St Martin's Day
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Monday november 11, 2024
cards/flowers : The most popular of all saints' days, especially with children. children prepare for the arrival of St. Martin by making paper lanterns. St. Martin arrives to towns at dusk on a big horse named Shimmel. All the children gather with their lit lanterns and parade through town behind him singing songs in his honor.
People's mourning Day
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Sunday november 17, 2024
Culture : Commemorates all those who died in armed conflicts or as the victims of violent oppression.
Ewigkeitssonntag
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Sunday november 17, 2024
Culture : General celebration in memorial of the deceased for the Lutherian Church
Holy Night
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Tuesday december 24, 2024
Culture :
Banks are closed
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Tuesday december 24, 2024
Banks only : Not an official public holiday, but all financial and stock exchange activities, most bank as well as most businesses are closed.
Christmas Day
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Wednesday december 25, 2024
Catholic or protestant : Since pre-historic times in Europe, festivities (bonfires, offrerings) were marking the beginning of longer hours of daylight with fires and ritual. The Roman festival of Saturnalia lasted several days in December (gambling and offerings). Germanic tribes also celebrated mid-winter (drinking and rituals). The Bulgarian (with Koleduvane) and the Polish (with Gwiazdka) perpetuate this tradition. Jesus of Nazareth was probably born in springtime (Reformists favour autumn). But in the 4th century, December 25th was chosen for the celebration of his birth by Pope Julius I (Bishop Liberus is also mentioned in 354 A.D.). Thus, a Christian element was introduced in the long-established mid-winter festivals. Before 1582, the Papal States and other Italian city states celebrated New Years Day on Christmas Day.
2nd Christmas Day
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Thursday december 26, 2024
Secular holiday :
Banks are closed
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Tuesday december 31, 2024
Banks only : Not an official public holiday, but all financial and stock exchange activities, most bank as well as most businesses are closed.
School holidays
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Wednesday january 1, 2025
School holidays : The summer holidays in Germany last six and a half weeks.
Holiday dates vary from state to state, as well as for different school years, but the earliest starts in mid-June (end of June) and ends at the end of September
calendars gazetted by the respective Departments of Education
all study programs are aligned with the requirements of the Bologna Process
2022 PISA ranking: #24 with a 482 score
Schooling is mandatory till age 16
Average class size: more than 24
school day duration: 5:30 hours
number of instructional hours per year in lower secondary education: 752
Usually no school on Saturday
2022 PISA ranking: #24 with a 482 score
Please scroll to related Länder to view local school calendars
We carry confirmed dates mostly till 2026 or 2027; Further dates are projected dates based on previous years
Please note that authorities may take last-minute decisions; please double-check if this information is vital to you
New Year's Day
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Wednesday january 1, 2025
Secular holiday : The world's most widely celebrated holiday, New Years was set on January 1 by Julius Caesar because that was the date the Roman consuls took over their duties. Paid holiday when falling on Saturday or Sunday
Epiphany
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Monday january 6, 2025
cards/flowers :
Valentine's Day
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Friday february 14, 2025
cards/flowers : Introduced by Pope Gelasus in 498, perhaps in response to a local Roman tradition of lovers writing their names on an urn in February