Spring holidays in Germany in March, April, and May
German holidays in spring: public, traditional, and religious holidays with dates for 2025, 2026, 2027.
Many holidays in Germany have moving dates that change every year, so the exact dates should be checked separately for each year. In the tables below, you will find the dates and brief descriptions of each holiday. Lists of public holidays in Germany and the school holiday schedule are available on separate pages.
Spring holiday dates in Germany
Spring holidays in Germany in March 2026
| Date | Holiday name | Name in German |
|---|---|---|
| 8 March (Sun) | International Women's Day | Internationaler Frauentag |
| International Women’s Day on 8 March originally emerged as a day of women’s struggle for equality, political rights and emancipation. In Germany, this holiday is not widely observed. 8 March is an official public holiday and a day off work only in some federal states. | ||
| 25 March (Wed) | Annunciation to the Blessed Virgin Mary | Mariä Verkündigung |
| A church holiday in connection with the message of the angel Gabriel to the Virgin Mary, mother of Jesus Christ, about his future birth. | ||
| 29 March (Sun) | Holy Week | Karwoche |
| In Christianity, the week preceding Easter is devoted to commemorating the suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Each day of the week includes certain memorable events, customs and traditions. | ||
| 29 March (Sun) | Palm Sunday | Palmsonntag |
| A Christian holiday, the last Sunday before Easter, the beginning of Holy Week. Also known as Palm Sunday. It is considered the day of Christ's entry into Jerusalem on a foal, which event people greeted with palm branches. Today, according to the tradition, willow and other tree branches are cut. In Protestant churches, the rite of confirmation takes place. | ||
Spring holidays in Germany in April 2026
| Date | Holiday name | Name in German |
|---|---|---|
| 1 April (Wed) | Day of jokes and laughter | 1. April, Narrentag |
| The day of laughter and jesters, celebrated in many countries of the world. People in Germany make fun of each other and say "Aprilscherz" or "April, April." | ||
| 2 April (Thu) | Holy Thursday | Gründonnerstag |
| Great or Holy Thursday, the day of Christ's last supper with his disciples on Passover. In churches, services are held. | ||
| 3 April (Fri) | Good Friday | Karfreitag |
| Good Friday commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. The name comes from the old German word char ("mourning"). In many places, processions such as the Way of the Cross take place. | ||
| 4 April (Sat) | Holy Saturday | Karsamstag |
| Great or Holy Saturday - the last day of Holy Week, the day of silence and prayer, preparation for Easter. Services are held the night before Easter. | ||
| 5 April (Sun) | Easter | Ostern |
| One of the most important holidays in Christianity, celebrated in connection with the resurrection of Jesus Christ. | ||
| 6 April (Mon) | Easter Monday | Ostermontag |
| The Second Day of Easter, street processions and walks are traditional. | ||
| 12 April (Sun) | Dominica in albis | Weißer Sonntag |
| White or Low Sunday/ Sunday of St. Thomas the Apostle - the first Sunday after Easter. White clothes of children, candles, flowers are the symbols of purity and innocence. On this day, the rites of communion or confirmation are held in churches. | ||
| 23 April (Thu) | World Book and Copyright Day | Welttag des Buches und des Urheberrechts |
| A day established by UNESCO to educate people and develop cultural traditions. In libraries, book authors read their works, book exhibitions and fairs are held. | ||
| 23 April (Thu) | Feast of Saint George | Georgstag |
| A church holiday in honour of St. George. Traditionally it is an important day for peasants and the village. Traditions embrace equestrian processions, bells ringing, riders impersonating. | ||
| 30 April (Thu) | Walpurgis Night | Walpurgisnacht |
| An ancient custom, observed from April 30 to May 1, associated with believing in witches and evil spirits. Bonfires are made that night, children put on fancy dresses, make a lot of noise, tell terrible stories, lovers jump over bonfires. Various superstitions are also common. This night is also associated with the May Day celebrations. | ||
Spring holidays in Germany in May 2026
| Date | Holiday name | Name in German |
|---|---|---|
| 1 May (Fri) | Labour Day, May 1 | 1. Mai |
| Labor Day is a day off from work in Germany. Initially, it was associated with the struggle to ban child labour, protect the rights of workers and provide an 8-hour working day. Political organizations hold debates and rallies on this day. | ||
| 1 May (Fri) | May Day | Maifest |
| A traditional May festival with fixing the Maypole, deciding on the May Queen and dancing, the origin of the holiday traditions is associated with fertility rituals. | ||
| 10 May (Sun) | Mother's Day | Muttertag |
| International Mother’s Day is a day of honoring mothers; on this day, children give their mothers flowers, drawings, and other gifts. It is believed that it comes from the ancient Greek cult of the mother; throughout history it has also been used as a day of unity of mothers in the struggle for peace. | ||
| 14 May (Thu) | Ascension of Christ | Christi Himmelfahrt |
| The celebration is associated with the ascension of Jesus Christ to heaven on the 40th day after his death and resurrection. Worship services are held, fertility practices such as field processions sometimes take place. On this day, Germany also celebrates Father's Day. | ||
| 14 May (Thu) | Father's Day | Vatertag |
| A holiday celebrated in honor of fathers. On this day, people go to the fields on hiking tours or walking excursions with carts or wagons full of wine or beer bottles (according to the region) and traditional regional food, drink alcohol and eat sausages. Children sign greeting cards and give gifts to their fathers. | ||
| 15 May (Fri) | Cold Sophie | Kalte Sophie |
| Saint Sophie or Cold Sophie Day. Peasants and farmers plant flowers, seedlings, and also drive livestock to the fields after this day, it is believed that warm weather will set in after the Ice Saints (St. Pancras, St. Servatius, St. Boniface, and St. Sophie) period from May 12 to 15. | ||
| 24 May (Sun) | Pentecost | Pfingsten |
| The celebration in connection with the formation of the Christian congregation on the 50th day after Easter and the outpouring of the Spirit (Trinity). The celebration is accompanied by such traditions as: horse processions, round dances, tournaments and competitions, driving cattle off to pasture in the fields. In Germany, a festival of mills is also held on this day. | ||
| 25 May (Mon) | Pentecost, 2nd day | Pfingstmontag |
| The Second Day of Pentecost. | ||
Explanation of the table:
- German public holiday, which is an additional day off.
- A public holiday, which is an additional day off in some German federal states (see the table of German public holidays).
- Religious holidays that are not particularly popular in Germany are highlighted in gray.
Author team kalender-plus.de
Last updated:
Popular spring holidays in Germany in March, April, and May.