As for the Germans themselves, they are a hardworking people. These are people who know that weekdays are meant for work, and holidays are for good rest. The Germans are a people who spend fun and interesting times not only on weekends, but also on holidays, of which there are not many on their calendar. A holiday for a German does not necessarily have to take place in the home circle. They love street noise, beer, dancing and fun. Many tourists, when attending a German holiday, may come to the conclusion that these Germans are not that strict and hardworking. But few tourists know that Germans love to relax and know that there are holidays for this. If you celebrate a holiday, then do it with pleasure and fun.
If you compare German and Russian holidays, you can find quite a lot of differences. At the beginning of the year, we are used to counting how many days off there will be, and we are especially happy when a holiday falls on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday or Sunday. In this case, you can wait for additional days off. In addition, if you look at the Russian calendar, you can see that every day is some kind of holiday - professional or church.
In Germany it's completely the opposite. Weekends are not added, days are not moved, and the number of holidays is not that many. For example, if Christmas falls on a Sunday, then most likely the Germans will have to go to work the next day. In addition, due to the fragmentation of the territory and their subsequent reunification, each federal district formed its own holidays, especially in religious and historical terms.
All holidays in Germany can be divided into three categories - state, religious and folk. Public holidays apply throughout the country. For example, such holidays include May 1 - Labor Day. In principle, everything is clear with these holidays. But with religious holidays everything is much more complicated. There are quite a lot of people of different faiths living in the country, but there are two main and large movements - Catholicism and Lutheranism. Depending on which religion predominates in the federal land, those holidays are celebrated. For example, All Saints' Day is celebrated by Catholics, and Reformation Day by Lutherans. There are holidays that are celebrated only in a certain city. For example, Peace Day is celebrated in the city of Augsburg in Bavaria. Church holidays, as in Russia, can have a fixed or floating date. The floating date is calculated according to the church calendar. Folk holidays include carnivals, festivals, etc. These are holidays that take place only on weekends, and their celebration is accompanied by folk festivities. For example, folk holidays include Oktoberfest, the Fifth Season or the completely new holiday of the Love Parade.
In Germany, the year begins with the celebration of the New Year, which is celebrated, as throughout the world, on the night of December 31 to January 1. January 6 marks the Catholic Epiphany, which is of great significance for the Christian residents of Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg and Saxony-Anhalt. For Catholics this day is also a holiday. They mark "". January is famous for another holiday, or rather a memorable date. On January 27, 1945, prisoners of the Auschwitz concentration camp were liberated. Therefore, this day is Holocaust Remembrance Day.
In February, Germany plunges into the world of festivals and carnivals. It all starts with the world-famous Berlinale Film Festival. The film festival takes place every year in Berlin and has a floating opening date, that is, the management independently determines the opening date of the Berlinale. Another famous folk festival takes place in Bremen. It is accompanied by music, dancing and colorful performances dedicated to the famous Brazilian dance - samba. The festival is called "Bremer Karneval" - samba carnival. Catholics in Germany hold the Fastnacht or Fasching carnival in February. Large-scale celebrations take place in Munich and Cologne. At the same time, they begin to prepare for the carnival in November.
March is known for only one unique German holiday - the Leipzig Book Fair. This is the largest book fair in the world after Frankfurt.
April begins with the most fun and famous holiday in the whole world - April Fool's Day or April Fool's Day. It is celebrated on April 1st. In the month of April, a number of great church holidays are celebrated, which have a floating date. Such holidays include Catholic Good Friday, Maundy Thursday and. These holidays are found in both the Catholic and Christian church calendars. Their dates do not coincide, but mostly fall in April and early May. These days are accompanied by Easter fairs, and on Easter Monday the Germans visit relatives and friends, presenting them with gifts symbolizing Easter.
The Germans celebrate Labor Day, which is accompanied by fun, dancing, singing and meeting with friends. In May it is celebrated, which falls on the second Sunday of the month. May is also known for such holidays as (May 10), the oldest jazz festival Dixieland in Dresden (floating date), Father's Day (floating date), the Jazz Rally music festival in Dusseldorf (floating date), and the festival of gothic music and culture in Leipzig ( date is floating).
The major church holidays of the Ascension of Christ and the Day of the Holy Spirit fall on different days. They can be celebrated both in May and June. The Ascension of Christ takes place on the 40th day after Easter, and 9 days after it the Day of the Holy Spirit is celebrated.
June begins with the Hamburg Short Film Festival, which lasts a week. The Feast of the Body and Blood of Christ is celebrated on the second Thursday after the Day of the Holy Spirit. It often falls on June days. Despite the fact that this is a public holiday, only a few states declare it a day off.
In June and July, international festivals are held in Germany, which do not have a fixed date. Such festivals include: the Bach Music Festival in Leipzig, dedicated to the great German composer Johann Sebastian Bach; Opera Festival in Munich; folk festival "Opernplatzfest" in Frankfurt am Main; The Cologne Lights festival is a fireworks festival held in the city of Rhine.
On June 24, Germans celebrate a church holiday - the Nativity of John the Baptist. St. John's Day. A special feature of the holiday is the burning of a fire and everything connected with this process.
In August, all holidays are associated with a specific federal state. For example, August 8 is a public holiday, but only for one city. In Bavaria, the city of Augsburg celebrates City Day or Peace Day.
August 15 marks the Assumption of Mary, which is declared a public holiday only in some communities in Bavaria and in the federal state of Saarland.
In August, Frankfurt am Main celebrates a significant and major European cultural holiday - the Museum Embankment Festival.
September is famous for the beer festival - Oktoberfest. In the second half of September, Munich becomes a big beer bar where you can meet people from different parts of the world. The beer festival lasts 16 days.
October starts from (October 3). This day has great historical significance for all Germans because in 1990 West and East Germany were reunified.
On the first Sunday in October, Catholic Germany celebrates the holiday of thanksgiving or in honor of the end of the harvest of agricultural products. On the third Sunday in October, Germany continues to honor agricultural producers at the Kirmes in Germany festival. The festival is accompanied by fairs and folk festivities in honor of the harvest. Another festival takes place in Bremen called “Free Market”. It lasts 17 days, and the date of the celebration is determined by the organizers of the celebration.
On the night of October 31 to November 1, the most mystical holiday is celebrated - Halloween. All Saints' Day is celebrated on November 1st.
In October, a major Lutheran holiday is celebrated - Reformation Day. It is celebrated in Thuringia, Brandenburg, Meckelburg-Vorpommern, Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt.
The month of November is famous in Germany for the following holidays: Fateful Day (November 9), a special day in German history associated with the abdication of Wilhelm II from the throne and the suppression of the “Beer Hall Putsch” in Munich; St. Martin's Day (November 11) is a favorite holiday for children; Day of National Sorrow (floating date); The Day of Repentance and Prayer (floating date) is celebrated by Protestants; All Souls' Day (floating date).
The month of November is accompanied by gray and rainy weather. Therefore, many holidays in Germany are not of an entertaining nature, but are increasingly associated with saints, martyrs and the dead.
December is the last month of the year, which is accompanied by holidays associated with Christmas. On December 6, Catholics celebrate St. Nicholas Day and begin to prepare for Christmas. December 24 - , and December 25 - . December 26th is St. Stephen's Day or Second Day of Christmas. December 27 is the Day of Remembrance of the Holy Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian.
It is worth noting that in Germany, on holidays, which are officially recognized as days off, shops, government institutions (schools, kindergartens, municipalities, etc.) and services are closed. Gas stations and shops attached to them, as well as pharmacies on duty, remain open, as well as emergency services, rescue services and doctors on duty in hospitals. On Christmas and New Year's Eve, everyone works until lunch, incl. the shops. Although many office employees will have a day off.
There are people in Germany who know that holidays are meant to be fun. They know how to properly celebrate this or that holiday, regardless of what day it falls on (a weekend or a weekday). Having visited this country, you begin to understand how to celebrate holidays.
This note lists German holidays in German with translation - both religious and state. And also some of the holidays of the Russian Federation - so that you know their translation if necessary. I will also share a selection of useful stencil phrases with which you can describe any of the holidays.
Religious German holidays in German
Holidays for all of Germany are marked in orange. Other holidays are either weekends in some states or are considered regular working days.
Rosenmontag– Monday of Roses, or the Great German Carnival
Palmsonntag– Palm Sunday (last Sunday before Easter)
Karfreitag– Good Friday, Friday before Easter
Ostern- Easter
Ostersonntag– Sunday of Easter week (the first Day of Easter)
Ostermonntag– Monday of Easter week (second Day of Easter)
Christi Himmelfahrt– Ascension of Christ, 40 Day after Easter
Pfingsten– Trinity, 50 days after Easter
Frontleichnam– Feast of Corpus Christi, second Thursday after Trinity
Reformationstag- the holiday of the Reformation, October 31 is celebrated by the Evangelical Church in memory of the announcement of his theses by M. Luther on October 31, 1517
Buß- und Bettag– Day of repentance and prayer (Wednesday before the last Sunday of the church year)
Heiliger Abend– Christmas Eve
Weihnachten– Nativity of Christ (December 25 and 26, one of the most important Christian holidays in honor of the birth of Christ)
Other holidays in German
German state:
Vatertag– Father’s Day always coincides with Christi Himmelfahrt.
Muttertag– Mother's Day, second Sunday in May
Familiar holidays for us that do not exist in Germany:
Let's make a story about any holiday?
And now I give you templates with which you can tell about German holidays in German, or about some other holiday in any country.
We describe the holiday based on the following five points:
1 .Instead of dots, you can insert the name of the holiday to get a complete thought.
…ist das wichtigste Fest in Deutschland.– ... is the most important holiday in Germany.
Bei uns ist...sehr wichtig.– This holiday is very important for us.
…gibt es bei uns gar nicht.– We don’t have this holiday.
… wird bei uns nicht gefeiert.- ... they can’t cope with us.
Wir feiern... immer ganz groß. – We celebrate... on a grand scale.
2. You can tell about the traditions of the holiday being described using the following sentences. Here, instead of dots, you need to list what you usually do for this holiday.
Bei uns ist es Brauch/Tradition, an diesem Tag … zu machen. – We have a tradition on this day to do...
In meiner Heimat gehen an diesem Tag alle in/nach…- In my homeland on this day everyone goes to...
In meiner Familie gibt es einen großen besonderen Brauch:... - There is one special tradition in my family ...
Als ich klein war, haben meine Eltern an diesen Tag immer…- When I was little, my parents on this day all the time...
Ein spezieller Brauch, von dem ich euch erzählen möchte, ist…- One special tradition that I wanted to tell you about is...
Das ist bei uns nicht so üblich.– This is not so common for us.
In meinem Heimatland wird dieses Fest ganz anderes gefeiert:... – In our homeland, this holiday is celebrated in a completely different way.
3. Next, you can talk about what dishes are popular on this day. Instead of dots, accordingly, you need to substitute the name of the dish.
Zu Essen gibt es an... immer ganz spezielle Dinge:... - From food for the holiday ... special dishes are prepared: ...
Normalerweise gibt es an (name of holiday) immer... - Usually on (this holiday) always ...
Eine Spezialität in meiner Heimat ist…– A special delicacy in my homeland is...
Das traditionelle Gericht an diesem Tag ist…– The traditional dish on this day is...
In meiner Familie gibt es an diesem Tag immer…– In my family on this day they always cook...
Was es an diesem Tag zu essen gibt, ist von Familie zu Familie sehr unterschiedlich.– The dishes served on this day vary greatly from family to family.
4. Personal attitude to this holiday. Everything is simple here again. Just like in the first paragraph, you only need to insert the name of the holiday.
Ich mag... am liebsten.- Most of all I love.
Auf diesen Tag freue ich mich immer sehr.– I am always very happy about this day.
Für mich persönlich ist … das wichtigste Fest im Jahr.– For me... is the most important holiday of the year.
Ich mag...eigentlich lieber. - I love more …
… hat eine sehr große Bedeutung für mich.– ... is very important to me.
Mir ist das Fest nicht so wichtig.– For me this holiday is not so important.
Wir feiern das Fest nicht.– We do not celebrate this holiday.
In meiner Familie wird das Fest eigentlich nicht gefeiert.– In my family, this holiday, strictly speaking, is not celebrated.
5. Now the described holiday can be compared with how it is celebrated in another country/in your homeland.
… wird in Deutschland genauso gefeiert wie in Russland.– ... copes in Germany the same way as in Russia.
… feiert man bei uns ganz anders als hier. – ... we celebrate it completely differently than here.
Eigentlich feiert man...bei uns zu Hause ziemlich ähnlich.– As a matter of fact, we celebrate... quite similar.
In Gegensatz zu Deutschland ist … bei uns viel wichtiger. – In contrast to Germany... it is much more important for us.
Ich mag … hier genauso gern wie bei uns, auch wenn es ganz anderes ist. – I love... here just like in my homeland, and this despite the fact that here it is celebrated completely differently.
Ich finde diese Unterschiede sehr interessant. – I find these differences very interesting.
Es ist irgendwie schön, dass … hier ganz andres gefeiert wird.“It’s still wonderful that... it’s celebrated differently here.”
That's all about holidays in German. And you should definitely read the following articles about German holidays.
Contrary to popular ideas that the Germans are a dry people and do not really know how to have fun or celebrate, the inhabitants of Germany are the champions of Europe in the number of weekends and holidays. In some federal states there are up to one and a half dozen holiday weekends.
Holidays (state and religious), such as German Unity Day, Christmas, New Year, Easter, May 1st, are celebrated by the whole country, others (for example, the Catholic Assumption of Mary or Protestant Reformation Day) are celebrated only by certain federal states, while others celebrate in general, only some cities and regions, such as the Rhine Carnival, Bavarian Fasching, rural harvest festivals... And there are also, so to speak, informal holidays that are not days off: Oktoberfest, Valentine's Day, Halloween. Let's also not forget about housewarmings, anniversaries, weddings, the birth of a child, baptism, first communion... In general, the Germans love to have fun and celebrate. There would be a reason. From the many German holidays, we have chosen ten different ones.
Witches' Sabbath and May Day
The night from April 30 to May 1 has been celebrated in Germany since time immemorial. On Walpurgis Night, witches (or those who, so to speak, took on their appearance) gathered for the annual Sabbath; more respectable people honored the intercessor of sailors and peasant women, Saint Walpurgis. Today, German youth celebrate all night, “dancing in May,” as it is called, and guys place a “maypole” - a birch tree decorated with multi-colored ribbons - under the windows of the girls they are in love with.
And the next day, on May Day, trade unions and various parties (usually left-wing) organize traditional demonstrations and rallies - unfortunately, not always peaceful. May 1st in Germany is an official Labor Day and a day off.
German Unity Day
On the night of October 3, 1990, Germany celebrated the reunification of the country. Since then, German Unity Day has been the country's main national holiday. Festivals, open-air concerts, fairs and folk festivals are traditionally included in the program of festive events of this unforgettable event in modern German history.
Valentine's Day
The New Year has barely passed, followed by the Day of the Three Holy Kings, who brought gifts to the newborn Jesus (in Russia they are usually called Magi), when February 14 - Valentine's Day - is already approaching. It has been celebrated in Germany relatively recently, since the early 1950s. And for the first time it became a holiday for lovers about 500 years ago in England and Scotland.
Valentine's Day is very popular in Germany. Germans give millions of red roses and chocolate hearts to their wives, lovers, and girlfriends. Opponents of this holiday (there are some) say that this is not a holiday at all, but a product of commercialization and clever marketing. Maybe. But the joy from the “Valentine” that ended up in the mailbox on February 14 is no less.
Carnival
During the times of Ancient Rome, after February 14, Lupercalia began - festivals in honor of the god Faun. It is very possible that this is where today's carnival has its roots. Mummers literally occupy the cities of the Rhineland, where the carnival takes place especially magnificently. Up to a million tourists come to Cologne for the main procession of jesters and buffoons on the so-called “Mad Monday”. Carnival is called here the fifth season of the year.
It is a great honor to take part in the main carnival procession and in the jester’s “gatherings.” The costumes, as well as the candies and bouquets of flowers that are scattered by the participants in the processions, cost a lot of money, and the mummers pay it, of course, out of their own pockets. Which refutes another stereotype - about the stinginess of the Germans.
In the southern regions of Germany, a holiday similar to the Rhineland carnival is celebrated more traditionally: mummers wear scary-looking masks and chase onlookers with brooms.
Easter
The formulations “Catholic Christmas” and “Catholic Easter” adopted in Russia are inaccurate. In fact, not only Catholics, but also believers of the Evangelical Church, and many Orthodox Christians celebrate Easter according to the Gregorian calendar. Western (not only German) feature: colored Easter eggs and sweets are brought to children by... the Easter Bunny. The windows of a variety of German stores are decorated with figurines of chocolate bunnies on this holiday: tens, if not hundreds, of thousands of them are eaten in Germany.
Days of Women and Mothers
March 8th is also celebrated in Germany. Moreover: it was the German Clara Zetkin who initiated the celebration of International Women's Day. True, in Germany this is a normal working day. But here they honor not only women “in general”, but also - separately - mothers. The second Sunday after Easter is the official Mother's Day. In kindergartens and primary schools they make, draw, sculpt for this day: it is customary for mothers to give something made with their own hands.
Exorcism and All Saints' Day
Until relatively recently, few people knew about the Halloween holiday, which takes place on October 31 in Germany, and almost no one celebrated it. But this once pagan tradition, having returned to Europe from overseas, took root and even bore fruitful fruit. Pumpkin heads with candles inside, costume parties and children's parties are growing in popularity. And having driven out the spirits of darkness, on November 1, the Germans (primarily Catholics) celebrate All Saints' Day. On this and the following day, discos are closed in the Catholic lands of Germany, and loud music is prohibited. This is a so-called “quiet holiday” - just like, for example, Good Friday.
See also:
January 21: Sweatpants Day
Let's be honest: isn't there a more important problem in the world than inventing, much less celebrating, days like Sweatpants Day? Although the idea of four guys from Graz is not so bad: on a certain day, to pay tribute to the feeling of coziness with which we wear the most ordinary sweatpants. Be that as it may, 47 thousand people on Facebook follow their call.
12 unusual reasons to celebrate
March 29: "Earth Hour" without artificial lighting
When the lights go out for an hour around the world on the last Saturday of March, Earth Hour begins. With this, the largest wildlife protection organization of its kind, WWF, seeks to draw attention to the problem of climate change. In Germany, several cities are already taking part in this action, turning off the lighting of some famous buildings, such as Cologne Cathedral.
12 unusual reasons to celebrate
April 2: International Children's Book Day
The stories of Pippi Longstocking and the fairy tales of the Brothers Grimm are among the most beloved children's books around the world. Surely they are also read to children in schools and libraries on International Children’s Book Day. In addition, on this day seminars and competitions for the best essay are held, and famous authors read excerpts from their works to children.
12 unusual reasons to celebrate
May 6: International No Diet Day
International No Diet Day dates back to the initiative of Englishwoman Mary Evans Young. She founded the Diet Breakers campaign to fight against excessive thinness in society. Due to problems with excess weight, Mary Evans Young herself developed anorexia, which she was later able to cure. This day also talks about another important topic: discrimination against people suffering from obesity.
12 unusual reasons to celebrate
June 15: Car Free Day
In 1981, representatives of church organizations in the former GDR initiated the “Mobility without Cars” campaign, giving up their cars for the duration of the campaign. They wanted to show that people should move around without harming the environment. This tradition from the GDR was then combined with the West German tradition of "car-free Sundays". In Europe, Car Free Day is celebrated on September 22.
12 unusual reasons to celebrate
July 30: International Friendship Day
This day was established by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon. "Let us maintain friendship. This strengthens our sense of solidarity and promotes the beneficial idea of one big family," he urged. On Friendship Day, we must pay tribute not only to strengthening ties between individuals, but also to friendly relations in the political and cultural fields.
12 unusual reasons to celebrate
August 1: International Beer Day
There are approximately 12 thousand types of beer in the world, about 5 thousand of them are made in Germany. On International Beer Day, beer lovers come together to have fun, celebrate breweries and learn something new about beer and life in other regions and countries.
12 unusual reasons to celebrate
September 19: International Copycat Pirate Day
The idea of holding International Talk Like A Pirate Day was proposed by two Americans, and curious journalists spread it around the world. The only purpose of this comic holiday is to give joy to people. In Germany, it is celebrated at “pirate” parties by dressing in appropriate costumes and imitating the conversation of sea robbers.
12 unusual reasons to celebrate
October 5: World Bubble Day
And on this day everything is subordinated to one goal - to enjoy life. The idea of celebrating World Bubble Day was proposed on Facebook with the goal of making the world more colorful. The photo shows huge soap bubbles that were blown on World Bubble Day in Gdansk. This holiday is celebrated in many other European cities.
12 unusual reasons to celebrate
November 19: World Toilet Day
Almost 2.5 billion people in the world do not have adequate toilets. World Toilet Day was established in 2001 to highlight the importance of toilets for hygiene and health. Not everyone understands this relationship. Many people are simply attracted by the name of this unusual holiday, and, without thinking about its meaning, they publish funny photos of restrooms on the Internet.
12 unusual reasons to celebrate
December 11: World Mountain Day
Approximately a quarter of the Earth's surface is covered with mountainous landscapes. They are currently under threat due to global warming and tourism. The UN established World Mountain Day in 2002 to draw people's attention to the characteristics and problems of mountain regions.
All German holidays with exact dates and translation into German are already listed on the blog - you can find them here. They are all there: from the January holiday of the Three Magi to the December Sylvester! German holidays are divided into two categories: religious and state. There are, of course, more of the first.
Holidays in Germany: winter
The most important holiday in Germany is Christmas. This is a quiet, family-friendly and very cozy holiday for the Germans. But before the very culmination of this holiday - before Christmas Eve, there is the time of Advent. It is during this period that a festive atmosphere emanates from the streets: you can take a walk, choose new holiday decorations for your home, drink hot mulled wine, and at home, be sure to start cooking for the holiday: baking Christmas cookies, rolls and gingerbread.
Therefore, we can say with confidence that Christmas begins at the end of November - from the first Advent when the Germans light the first candle on the Advent wreath (more about Advent –). The whole December passes in a festive mood. From the first of December, children (and not only) open the windows of their advent calendars, and on the night from the fifth to the sixth they put out their boots - in anticipation of a gift from grandfather Nikolaus. Christmas Eve is the culmination of all the action, all the December excitement around holiday decorations and gifts.
I’m so tired of all this hustle and bustle, from shopping, from sweets, from attending pre-Christmas events, that I’m crawling to my beloved New Year with my last breath... And I want January 1st to come quickly, or better yet, January 2nd!
New Year in Germany is, of course, a much noisier holiday. People throw parties, set off fireworks - which, by the way, can only be used in the week before New Year's. The German New Year's table is not bursting with treats. The main thing is to stock up on champagne and other alcohol, and prepare a small snack for it, but definitely not kilograms of salads of all stripes))
Having survived all these holidays - and taking a deep breath - you begin to live an ordinary life. Get rid of all food supplies. For New Year and Christmas, you need to stock up on a lot of food - for reasons - “what if there isn’t enough, and the shops will be closed...”
And then one day, waking up on a January morning, you decide to make soup from the chicken that you need to buy... You go to the store, but it turns out that they are closed, because January 6 is already in the yard, and this day of the three wise men who brought gifts to Jesus and another day off in Germany. Because you need to look at the calendar more often. I’m not making this up... We often planned to go somewhere and buy something, go to the hairdresser - and so on, and ended up on this very day.
Orthodox Christmas falls on the Feast of the Three Volkhovs: in Germany, like all religious holidays, it is quiet and homely. Many people don’t even notice it: just another day off.
The next winter holiday - which is not celebrated by all of Germany, and does not take place in the north - is carnival. I have already talked about it in detail and will not repeat it in this article - be sure to read
After the carnival week, it is time for fasting. This means a break from the holidays. And this holiday lasts until Easter. Although before Easter, religious people still honor Palm Sunday.
Holidays in Germany: spring and summer
Spring and early summer are a whole set of religious holidays, one way or another related to Easter. See table:
Holidays that are days off throughout Germany are marked in red in the diagram. The rest may be holidays in certain regions, or not at all. January 24 and December 31 are still working days for some, and stores are open until two o’clock in the afternoon so that everyone has time to buy what they need.
Father's Day and Mother's Day are celebrated in May. Moreover, Father's Day is always a day off and it always coincides with the Ascension Day. What’s funny: Father’s Day is celebrated vigorously and noisily by young men who don’t have children yet))
And Mother’s Day falls on Sunday: what kind of holiday is this and you can read a little about the history of its appearance here
Summer is a time when there are very few official holidays. Because summer is already a holiday. The Germans generally do not sit at home if the weather is favorable. The parks are crowded, as are the forest paths, not to mention beer gardens and other interesting places.
There are also a lot of other unofficial holidays in the summer - city and village. Every July, a wine festival is held under our windows - although the region is not at all wine-producing or grape-growing. But for three days it’s so noisy and fun here: that after such parties you won’t dare say that the Germans are boring and don’t know how to celebrate holidays. Both old and young - they dance until late and have fun like it was the last time))) Some are even taken away by ambulances.
In addition, summer is vacation time - why not a holiday? The Germans plan this business long before the onset of warm weather and therefore wait impatiently.
Holidays in Germany: autumn
Among the autumn holidays, St. Martin's Day stands out, when children walk the streets with laterns and sing songs. Be sure to read more about him. What other holidays take place in the fall? Harvest Festival, All Saints' Day,
And Halloween also moved to Germany - although not everywhere: but nevertheless, many adopted it: and not only carve pumpkins, but also dress up as all kinds of evil spirits. Some famous places offer various spooky excursions.
There is also such a thing in Germany as Stadtfest - a street festival. At first I thought these were some kind of processions similar to a carnival. But no! This is just a fair that has come to the city center. With sausages, pancakes, beer, sweets and some entertainment for children. This is the city holiday: walk, eat and enjoy life!!!
With the same motto, Germans enjoy visiting medieval markets, knightly tournaments and other thematic fairs. You can find similar holidays in nearby villages and cities at least every week.
What about the various fountain festivals, sausage festivals, forest festivals, bridge festivals, mill festivals... and other regional parties? In general, you thought that the Germans were a boring people, but every day they had a holiday.
Any country has its own calendar of unique and interesting holidays that are not typical of other countries. Sometimes the names of the celebrations coincide, but the traditions and customs of their implementation do not coincide. Germany also has a lot of exciting and interesting events, which you should definitely know about if you want to visit the country. Each month has its own celebrations, the analogues of which cannot be found anywhere, for example:
- September is famous for such a celebration as Oktoberfest;
- In December, Christmas markets are held throughout the country;
- In February, a unique Carnival (Fasching) is held;
- The Berlin International Festival invites everyone in February;
- If you have plans to come to the country in June, then you should definitely visit Kiel Week.
Each of the noted events is unique and requires special attention, so it is worth considering them more carefully.
With the exception of ski resorts, this month there is a lull in tourism, and the country's residents are basically left to their own devices. During this period, when the days are cold and short, it is best to simply get acquainted with the sights, visit museums and churches.
Neuschwanstein Castle in winter, Bavaria, Germany (Photo above © pxhere.com / CC0 Public Domain License)
Mountain Madness (Berg Wahnsinn)
But, as noted, even in January there are a lot of people coming to the ski resorts, of which there are a lot. Those who prefer active recreation should definitely grab their skis and go on an exciting journey along the mountain slopes, ranging from luxurious options (Garmisch-Partenkirchen) to tranquil family-type resorts (Bavarian Forest). Regardless of the level of preparation, everyone will be able to find a route according to their abilities.
February
The German carnival, of course, cannot be compared with the celebration in Rio, but it is no less hot here. The ski resorts are simply crowded during this period, as there are school holidays around. Therefore, if you want to visit them, you should take care of booking accommodation in advance.
Filmfestival in Berlin
The event, which is held in February in Berlin, is considered one of the most prestigious film festivals in Europe. This is a unique two weeks for the country, during which the brightest and most successful representatives of cinema walk along the red carpet, from beginning stars to seasoned directors and film critics.
Carnival (Fasching)
The celebration of this event falls on the eve of Lent. People try to spend these days as much fun as possible, so throughout the country costumed performances and processions are organized right on the streets of cities and villages. The largest celebrations are held in Mainz, Rhine, Cologne and Düsseldorf. But to watch unique events with special traditions, it is better to go to the Black Forest or Munich.
March
Spring has arrived and the days are gradually getting longer and longer. The smell of spring is already in the air. Even the menus at coastal restaurants are showing a hint of spring, as fresh herring begins to appear and food prepared with wild garlic (Barlauch) becomes incredibly tasty and, naturally, popular.
Neighborhood of Brandenburg, Germany (Photo above © pxhere.com / CC0 Public Domain License) April
Celebrating Easter in Germany is a magical sacrament that cannot be avoided even by those who have not believed in Easter bunnies for a long time. Spring is already appearing in all its glory, because its real personification appears - the flowering of white asparagus. Residents go crazy for this plant.
Walpurgisnacht (Walpurgisnacht)
Special attention should be paid to the pagan celebration - the witches festival, which is held on April 30 in the villages of Harz. This is a real spring revival for this area, as both adults and young people dress up as witches and warlocks and take to the streets to sing and dance in the festive sacrament.
Walpurgisnacht in Germany (Photo above © pxhere.com / CC0 Public Domain License) Maifest
April 30 also marks the end of winter, which is celebrated on this day. An important tradition of this event is the cutting of the maypole (Maibaun). Then it is carefully painted, covered with carvings and various decorations. After this, the real party begins with baking, dancing and delicious treats.
May
The warmest and most welcoming month of spring, when in every courtyard and street cafe you can already hear the clinking of glasses and cheerful conversations. Beer houses are especially busy at this time. It is during this period that a huge number of holidays are celebrated in Germany, which for Germans become real mini-vacations, which naturally leads to a large number of traffic jams.
Dresden at night, Germany (Photo above © pxhere.com / CC0 Public Domain License) Carnival of Cultures
It is in May that a huge number of Berlin residents celebrate the cultural and ethnic diversity of parties and exotic foods. The holidays are celebrated with a lot of dancing, magnificently dressed dancers, DJs, and musicians with colorful performances. This whole public is constantly scurrying around the streets of the city, attracting everyone's attention.
Labor Day (Tag der Arbeit)
The Germans made Labor Day a national holiday in their country, which is celebrated almost throughout Germany. Many countries organize ceremonial marches in support of workers' rights. And in Berlin, recently, only a large street fair has begun to be held on this day.
Mother's Day (Muttertag)
On the second Sunday in May, mothers are celebrated throughout Germany. On the eve of this holiday, florists, greeting card companies and confectioners have very busy days, whose products are sold out in huge quantities. If you want to celebrate a holiday in some restaurant, then you should take care of booking a table in advance.
Festival "Wave-Gotik-Treffen"
This festival has rightfully received the title of the most massive Goth festival, which is held in Leipzig. During this period, which also celebrates Trinity/Pentecost, the city is painted in somber dark colors, as thousands of representatives of the Gothic movement gather here.
June
As summer approaches, the pace and frequency of festivals in Germany increases. During this period, gourmets can rejoice at the appearance of a large assortment of fresh products on the market. As the day of the solar equinox approaches, the intensity of holidays and celebrations increases in the northern part of the country.
Garden in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany (Photo above © pxhere.com / CC0 Public Domain License) Father's Day (Vatertag)
Many people call this holiday Father's Day, and most call it Men's Day (Mannertag) and is celebrated in the first month of summer. In fact, this day becomes a good excuse for men for their wives to have a good drink in the company of friends. The celebration of Men's Day always coincides with the Feast of the Ascension of the Lord.
African Festival (Afrikanische Festival)
Würzburg hosts the largest festival of African culture and music in terms of scale and significance (www.africafestival.org). It stands out for its unique concerts and fairs, which attract more than 100 thousand people.
Kiel Week (Kieler Woche)
Every year a huge number of tourists gather on the Baltic Sea coast, because at this time the city of Kiel hosts a unique sailing festival in the world, which is distinguished by the presence of hundreds of sailing ships, parades of various ships, historical ships, as well as great and unbridled fun.
Christopher Street Day
A unique festival where a huge number of homosexuals gather, even more than at other gay pride parades in Berlin, Hamburg and Cologne. But despite your sexual beliefs and orientation, it is still worth visiting such a festivities, because a huge number of interesting events are held here.
July
With the onset of summer, the hottest time for tourists and residents begins, as this is the period of vacations and trips, because schoolchildren are already on vacation. But it is worth remembering that at this time, regardless of the chosen vacation spot, you should take care of booking a hotel or other accommodation options. The Baltic and Mediterranean seas are already completely ready to accept everyone who wants to swim.
Samba Festival
In July, Coburg invites everyone to a revelry of songs and dances, because about 100 different groups gather here, and the number of performers on stage numbers more than three thousand from a dozen countries. The number of spectators sometimes exceeds 20 thousand.
Music Festival of Schleswing-Holstein (Musikfestival Shclezvig-Holstein)
Another vibrant German event, which takes place from July to August in many northern states. Castles, churches and farms offer unique and very interesting concerts to everyone.
August
August is considered the hottest month for Germany, but the sultry heat gradually subsides after thunderstorms in the afternoon. This is a wonderful season for forest lovers – Pfifferlinge. At this time, many go for fresh berries and chanterelles, some look for them in the forests themselves, while others go to the market to buy the treasured delicacy.
Festival of Shooters (Festival Sportschutzer)
Most German men prefer to spend their leisure time visiting shooting clubs to demonstrate their marksmanship skills at the shooting festival, which is held in August. The oldest is held in Düsseldorf, and the largest is in Hannover.
Wine Festival (Weinfest)
August is also significant for the Germans with the ripening of grapes. When the grapes are ripe and full of juice, the festival period begins. This is a huge number of tastings, processions, costumed performances, fireworks. Among the largest events of this kind, Durkheimer Wurstmarkt (www.duerkheimer-wurstmarkt.de) should be highlighted.
Kinderzehe
A unique 10-day German children's festival (www.kinderzeche.de) held in Dinkelbühl, through which the Romantic Road runs. The festival is unique not only for the holding of a huge number of children's events, performances and competitions, but also for the participation of children in the restoration of historical monuments.
Festival of Opera Music of Richard Wagner (Festival der Opernmusik von Richard Wagner)
Even the most elite of the German upper classes come to the small town of Bayreuth to listen to the epic works of operatic nature created by Wagner. All concerts are held in a specially built hall. Not every resident can get here, but some still manage to get the coveted tickets.
September
This month is quite attractive not only for residents, but also for tourists. On such days it is not too hot, but also quite sunny. Despite the fact that the tourist season in Germany is coming to an end, life is in full swing thanks to a huge number of wine festivals. By the end of the month, nature is renewed, the trees shimmer with a riot of colors.
Berlin Marathon
Since 1977, in September, a running marathon has been held on the streets of the capital, in which everyone takes part, and their number sometimes exceeds 50 thousand runners. During this event, about 9 world records were set during its existence.
Harvest Festival (Erntefest)
In provincial towns and large villages, colorful celebrations are held to celebrate the harvest. Festive processions (Erntedankzug) are organized with dressing up in national costumes.
Oktoberfest
A unique festival organized for all beer lovers in Munich (www.oktoberfest.de).
Folk festivals, Bavaria, Germany (Photo above © pxhere.com / CC0 Public Domain License) October
Autumn is in full swing, as evidenced by a significant reduction in day length, as well as regular cold snaps and heavy rains. It is during this period that the season of trade fairs is in full swing, where you can buy a lot at attractive prices. The largest events are held in Berlin, Frankfurt, Hamburg and other large cities. This month there is a significant reduction in the work of travel agencies, museums and attractions, some of them are closed during the winter.
Oktoberfest, Munich, Germany (Photo above © pxhere.com / CC0 Public Domain License) Frankfurt Book Fair (Frankfurter Buchmesse)
Frankfurt hosts the largest book fair, which brings together more than 7,300 bibliophiles from 100 countries.
November
At its core, November in Germany is considered a very dreary month; residents try not to leave their cozy, warm homes without any extra reason. But there are also advantages to this calm, because in popular tourist places there are no long queues or crowds of people. It is also worth noting that in November there are a huge number of theater and opera productions. But when attending such events, you should bring warm clothes, umbrellas or raincoats.
St. Martin's Day (Der Tag des Heiligen Martin)
On November 10-11, a unique festival is held, which is dedicated to the modest and generous Saint Martin, who lived in the 4th century. A festive procession with torches marches through the entire city, and the townspeople act out famous scenes from the life of a great man, for example, when St. Martin cut his coat to give half of it to a poor man. The festivities are accompanied by a luxurious feast, which certainly includes roast goose.
Beer barrels during celebration, Munich, Germany (Photo above © pxhere.com / CC0 Public Domain License) December
Thanks to the four weeks of Advent, winter evenings and days become brighter and lighter. During this time, Christmas markets are held throughout the country, all streets and houses are decorated with colorful lights, homemade Christmas cookies are baked and Advent-specific events are held. Ski resorts at this time are already completely covered with snow.
Christmas market in Germany (Photo above © pxhere.com / CC0 Public Domain License) St. Nicholas Day (Nikolaustag)
This unique night from December 5 to 6 is the most awaited for children. They leave their shoes outside the door in the hope that St. Nicholas will fill them with gifts and sweets. And those who behaved badly all year and did not listen to their parents, instead of gifts, may find branches in their shoes, which are left by St. Nicholas' assistant Knecht Ruprecht.
Christmas markets (Weihnachtsmarkt)
German Christmas markets always attract visitors with huge amounts of fragrant gingerbread, mulled wine and shimmering decorations. These are all integral attributes of the Christmas holidays, which begin on December 24th. The Christmas markets in Nuremberg are the most popular and famous.
Christmas market in Dresden, Germany (Photo above © pxhere.com / CC0 Public Domain License) Saint Sylvester's Day (Tag Des Heiligen Sylvester)
In Germany, New Year's Eve is called St. Sylvester's Day. The Pope, in whose honor the celebration is held, lived back in the 4th century. Thanks to his efforts, Christianity was adopted as the official religion in the country. The New Year is celebrated throughout the country with the launch of a huge number of fireworks, which are launched not only by professionals during the holidays, but also by amateur pyromaniacs.
Watch a video about Christmas in Germany at the link below:
(Photo above © paulinasahz /pixabay.com/ Licensed under CC BY 2.0)