Renting in Frankfurt, Germany as an American: What to know
Thinking about moving to Frankfurt? Find out what you need to know about renting in Frankfurt, Germany in this guide.
Bank and public holidays in Germany: 2017-2018 guide
Holidays in Germany are celebrated differently than in many parts of the world. Germans take their holidays very seriously, with celebrations that are steeped in tradition. Which holidays are celebrated depends on the part of the country you're in, so it’s very important to do your research and know which celebrations are customary for the locations you plan to visit. Read on for a guide to everything you need to know about national holidays in Germany.
National holidays in Germany
There are 15 national holidays in Germany each year.
- German public holidays: 15
- German bank holidays: 11
Celebrating Mother’s Day and Father’s Day in Germany
Mother’s Day in Germany originated during WWII, when medals were given to mothers who produced children for the Vaterland, or Fatherland. After the war, the holiday took on American customs, and today, it’s often celebrated with brunch and a large family meal in the evening. Children will often give small gifts to their mothers as well.
Father’s Day in Germany is a very different celebration than in other parts of the world. It’s always celebrated on Ascension Day, which is the Thursday 40 days after Easter, and many people also take the following Friday off work, resulting in a four-day weekend. Groups of men will work together to pull a wagon full of alcohol and ham on a hiking tour, showing off their manly strength. After the hike, they eat and drink. The holiday is used for many as an excuse to get extremely drunk. In some smaller towns, a tradition is still practiced in which all the men in the town are gathered in the town centre, where the mayor awards the man with the most children with a gift, usually a large ham.
The most important holidays and dates in Germany
Germany celebrates a number of important holidays. One of the country’s most widely celebrated national holidays is German Unity Day, which commemorates the official date of Germany’s reunification after the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1990. On this day, politicians give speeches and special TV programming about German history is on for families to enjoy on their day off. In Berlin, there’s live music and other festivities.
Germany also celebrates Swiss National Day, which is marked by public fireworks displays in major cities.
The German holiday that many is the world know about is Oktoberfest, which is a two-week festival that begins in mid-September and ends on the first Sunday of October. Oktoberfest isn’t recognized as a public or national holiday, but draws millions of revelers to Munich for the annual celebration. The first Oktoberfest was a wedding for a Bavarian princess, which was so widely attended, the royal family held another celebration the following year. Today, Oktoberfest is a lot like a large state fair, with carnival rides, games and lots of food and beer.
List of public holidays in Germany for 2017
| Holiday | Name of holiday in German | 2017 Date | Bank holiday? |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Year’s Day | Neujahrstag | 1 January, 2017 | Yes |
| Epiphany Day or Three Kings Day | Epiphanie, Epiphanias or Erscheinung des Herrn | 6 January, 2017 | Yes |
| Good Friday | Karfreitag | 14 April, 2017 | Yes |
| Easter Monday | Ostermontag | 17 April, 2017 | Yes |
| May Day or Labour Day | Tag der Arbeit | 1 May, 2017 | Yes |
| Ascension Day | Christi Himmelfahrt | 25 May, 2017 | Yes |
| Whit Monday or Pentecost Monday | Pfingstmontag | 5 June, 2017 | Yes |
| Corpus Christi | Fronleichnam | 15 June, 2017 | Yes |
| Assumption Day | Mariae Himmelfahrt, Mariae Aufnahme in den Himmel | 15 August, 2017 | No |
| German Unity Day | Tag der Deutschen Einheit | 3 October, 2017 | Yes |
| Day of Reformation | 31 October, 2017 | No | |
| All Saints Day | Allerheiligen | 1 November, 2017 | No |
| Repentance Day | Buss- und Bettag | 22 November, 2017 | No |
| Christmas Day | Weihnachten | 25 December, 2017 | Yes |
| Boxing Day | Weihnachtsfeiertag, Stephanstag | 26 December, 2017 | Yes |
List of public holidays in Germany for 2018
| Holiday | Name of holiday in German | 2018 Date | Bank holiday? |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Year’s Day | Neujahrstag | 1 January, 2018 | Yes |
| Epiphany Day or Three Kings Day | Epiphanie, Epiphanias or Erscheinung des Herrn | 6 January, 2018 | Yes |
| Good Friday | Karfreitag | 30 March, 2018 | Yes |
| Easter Monday | Ostermontag | 2 April, 2018 | Yes |
| May Day or Labour Day | Tag der Arbeit | 1 May, 2018 | Yes |
| Ascension Day | Christi Himmelfahrt | 10 May, 2018 | Yes |
| Whit Monday or Pentecost Monday | Pfingstmontag | 21 May, 2018 | Yes |
| Corpus Christi | Fronleichnam | 31 May, 2018 | Yes |
| Assumption Day | Mariae Himmelfahrt, Mariae Aufnahme in den Himmel | 15 August, 2018 | No |
| German Unity Day | Tag der Deutschen Einheit | 3 October, 2018 | Yes |
| Day of Reformation | 31 October, 2018 | No | |
| All Saints Day | Allerheiligen | 1 November, 2018 | No |
| Repentance Day | Buss- und Bettag | 21 November, 2018 | No |
| Christmas Day | Weihnachten | 25 December, 2018 | Yes |
| Boxing Day | Weihnachtsfeiertag, Stephanstag | 26 December, 2018 | Yes |
List of public holidays in Germany for 2019
| Holiday | Name of holiday in German | 2019 Date | Bank holiday? |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Year’s Day | Neujahrstag | 1 January, 2019 | Yes |
| Epiphany Day or Three Kings Day | Epiphanie, Epiphanias or Erscheinung des Herrn | 6 January, 2019 | Yes |
| Good Friday | Karfreitag | 19 April, 2019 | Yes |
| Easter Monday | Ostermontag | 22 April, 2019 | Yes |
| May Day or Labour Day | Tag der Arbeit | 1 May, 2019 | Yes |
| Ascension Day | Christi Himmelfahrt | 30 May, 2019 | Yes |
| Whit Monday or Pentecost Monday | Pfingstmontag | 10 June, 2019 | Yes |
| Corpus Christi | Fronleichnam | 20 June, 2019 | Yes |
| Assumption Day | Mariae Himmelfahrt, Mariae Aufnahme in den Himmel | 15 August, 2019 | No |
| German Unity Day | Tag der Deutschen Einheit | 3 October, 2019 | Yes |
| Day of Reformation | 31 October, 2019 | No | |
| All Saints Day | Allerheiligen | 1 November, 2019 | No |
| Repentance Day | Buss- und Bettag | 20 November, 2019 | No |
| Christmas Day | Weihnachten | 25 December, 2019 | Yes |
| Boxing Day | Weihnachtsfeiertag, Stephanstag | 26 December, 2019 | Yes |
Sending money home for the holidays in Germany?
Need to send money from Germany to the USA for the holidays in Germany? Instead of making an international bank transfer, try Wise, which will allow you to move money as quickly as possible for as little as possible. Wise moves money between local accounts, so it never crosses borders, which means you don’t pay any international or intermediary fees. Wise uses the actual exchange rate, like you'd see on Google, without any hidden fees or markups. All you pay is a small transfer fee that’s spelled out upfront. It’s easy, fast and secure.
Wise also offers borderless multi-currency accounts, which give users the ability to manage, send and receive money in several global currencies at once. If you live in one country and get paid in the UK, the US, the EU or Australia, then you can even get bank details to get paid like a local. Borderless account holders will even have access to consumer debit cards beginning in 2018.
Try Wise today to see how easy it can really be to send money abroad.
Now that you know Germany’s important dates and customs, you’re ready to celebrate like a local. What’s even better is that you won’t get caught needing a bank when they’re all closed for a holiday. Happy holidays!
*Please see terms of use and product availability for your region or visit Wise fees and pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information.
This publication is provided for general information purposes and does not constitute legal, tax or other professional advice from Wise Payments Limited or its subsidiaries and its affiliates, and it is not intended as a substitute for obtaining advice from a financial advisor or any other professional.
We make no representations, warranties or guarantees, whether expressed or implied, that the content in the publication is accurate, complete or up to date.
Money without borders
Find out more
Renting in Germany: Everything you need to know
Recently moved to Germany and need a place? In this guide, we'll show you everything you need to know about renting in Germany.
Jobs in Germany for Americans: full guide
Find all you need to know about getting a job in Germany as an American
Having a baby in Germany? You'll wanna know the costs
Are you or your partner expecting? While this is meant to be a very exciting time in your life, sometimes medical expenses and navigating public or private...
Minimum wage in Germany? What you need to know
Germany is so much more than sausages and beer. The country boasts incredibly low unemployment, a high quality of life, and a wonderful mix of history,...
What is the calling code for Germany? Making your phone call
Germany is already home to a healthy expat community and a thriving tourism industry. People from all over the world regularly visit or relocate to Germany,...
