Germany Holidays 2025
Upcoming holidays
| Date | Day | Holiday | Regions |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 1, 2025 | Wednesday | New Year's Day | Nationwide |
| January 6, 2025 | Monday | Epiphany | Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Saxony-Anhalt |
| March 8, 2025 | Saturday | International Women's Day | Berlin, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania |
| April 18, 2025 | Friday | Good Friday | Nationwide |
| April 20, 2025 | Sunday | Easter Sunday | Brandenburg |
| April 21, 2025 | Monday | Easter Monday | Nationwide |
| May 1, 2025 | Thursday | Labor Day | Nationwide |
| May 29, 2025 | Thursday | Ascension Day | Nationwide |
| June 8, 2025 | Sunday | Whit Sunday | Brandenburg |
| June 9, 2025 | Monday | Whit Monday | Nationwide |
| June 19, 2025 | Thursday | Corpus Christi | Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Hesse, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland, Saxony, Thuringia |
| August 15, 2025 | Friday | Assumption Day | Bavaria, Saarland |
| September 20, 2025 | Saturday | Children's Day | Thuringia |
| October 3, 2025 | Friday | German Unity Day | Nationwide |
| October 31, 2025 | Friday | Reformation Day | Brandenburg, Bremen, Hamburg, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Lower Saxony, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Schleswig-Holstein, Thuringia |
| November 1, 2025 | Saturday | All Saints' Day | Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland |
| November 19, 2025 | Wednesday | Repentance and Prayer Day | Saxony |
| December 25, 2025 | Thursday | Christmas Day | Nationwide |
| December 26, 2025 | Friday | Boxing Day | Nationwide |
Public holidays in Germany 2025: what you need to know
Germany has a mix of national and regional public holidays, with some celebrated across all states and others specific to certain federal states (Bundesländer). Here’s a breakdown to help you understand the table:
Nationwide Holidays
These holidays, such as New Year’s Day (Neujahrstag), Labor Day (Tag der Arbeit), and Christmas Day (Erster Weihnachtsfeiertag), are observed in all 16 federal states. Most workplaces and schools are closed, and public transportation may operate on reduced schedules.Regional Holidays
Some holidays are recognized only in specific states. For example:- Epiphany (January 6) is a public holiday in Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, and Saxony-Anhalt.
- Reformation Day (October 31) is observed in predominantly Protestant states such as Saxony and Thuringia.
- Corpus Christi (June 19) is a Catholic holiday celebrated in states with strong Catholic traditions, like Bavaria and Saarland.
- International Woman’s Day (March 8) is an official holiday in Berlin and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania.
Unique Holidays in Brandenburg
Brandenburg is the only state where Easter Sunday (Ostersonntag) and Whit Sunday (Pfingstsonntag) are official public holidays. Although these days are already significant throughout Germany, they are granted the status of legal holidays in Brandenburg, which may affect compensation or time-off policies for workers.Boete- en Biddag (Day of Repentance and Prayer)
This holiday, observed in Saxony, is the last remaining religious holiday of its kind in Germany. It reflects Saxony’s strong Protestant history.
Practical Tips
- Travel Planning: Public transportation and business hours may vary on holidays, especially in regions where local holidays are observed.
- Shopping: Shops are generally closed on public holidays, so plan ahead, particularly if traveling between regions with differing holiday calendars.
- Cultural Insights: Germany’s public holidays reflect its religious diversity, with both Catholic and Protestant traditions shaping the calendar.