Athirikya

Public Holidays in Germany: Why They Differ by Federal State

A practical way to understand regional public holidays and plan everyday life without memorising every date.

Why public holidays can be different

Germany has national public holidays, but many public holidays are set by the individual federal states. This means a date can be a holiday where you live, work or study, but not in another part of Germany.

Reformation Day on 31 October and All Saints’ Day on 1 November are common examples. Reformation Day is a public holiday in some states, while All Saints’ Day is a public holiday in several other states. The date can also fall on a weekend, as both do in 2026.

How to plan for a holiday

Check the public-holiday calendar for the federal state that matters to your plans. For work, that is usually the state of your workplace. For school, childcare and local appointments, it is usually the state where the school or service is located.

  • Look at the date before arranging an appointment, delivery or visit.
  • Check directly with a school, employer, shop or service if you need a definite answer.
  • Remember that a public holiday on a Saturday or Sunday may not create an extra weekday off.
  • Plan important tasks a little earlier when a long weekend is possible.

Reformation Day and All Saints’ Day

Reformation Day remembers the Reformation associated with Martin Luther. All Saints’ Day is an important day in the Catholic tradition; many people visit cemeteries and bring flowers or candles.

These dates can be useful conversation topics in autumn. They also show why a German calendar is not always the same in every federal state.

What to avoid

  • Do not assume that a holiday applies throughout Germany.
  • Do not assume that a business, school or office follows the calendar of your home state.
  • Do not rely on a general online list when an appointment or deadline is important.
  • Do not assume that a holiday on a weekend gives an extra replacement day.

When to ask for help

If a public holiday affects an appointment, a work shift, childcare or an official deadline, ask the responsible organisation directly. For an important official matter, use the relevant state or local authority website rather than relying on a general calendar.

Useful German words

  • der gesetzliche Feiertag — public holiday
  • das Bundesland — federal state
  • regional unterschiedlich — different by region
  • der Brückentag — a workday between a holiday and a weekend
  • geschlossen — closed
  • der Feiertagskalender — public-holiday calendar

Official information

Holiday rules and local arrangements can differ. Check the official public-holiday page for the relevant federal state. For example: