German holidays. German holidays: what and how Germans celebrate German holidays in German with translation

In Germany, as in most countries, New Year is celebrated on the first of January.

Previously, the New Year was celebrated on January 6, Three Kings Day, and was then called das Groß-Neujahr. And since the end of the 18th century, this holiday began to be celebrated on January 1st.
Just like in all countries, many different rituals are associated with the celebration of the New Year. So, for example, on a holiday it was necessary to wear new clothes, on this day one should not argue or swear (I believe that it is better not to do this on any day), there should be an abundance of a variety of delicious food in the house.

In some northern German cities, tables with various treats were set up in front of the house. Also for the New Year, all kinds of baked goods were baked, such as Kringeln, Brezeln, herzförmige Kuchen and decorated with New Year's wishes (Neujahrssprüche)

Ich wünsche aus Herzensgrund
ein gutes Jahr zur Stund
ein Neues Jahr, das auch erquickt
und alle Übel von euch schickt.

Gott soll auch segnen und erhalten
im Neuen Jahr wie auch im alten
Das wünsch ich auch, Gott mach es wahr!
Die Neujahrsnacht still und klar
deutet auf ein gutes Jahr

There are also standard congratulations in the form of simple phrases:

Prost Neujahr!
Guten Rutsch ins Neue Jahr! (colloquial).
Ein gesundes und erfolgreiches Neujahr!
Herzlichen Glückwunsch zum Jahreswechsel!
Die beste Wünsche zum Neuen Jahre!

Fastnacht (Karneval) - Shrove Tuesday(celebrated in February)

The word Fastnacht comes from the word vas(e)naht (Mittelhochdeutsch) and had the meaning of “night pranks and pranks”, in which the joy associated with the approach of spring was manifested. By 1700, this holiday began to be called Karneval.

Carnival is one of the most fun and unique holidays.

Fasching (the so-called Carnival in Bavaria) was not recognized by the Church of Martin Luther, and therefore this holiday is not celebrated everywhere. According to Catholic custom, this celebration is followed by fasting (fastenzeit). They prepare for the February fun already in November. The celebration always begins on November 11 at 11:11. The peak of the holiday is “three crazy days” (drei tolle Tage, drei Torkeltage, drei fette Tage). Where Maslenitsa is celebrated, schools and shops are closed. Holiday dishes are distinguished by the presence of a variety of fatty foods.

Ostern - Easter
Easter is the main holiday of Christians, which is established in honor of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Wunschformeln:
ein schönes Ostern!
Schöne Ostern!
Frohe (fröliche) Ostern!
Herzliche Ostergrüße!

Man kann sagen:
Ostern fällt / ist dieses Jahr sehr früh
Es ist bald Ostern
Was habt ihr Ostern vor?
Wir hatten schöne (ein schönes) Ostern
nächstes Jahr Ostern
kurz nach Ostern
Vorige Ostern waren wir in Spanien.

Easter is celebrated on the 40th day after Aschermittwoch. At this time of year the weather is not yet stable and snow may fall. In this case they say "weiße Ostern", which means "white Easter".
Trinity is celebrated 50-51 days after Easter. From here the meaning of the phraseological unit “wenn Ostern und Pfingsten zusammenfallen” becomes clear, which means “never; like a cancer whistling on a mountain; after the rain on Thursday (lit. when Easter coincides with Trinity).”

Children always think that Easter eggs are brought to them by the hare, and sometimes by other animals. Adults hide eggs in the house, in the garden, etc. And then the children look for them.

1.Mai - Tag der Arbeit (Labor Day)
In Germany, this day is celebrated with rallies and demonstrations of workers.
The custom of welcoming the arrival of May dates back to the 13th century. Green twigs and small trees served as decoration and an expression of love. Young men usually gave maypoles as gifts or attached them to their girlfriend's house.

Weinachten - Christmas

Christmas in Germany is celebrated on the night of December 25th to 26th. Preparations for the celebration begin 4 weeks before the holiday itself.
On the first Sunday after November 26th, Advent begins, which lasts all 4 weeks before Christmas.

Merry Christmas greetings:

Schöne, frohe, fröliche Weihnachten!

Gesegnete Weihnachten!

Frohes Fest

Es ist bald Wihnachten

Weihnachten steht vor der Tür

This note lists German holidays in German with translation - both religious and state. And also some of the holidays of the Russian Federation - so that you know their translation if necessary. I will also share a selection of useful stencil phrases with which you can describe any of the holidays.

Religious German holidays in German

Holidays for all of Germany are marked in orange. Other holidays are either weekends in some states or are considered regular working days.

Rosenmontag– Monday of Roses, or the Great German Carnival

Palmsonntag– Palm Sunday (last Sunday before Easter)

Karfreitag– Good Friday, Friday before Easter

Ostern- Easter

Ostersonntag– Sunday of Easter week (the first Day of Easter)

Ostermonntag– Monday of Easter week (second Day of Easter)

Christi Himmelfahrt– Ascension of Christ, 40 Day after Easter

Pfingsten– Trinity, 50 days after Easter

Frontleichnam– Feast of Corpus Christi, second Thursday after Trinity

Reformationstag- the holiday of the Reformation, October 31 is celebrated by the Evangelical Church in memory of the announcement by M. Luther of his theses on October 31, 1517

Buß- und Bettag– Day of repentance and prayer (Wednesday before the last Sunday of the church year)

Heiliger Abend– Christmas Eve

Weihnachten– Christmas (December 25 and 26, one of the most important Christian holidays in honor of the birth of Christ)

Other holidays in German

German state:

Vatertag– Father’s Day always coincides with Christi Himmelfahrt.

Muttertag– Mother's Day, second Sunday in May

Familiar holidays for us that do not exist in Germany:

Let's make up a story about any holiday?

And now I give you templates with which you can tell about German holidays in German, or about some other holiday in any country.

We describe the holiday based on the following five points:

1 .Instead of dots, you can insert the name of the holiday to get a complete thought.

…ist das wichtigste Fest in Deutschland.- ... is the most important holiday in Germany.

Bei uns ist... sehr wichtig.– This holiday is very important for us.

…gibt es bei uns gar nicht.– We don’t have this holiday.

… wird bei uns nicht gefeiert.- ... they can’t cope with us.

Wir feiern… immer ganz groß. – We celebrate... on a grand scale.

2. You can tell about the traditions of the holiday being described using the following sentences. Here, instead of dots, you need to list what you usually do for this holiday.

Bei uns ist es Brauch/Tradition, an diesem Tag … zu machen. – We have a tradition on this day to do...

In meiner Heimat gehen an diesem Tag alle in/nach…- In my homeland on this day everyone goes to...

In meiner Familie gibt es einen großen besonderen Brauch:... - There is one special tradition in my family ...

Als ich klein war, haben meine Eltern an diesen Tag immer…- When I was little, my parents on this day all the time...

Ein spezieller Brauch, von dem ich euch erzählen möchte, ist…- One special tradition that I wanted to tell you about is...

Das ist bei uns nicht so üblich.– This is not so common for us.

In meinem Heimatland wird dieses Fest ganz anderes gefeiert:... – In our homeland, this holiday is celebrated in a completely different way.

3. Next, you can talk about what dishes are popular on this day. Instead of dots, accordingly, you need to substitute the name of the dish.
Zu Essen gibt es an... immer ganz spezielle Dinge:... - From food for the holiday ... special dishes are prepared: ...

Normalerweise gibt es an (name of holiday) immer... - Usually on (this holiday) always ...

Eine Spezialität in meiner Heimat ist…– A special delicacy in my homeland is...

Das traditionelle Gericht an diesem Tag ist…– The traditional dish on this day is...

In meiner Familie gibt es an diesem Tag immer…– In my family on this day they always cook...

Was es an diesem Tag zu essen gibt, ist von Familie zu Familie sehr unterschiedlich.– The dishes served on this day vary greatly from family to family.

4. Personal attitude to this holiday. Everything is simple here again. Just like in the first paragraph, you only need to insert the name of the holiday.

Ich mag... am liebsten.- Most of all I love.

Auf diesen Tag freue ich mich immer sehr.– I am always very happy about this day.

Für mich persönlich ist … das wichtigste Fest im Jahr.– For me... is the most important holiday of the year.

Ich mag...eigentlich lieber. - I love more …

… hat eine sehr große Bedeutung für mich.– ... is very important to me.

Mir ist das Fest nicht so wichtig.– For me this holiday is not so important.

Wir feiern das Fest nicht.– We do not celebrate this holiday.

In meiner Familie wird das Fest eigentlich nicht gefeiert.– In my family, this holiday, strictly speaking, is not celebrated.

5. Now the described holiday can be compared with how it is celebrated in another country/in your homeland.

… wird in Deutschland genauso gefeiert wie in Russland.– ... copes in Germany the same way as in Russia.

… feiert man bei uns ganz anders als hier. – ... we celebrate it completely differently than here.

Eigentlich feiert man...bei uns zu Hause ziemlich ähnlich.– As a matter of fact, we celebrate... quite similar.

In Gegensatz zu Deutschland ist … bei uns viel wichtiger. – In contrast to Germany... it is much more important for us.

Ich mag … hier genauso gern wie bei uns, auch wenn es ganz anderes ist. – I love... here just like in my homeland, and this despite the fact that here it is celebrated completely differently.

Ich finde diese Unterschiede sehr interessant. – I find these differences very interesting.

Es ist irgendwie schön, dass … hier ganz andres gefeiert wird.“It’s still wonderful that... it’s celebrated differently here.”

That's all about holidays in German. And you should definitely read the following articles about German holidays.

Germany is the leader of European countries and is characterized by a high level of development of life, economy, and industry. Germans love order, punctuality and scrupulousness in almost everything. And they treat any holidays, and there are a lot of them in Germany, with the utmost seriousness and care.

Holidays in Germany

Not all holidays are holidays and are celebrated everywhere throughout the country. This is largely due to the state structure of the republic, which is characterized by federalism. The independence of each of the federal states plays a big role in this.

All national holidays have their own long-standing traditions and foundations, especially for religious and pagan celebrations. Despite the fact that Germany is a highly developed state, it has managed to maintain its originality, measured and calm life.

Like any other country, the German Republic has both state and purely national holidays, which are associated with some memorable date or historical day. There are also celebrations related to Catholic beliefs in the country. In addition, Germany celebrates some well-known holidays, such as:

1. New Year - January 1st.
2. Knowledge Day - September 1st.
3. Workers' Day - May 1, etc.

Features of national holidays

Germany hosts numerous concerts, festivals, fairs and festivals every year. If it is a general day off, then only cinemas, bakeries and cafes will be open. All traditions and holidays of Germany are closely related to the culture of this country. Despite their seemingly calm and serious nature, the German people love to have fun. Although the main cultural life of Germany with a lot of museums and theaters is concentrated in big cities, the bright echoes of the holidays scatter throughout the quiet and remote corners of the provinces.

Beer festival in Germany

Munich Oktoberfest is the most famous and popular beer festival on the planet. It celebrated its 200th anniversary in 2010, with celebrations running from September 20 to October 4. This beer festival in Germany is visited annually by more than 6 million drink lovers from all over the globe. They come here to taste it and enjoy the unique taste. The famous beer from the best breweries in Munich is prepared only during this period of time in accordance with the law of 1487 on the purity of beer. The alcohol content of the drink should not exceed 6.8%. Since its inception, the festival has been canceled only a few times, and for good reason:

1. Cholera epidemic.
2. Prussian-Austrian War.
3. Franco-Prussian War.
4. The First and Second World Wars.
5. Hyperinflation in Germany in 1923-24.

The beer festival takes place on Theresa's Meadow in the center of Munich. 14 large tents are being built on it, with a capacity of 10,000 people, and 15 small ones, which can accommodate about 1,000 people. Life is bustling inside the tents: waitresses serve 10 glasses of beer at a time, festival guests enjoy a foamy drink and tuck into the famous Munich pork sausages and fried chicken. Beer flows like a river to the incessant sounds of music. There are also many other entertainments at the festival: carousels, roller coasters, and a Ferris wheel. In addition to tasting beer, you can simply take a walk through the park, make new acquaintances, buy souvenirs, visit some attraction or flea circus.

Harvest Festival

The Volksfest harvest festival in Stuttgart is celebrated from September 23 to October 9. It is the main competitor of the Bavarian festival. Like all beer festivals in Germany, Volksfest is famous for the amount of foamy drink consumed. This festival is similar in many ways to the Munich Beer Festival, but its main feature is that it is family-oriented.

The holiday has roots in the distant past. On this day, people rejoice at a good harvest of vegetables, fruits, berries, grains, and thank God for his gifts. Churches hold special services to mark the holiday, with buildings decorated with wreaths of wheat and fruits of the new harvest. All vegetables and fruits are blessed and laid out in front of the altar.

German Unity Day

It is celebrated on October 3. It is a national holiday that commemorates the successful reunification of West and East Germany since October 1990. This day was declared an official holiday in Germany. And the Independence Day of Germany, which was celebrated on June 17, was abolished.

Many national holidays in Germany are characterized by the fact that on this day rallies and parliamentary meetings are held in the states and city halls. Members of the upper house of the German parliament, as well as various politicians and public figures, take an active part in this. Concerts and celebrations are held in the cities, and in the evening fireworks await everyone.

German holidays in October

More than 70 well-known historical and architectural monuments of the city take part in the grand festival of light in Berlin, these are:

1. The famous Berlin Cathedral.
2. Bergamon Museum.
3. Chancellor's residence.
4. TV tower and others.

All these buildings are turned into light installations for two weeks. The festival of light has existed for a short time - since 2005, but has already gained worldwide popularity. Like other holidays in Germany, it attracts a large number of tourists from all over the globe.

Berlin during the festival looks like a fairy-tale world with millions of colorful lights that decorate the buildings. City streets at night are illuminated with spotlights and lanterns. Residents and visitors of Berlin enjoy watching light shows that are projected on the walls of buildings. So that tourists can view all the light programs, there are excursion routes - bicycle, bus, walking and even boat. The festival in Berlin is rich in its cultural program. Guests and residents of the city are presented with exhibitions of photographs depicting the city at night.

What other holidays are there in Germany in October? The cherished dream and main holiday of every book lover is the Frankfurt Book Fair. This festival presents publications from more than 100 countries - books, magazines, newspapers, comics, and various printed materials. It also cannot do without the production of multimedia literature. The book forum is about 500 years old.

The Germans love to have fun and try not to miss a single celebration or festive event. They also honor national holidays adopted from Europeans. The Germans treat the days when they need to remember the dead with honor and with all seriousness. The Germans also celebrate Halloween - October 31 - an international gathering of evil spirits. In America, it is celebrated by dressing up in masquerade costumes as witches and ghouls and carving heads out of pumpkins. German youth are also having fun.

Germany in November

Basically, all holidays in Germany in November are Catholic celebrations. November 1 is the day of all martyrs, saints and dead. On this day, Catholics visit the graves of deceased relatives and friends. The Germans decorate them and light lamps. First, all relatives gather in the house of the older family members. Then, after lunch, everyone goes to the cemetery together, where flowers are laid at the graves and candles are lit. The pastor begins the church service, he prays and reads sermons, the orchestra plays funeral music. After the end of the service, the pastor walks around the cemetery and sprinkles the graves with holy water. In some southern states of Germany, November 1 is a day off; on this day it is forbidden to talk loudly and listen to music. Basically, all holidays in Germany in November are Catholic and religious celebrations.

St. Martin's Day is celebrated on November 11th. This day is also considered harvest day and is especially loved by children. It is on November 11 that a significant procession with lit lanterns and torches takes place. Long before the holiday, children prepare their own paper lanterns, into which candles will then be inserted. According to legend, a young soldier Martin warmed a freezing beggar with his cloak. Subsequently, fellow villagers looked for him with torches and lanterns in order to thank him for his good deed.

Official celebrations in Germany

All public holidays in Germany are common to all states. And all of them are declared holidays. And New Year's holidays in Germany are celebrated on the night from December 31 to January 1.

Easter is the most important religious celebration. The holiday includes Good Friday, Easter and the following Monday. Despite the fact that religion is officially separated from the state in Germany, all three of these days are days off. The symbol of German Easter, like any other, is colored eggs. On Sunday morning, all residents go to church for worship, and then young people with children go around to their friends and give them congratulations, songs, egg baskets, etc.

May 1 - Workers' Solidarity Day. On this holiday, as in many countries, numerous demonstrations and rallies are held in Germany. People of various professions come out with flags, banners, march through the streets of the city and shout various slogans and sing songs.

Christmas fun and New Year celebrations

December 5 and 26 are official holidays throughout the country. On this day, services are held in churches, people give each other their attention and gifts. Weekends are usually spent at home, near the decorated Christmas tree and with loved ones. Spruce is usually decorated in early December and removed on January 2-3. A month before the Christmas holidays begin in Germany, fairs open in all cities of the country. The streets are decorated with garlands, multi-colored lanterns and balls, and ribbons. During the Christmas sales, a large number of gifts and decorations, delicious food, drinks and costumes are bought. New Year's Eve is celebrated, as elsewhere in Europe, with fireworks, songs, and dances.

Love Parade

Despite its stiffness and love of order, there are also very unusual holidays in Germany, for example, the love parade. This festival takes place annually in various cities of the German state on July 19th. It is accompanied by loud music and very revealing outfits. You can't ignore the national drink - beer, it flows like a river. This holiday is like a real carnival, a national procession that lasts the whole day to the incessant musical accompaniment of the best DJs.

Germany is rich in its holidays. Most tourists visiting the country these days not only become familiar with the national culture, but also discover many interesting things. After all, there will be a great many impressions from visiting Germany.

In this article you will learn:

Contrary to the popular belief that Germans are very serious people who think only about work and maintaining order, they love to have fun and, most importantly, they know how to do it. There are many holidays in Germany.

Some of them are religious in nature, others are based on historical dates. There are events that are celebrated on a grand scale throughout the country, and there are also specific ones that exist only in a certain federal state. As is known, Germany has developed sufficient independence in the arrangement of parts of the state, which in no way harms its integrity. Since almost every holiday has its own history and long-standing traditions, the day of celebration, as a rule, is a day off either in the country or in the region where it is celebrated.

Variety of holidays

The celebration of religious holidays in Germany is not much different from their traditional celebration in other European countries. Holidays associated with historical dates also have their own principles and are celebrated with due respect. But the Germans have a number of fun, specific holidays. The most interesting holidays in Germany .

Fifth season (February-March).

It's a kind of carnival. It dates back to the times of the Roman founders, and then remained banned for a long time. Now it takes place in many cities of the country, but they treat it especially reverently in. And although it lasts about two weeks, preparations for it begin long before the festival and are carefully carried out over three months. This is probably why it was called the fifth season of the year. During this time, the city is excited by preparations and new ideas. During the holiday itself, a huge number of tourists come to the city to take part in this unusual event. Everyone is interested in watching how the Germans, who are distinguished by their phlegmatic nature, relax. We can say that at this time Cologne comes under the control of mummers dressed in carnival costumes. Everyone goes to balls and other celebrations. Perhaps only medical workers and the police go to work.

The holiday begins with the so-called Indian Thursday. On this day, matriarchy is proclaimed and women can do whatever they want. As a rule, this is limited to cutting off men's ties, according to a long-established tradition. The point of development of the carnival is Pink Monday, on which the entire carnival procession begins. The whole action ends on Ash Wednesday, when a straw effigy is burned, which means atonement for accumulated sins. This is preparation for Lent.

Fifth season - carnival

(July 19).

This is a relatively new holiday, but it has already earned the reputation of being the most grandiose and shocking in the whole world. It began in 1989, and today has become a kind of annual fashion boom. It consists of holding a huge disco right on the streets of the city. People in the most unexpected, strikingly bright outfits fill the city. Sometimes there are so many people who want to take part in this show that they have to sit on the roofs of houses, trees and even on lanterns. Previously, the Love Parade took place in Berlin, but now it is successfully spreading to the surrounding areas.

Kirmes (October 18).

This is a kind of gratitude for receiving a rich harvest. Therefore, it is mainly celebrated in rural areas. Many fairs take place at this time. Half a month before the date of the event, at a certain time, a straw effigy is buried, in whose hands a bottle of schnapps is placed - this is Kirmes. The day of celebration begins with the ceremony of digging it up. Then a procession begins throughout the village, at the end of which the scarecrow is placed on top of a festively decorated tree. Garlands, bright ribbons and various fruits are hung on it in advance. This is followed by a service ceremony and a gala dinner. And after this, folk festivities begin with dancing and various rituals. On the second day of the holiday, Germans visit cemeteries. On the third and final day, Kirmes' funeral takes place. He is buried in a deserted place, and he must be accompanied by schnapps, broken glass, a rooster's head, a ham and a piece of national pie. This will be the gratitude of the Germans for the generous harvest. In Germany they firmly believe that if they have a lot of fun this time, the next harvest will be even richer, and the participants of the holiday themselves will get rid of all the hardships and troubles that haunted them in the past year.

International Savings Day (October 31).

The holiday is very relevant for the Germans, because it is believed that they earn money by saving it. In addition, it was conceived not only to save money, but also time and physical costs. Many banks celebrate various promotions on this day, and the media talk about the secrets of saving.

St. Martin's Day (November 11).

This large-scale holiday marks the end of all agricultural work. The way it is carried out is quite a spectacular sight. According to ancient tradition, in the dark evening, a procession begins in which adults carry lighted torches, and children carry pre-made paper lanterns with candles. Thus, if you look from afar, you can see a bright flowing stream or a burning snake, as you wish.

Germany is a country of stability and strict order. The country, which experienced collapse and devastation, was at one time divided into parts, but survived everything with pride and is now practically an exemplary state in terms of economy, infrastructure and politics. Today, many countries look up to Germany and take their example from it.

Germany is a country located in Central Europe. It borders on many European countries (Denmark, Poland, Czech Republic, Austria, Luxembourg, France, Belgium and the Netherlands) and has access to two seas - the Baltic and the North. This country has a large number of rivers and lakes, as well as mountainous terrain, which makes it possible to call it one of the most environmentally friendly countries. The Bavarian Alps alone are worth a lot of attention from people who strive for clean mountain air and nature untouched by man.

The political system allows Germans to be proud of their country. Over the past 60 years, the government has built the entire state system well, which has made it possible to survive the economic crises that swept through Europe in the early 90s of the 20th century and at the beginning of the 21st century, unnoticed by the ordinary population.

As for the Germans themselves, they are a hardworking people. These are people who know that weekdays are meant for work, and holidays are for good rest. The Germans are a people who spend fun and interesting times not only on weekends, but also on holidays, of which there are not many on their calendar. A holiday for a German does not necessarily have to take place in the home circle. They love street noise, beer, dancing and fun. Many tourists, when attending a German holiday, may come to the conclusion that these Germans are not that strict and hardworking. But few tourists know that Germans love to relax and know that there are holidays for this. If you celebrate a holiday, then do it with pleasure and fun.

If you compare German and Russian holidays, you can find quite a lot of differences. At the beginning of the year, we are used to counting how many days off there will be, and we are especially happy when a holiday falls on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday or Sunday. In this case, you can wait for additional days off. In addition, if you look at the Russian calendar, you can see that every day is some kind of holiday - professional or church.

In Germany it's completely the opposite. Weekends are not added, days are not moved, and the number of holidays is not that many. For example, if Christmas falls on a Sunday, then most likely the Germans will have to go to work the next day. In addition, due to the fragmentation of the territory and their subsequent reunification, each federal district formed its own holidays, especially in religious and historical terms.

All holidays in Germany can be divided into three categories - state, religious and folk. Public holidays apply throughout the country. For example, such holidays include May 1 - Labor Day. In principle, everything is clear with these holidays. But with religious holidays everything is much more complicated. There are quite a lot of people of different faiths living in the country, but there are two main and large movements - Catholicism and Lutheranism. Depending on which religion predominates in the federal land, those holidays are celebrated. For example, All Saints' Day is celebrated by Catholics, and Reformation Day by Lutherans. There are holidays that are celebrated only in a certain city. For example, Peace Day is celebrated in the city of Augsburg in Bavaria. Church holidays, as in Russia, can have a fixed or floating date. The floating date is calculated according to the church calendar. Folk holidays include carnivals, festivals, etc. These are holidays that take place only on weekends, and their celebration is accompanied by folk festivities. For example, folk holidays include Oktoberfest, the Fifth Season or a completely new holiday, the Love Parade.

In Germany, the year begins with the celebration of the New Year, which is celebrated, as throughout the world, on the night of December 31 to January 1. January 6 marks the Catholic Epiphany, which is of great significance for the Christian residents of Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg and Saxony-Anhalt. For Catholics this day is also a holiday. They mark "". January is famous for another holiday, or rather a memorable date. On January 27, 1945, prisoners of the Auschwitz concentration camp were liberated. Therefore, this day is Holocaust Remembrance Day.

In February, Germany plunges into the world of festivals and carnivals. It all starts with the world-famous Berlinale Film Festival. The film festival takes place every year in Berlin and has a floating opening date, that is, the management independently determines the opening date of the Berlinale. Another famous folk festival takes place in Bremen. It is accompanied by music, dancing and colorful performances dedicated to the famous Brazilian dance - samba. The festival is called "Bremer Karneval" - samba carnival. Catholics in Germany hold the Fastnacht or Fasching carnival in February. Large-scale celebrations take place in Munich and Cologne. At the same time, they begin to prepare for the carnival in November.

March is known for only one unique German holiday - the Leipzig Book Fair. This is the largest book fair in the world after Frankfurt.

April begins with the most fun and famous holiday in the whole world - April Fool's Day or April Fool's Day. It is celebrated on April 1st. In the month of April, a number of great church holidays are celebrated, which have a floating date. Such holidays include Catholic Good Friday, Maundy Thursday and. These holidays are found in both the Catholic and Christian church calendars. Their dates do not coincide, but mostly fall in April and early May. These days are accompanied by Easter fairs, and on Easter Monday the Germans visit relatives and friends, presenting them with gifts symbolizing Easter.

The Germans celebrate Labor Day, which is accompanied by fun, dancing, singing and meeting with friends. In May it is celebrated, which falls on the second Sunday of the month. May is also known for such holidays as (May 10), the oldest jazz festival Dixieland in Dresden (floating date), Father's Day (floating date), the Jazz Rally music festival in Dusseldorf (floating date), the festival of gothic music and culture in Leipzig ( date is floating).

The major church holidays of the Ascension of Christ and the Day of the Holy Spirit fall on different days. They can be celebrated both in May and June. The Ascension of Christ takes place on the 40th day after Easter, and 9 days after it the Day of the Holy Spirit is celebrated.

June begins with the Hamburg Short Film Festival, which lasts a week. The Feast of the Body and Blood of Christ is celebrated on the second Thursday after the Day of the Holy Spirit. It often falls on June days. Despite the fact that this is a public holiday, only a few states declare it a day off.

In June and July, international festivals are held in Germany, which do not have a fixed date. Such festivals include: the Bach Music Festival in Leipzig, dedicated to the great German composer Johann Sebastian Bach; Opera Festival in Munich; folk festival "Opernplatzfest" in Frankfurt am Main; The Cologne Lights festival is a fireworks festival held in the city of Rhine.

On June 24, Germans celebrate a church holiday - the Nativity of John the Baptist. St. John's Day. A special feature of the holiday is the burning of a bonfire and everything connected with this process.

In August, all holidays are associated with a specific federal state. For example, August 8 is a public holiday, but only for one city. In Bavaria, the city of Augsburg celebrates City Day or Peace Day.

August 15 marks the Assumption of Mary, which is declared a public holiday only in some communities in Bavaria and in the federal state of Saarland.

In August, Frankfurt am Main celebrates a significant and major European cultural holiday - the Museum Embankment Festival.

September is famous for the beer festival - Oktoberfest. In the second half of September, Munich becomes a big beer bar where you can meet people from different parts of the world. The beer festival lasts 16 days.

October starts from (October 3). This day has great historical significance for all Germans because in 1990 West and East Germany were reunified.

On the first Sunday in October, Catholic Germany celebrates the holiday of thanksgiving or in honor of the end of the harvest of agricultural products. On the third Sunday in October, Germany continues to honor agricultural producers at the Kirmes in Germany festival. The festival is accompanied by fairs and folk festivities in honor of the harvest. Another festival takes place in Bremen called “Free Market”. It lasts 17 days, and the date of the celebration is determined by the organizers of the celebration.

On the night of October 31 to November 1, the most mystical holiday is celebrated - Halloween. All Saints' Day is celebrated on November 1st.

In October, a major Lutheran holiday is celebrated - Reformation Day. It is celebrated in Thuringia, Brandenburg, Meckelburg-Vorpommern, Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt.

The month of November is famous in Germany for the following holidays: Fateful Day (November 9), a special day in German history associated with the abdication of Wilhelm II from the throne and the suppression of the “Beer Hall Putsch” in Munich; St. Martin's Day (November 11) is a favorite holiday for children; Day of National Sorrow (floating date); The Day of Repentance and Prayer (floating date) is celebrated by Protestants; All Souls' Day (floating date).

The month of November is accompanied by gray and rainy weather. Therefore, many holidays in Germany are not of an entertaining nature, but are increasingly associated with saints, martyrs and the dead.

December is the last month of the year, which is accompanied by holidays associated with Christmas. On December 6, Catholics celebrate St. Nicholas Day and begin to prepare for Christmas. December 24 - , and December 25 - . December 26th is St. Stephen's Day or Second Day of Christmas. December 27 is the Day of Remembrance of the Holy Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian.

It is worth noting that in Germany, on holidays, which are officially recognized as days off, shops, government institutions (schools, kindergartens, municipalities, etc.) and services are closed. Gas stations and shops attached to them, as well as pharmacies on duty, remain open, as well as emergency services, rescue services and doctors on duty in hospitals. On Christmas and New Year's Eve, everyone works until lunch, incl. the shops. Although many office employees will have a day off.

There are people in Germany who know that holidays are meant to be fun. They know how to properly celebrate this or that holiday, regardless of what day it falls on (a weekend or a weekday). Having visited this country, you begin to understand how to celebrate holidays.