German holidays

made by Yakimenko Valeriya

student of the FFL
German Philology Department
Group 304
Public holidays in Germany are determined by
each federal state such that, for instance,
Repentance Day is only a holiday in Saxony and
Assumption Day is only celebrated in the states
of Bavaria and Saarland. The exception to this
rule is the Day of German Unity, which is a
federally mandated public holiday marked on
October 3 each year.
Silvester: New Year’s Eve in Germany

New Year’s Eve in Germany is a time for food,

friends and celebrations! Silvester is named after
Pope Silvester, who was pope of the Catholic
Church from 314 – 335. This celebration is held
on December 31st in Germany, and it is an
exciting occasion. Many people celebrate the
occasion with sparkling wine, fortune telling with
molten lead and at night there are fireworks.
Three King’s Day (Drei Königstag)

Many nations celebrate the full 12 days of Christmas,

through to the feast day of Epiphany, Three Kings Day,
on January 6th. In Germany the twelfth day of
Christmas is celebrated as Three King’s Day
(Dreikönigstag) and commemorates the arrival of the
Magi in Bethlehem to present their gifts to the infant
Jesus. Three King’s Day is an official holiday in a parts
of Germany and Austria, and is also celebrated in
Switzerland, France, Spain, and much of the Spanish
speaking New World.
St. Martin’s Day (Martinstag)

After Halloween ends, German children have a

second opportunity for collecting sweets and
treats. On November 11 each year, thousands of
young and old celebrate St. Martin’s Day,
especially in the predominantly catholic areas of
the Rhineland and Southern Germany. German
children, some with their parents, carry candle-
lit lanterns and sing ‘lantern songs’ in the
processional celebration of the saint.
Karneval (Fasching)

November 11 is also the official start of

Karneval, Fasching and Fastnacht. These
holidays all begin eleven minutes past eleven
o’clock on the eleventh day of the eleventh
month! It is at this time that carnival clubs and
neighborhood groups start their preparations for
the carnival season. This fun season then
culminates with huge Fasching (Mardi Gras)
parades in February.
Thank you for your attention!