German Holiday Calendar
Feiertag-Kalender
A Calendar of Holidays in
Austria, Germany, and Switzerland
Part 1: Januar-Juni (January-June)
Holidays and Observances in German-Speaking Europe
Holidays (Feiertage) marked with an asterisk ( * ) are official national holidays in Germany and/or the other German-speaking countries. Some of the holidays listed here are regional or specifically Catholic or Protestant celebrations only. You can find out more about hyperlinked holidays by clicking on the name of the celebration.
Note that certain holidays (Erntedankfest, Muttertag/Mother's Day, Vatertag/Father's Day, etc.) are observed on different dates in different countries in Europe and around the world. For holidays that do not fall on a fixed date, see the Bewegliche Feste (movable feasts / holidays) page.
You can send a free e-card for German or other holidays from our Digital Greeting Cards page.
Also see:
Customs and Traditions > Historic Timeline (English-German)
Januar-Juni | Juli-Dezember | Bewegliche Feste
|
HOLIDAYS with FIXED DATES January-June | Januar-Juni |
||
| Feiertag | Holiday | Datum/Date |
| JANUAR | ||
| Neujahr* | New Year's Day | 1. Januar (am ersten Januar) |
|
Heilige Drei Könige* |
Epiphany, Three Kings |
6. Januar (am sechsten Januar) A public holiday in Austria and the states of Baden-Württemberg, Bayern (Bavaria), and Sachsen-Anhalt in Germany. |
| Also see Movable Feasts (No fixed date) | ||
| FEBRUAR | ||
| Mariä Lichtmess |
Candlemas (Groundhog Day) |
2. Februar (am zweiten Feb.) Catholic regions |
| Valentinstag | Valentine's Day | 14. Februar (am vierzehnten Feb.) |
|
Fasching, Karneval |
Mardi Gras Carnival |
In Catholic regions in Feb. or Mar., depending on the date of Easter. See Movable Feasts |
| MÄRZ | ||
| Tag der Kranken | Day of the Ill | am ersten Sonntag im März (first Sunday in March; only in Switzerland) |
| Internationaler Frauentag | International Women's Day | 8. März (am achten März) |
| Josephstag | St. Joseph's Day | 19. März (am neunzehnten März; only in parts of Switzerland) |
| Mariä Verkündigung |
Annunciation | 25. März (am fünfundzwanzigsten März) |
| Also see Movable Feasts (No fixed date) | ||
| APRIL | ||
| Erster April | April Fool's Day | 1. April (am ersten April) |
| Karfreitag* | Good Day | Friday before Easter; see Movable Feasts |
| Ostern | Easter | Ostern falls in March or April, depending on the year; see Movable Feasts |
| Walpurgisnacht | Walpurgis Night | 30. April (am dreißigsten April) in Germany (Harz). Witches (Hexen) gather on eve of St. Walpurga's feast day (May Day). |
| MAI | ||
|
Erster Mai* Tag der Arbeit |
May Day Labor Day |
1. Mai (am ersten Mai) |
| Muttertag | Mother's Day | 2nd Sunday in May (Austria, Germany, Switz.) |
| Send a free e-card from our Digital Greeting Cards page. *National holiday |
||
| JUNI | ||
| Vatertag | Father's Day | 12. Juni 2005 2nd Sunday in June (Austria only; diff. date in Germany) |
| Johannistag | St. John the Baptist's Day | 24. Juni (am vierundzwanzigsten Juni) |
| Siebenschläfer | St. Swithin's Day | 27. Juni (am siebenundzwanzigsten Juni) Folklore: If it rains on this day it will rain for the next seven weeks. A Siebenschläfer is a dormouse. |
| Send a free e-card from our Digital Greeting Cards page. NEXT > Juli-Dezember |
||
Januar-Juni | Juli-Dezember | Bewegliche Feste
Related Pages
Customs and Traditions
German Bräuche and holidays with explanations and English-German glossaries.
Deutsche Geschichte - Inhalt
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German for Beginners - Contents
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