National Public Holidays
Generally these days are work-free, but some service industries like cafés, bakeries, restaurants and cinemas are open. Christmas and Easter are traditionally holidays where families come together. The religious importance is generally seen as being on the decline.
The beginning of a new year is celebrated on the night of December 31 to January 1st. Just like in many other countries, there are big New Year’s Eve celebrations and at midnight there are fireworks as a salute to the New Year. January 1st (New Year’s Day – Neujahr) is a national public holiday.
Easter with Good Friday ("Karfreitag"), Easter Sunday ("Ostersonntag") and Easter Monday ("Ostermontag") is the most important festival in the Christian calendar in Germany. It is the oldest Christian festival and marks the death (crucifixion) and resurrection of Jesus Christ on the third day after crucifixion (Easter Sunday). The crucifixion and resurrection are cornerstones of the Christian belief. The death is not seen as the end but as redemption. Easter is celebrated on the first Sunday after the spring full moon. Good Friday and Easter Monday are public holidays.
The 1st of May is a workers holiday, like in many other countries. The German Trade Union Association (DGB) organises demonstrations and political gatherings in numerous cities across Germany on the morning of the 1st of May. The evening before the 1st of May is the time for the traditional "Tanz in den Mai" ("Dance into May") parties. This follows old traditions to celebrate the spring month of May. In some areas Maypoles ("Maibäume") are erected. This is also an old tradition; the maypole originally symbolises the fertility of spring.
"Ascension Day" is the 40th day after Easter and represents the ascension of Jesus to His Father in Heaven. Ascension Day always falls on the Thursday nine days before Whitsun.
Whitsun or Pentecost ("Pfingsten") is celebrated with Whit Sunday ("Pfingstsonntag") and Whit Monday ("Pfingstmonntag"). This is the 50th day after Easter. This commemorates the descent of the Holy Ghost among the apostles of Jesus, which was the starting point of their missionary work. Whitsun can therefore be described as the birthday of the church. Whit Monday is a public holiday.
The 3rd of October is the day East and West Germany were officially reunited in 1990. This national holiday is similar to "Independence Day" on the 4th of July in the US or "Bastille Day" on the 14th July in France. In Germany, however, celebrations are much more muted. There are no military parades; just festivals and gatherings with political speeches in parliament and many town halls.
Christmas ("Weihnachten") encompasses three days: 24th of December – Christmas Eve ("der Heilige Abend"), 25th of December – Christmas Day, which is the birthday of Jesus Christ, and 26th of December – Boxing Day, the second day of Christmas. Before or after attending the church service on Christmas Eve, Christian families light the candles on their Christmas trees in readiness for the so-called "Bescherung", the exchanging of gifts. Christmas carols are sung or played and the family members exchange presents. Children are told that Father Christmas or the Christ Child brought the presents. Many families "rent" a Father Christmas for the evening, often played by students dressed in the traditional red and white costume, with a white beard. On the first and second days of Christmas, many people attend church services and mass. The 25th and 26th of December are public holidays.
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