German public holidays 2019 and 2020 - bank holidays in Germany

Public holidays in Germany can be divided into two groups: holidays celebrated throughout all of the country and holidays observed locally by only some of the sixteen German federal states, Länder.

German Unity Day is one of the most festive national holidays in Germany. Above, Tag der Deutschen Einheit celebrations in Munich.

Overview of public holidays (bank holidays) in all of Germany:

Regional holidays in Germany 2019 and 2020

See below the list of statutory holidays in celebrated locally in some of the German federal states.

Epiphany (Heilige drei Konige) – holiday in Baden-Wurttemberg, Saxony-Anhalt and Bavaria
Commonly known as the Three King’s Day, in the Catholic Church tradition the 6th of January is denominated as the day of the Epiphany. It celebrates the revelation of the arrival of God’s Son, Jesus Christ made to the Three Wise Men during their visit to Bethlehem. In the above mentioned states all public institutions, and often also the private ones are closed on the 6^th of January. Traditionally, bockbier beer, brewed according to a special recipe, is consumed.

Thinking about visiting Bavaria? See the official tourist website of Munich.

Corpus Christi (Fronleichnam) – feriado em Baden-Wurttemberg, Bavaria, Hesse, North-Rhine Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland, Saxony and Thuringia
Corpus Christi is one of the most solemn celebrations of the Catholic Church and apart from traditional processions may take different, original forms, depending on the locations. Such is the case of Cologne where the procession is held, partially, on boats on the Rhine River.

Fronleichnam celebrations in Cologne.

In 2019, Corpus Christi falls on 20 June and in 2020 on 11 June.

Reformation Day (Reformationstag) – holiday in Brandenburg, Hamburg, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Lower Saxony, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Schleswig-Holstein and Thuringia
Reformationstag holiday, held on 31 October, commemorates the events which led to creation of Protestantism in the 16th century and more specifically, the open crticism of the Roman Catholic church, expressed by the German monk Martin Luther in his Ninety Five Thesis, nailed to a church door in Wittenberg on 31 October 1517.

All Saints Day (Allerheiligen) – holiday in Baden-Wurttemberg, North-Rhine Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate and Saarland
The All Saints Day, which celebrates all the saints of the Church, but also all of those who passed away, is an introspective and solemn holiday. Apart from dedicated church services and visits to the cemeteries to tend to the graves of the loved ones, German tradition dictates that a sweet braided bread is baked.

Much like elsewhere in the world, the American tradition of Halloween parties is gaining each time more importance on All Saints Day’s eve.

Repentance and Prayer Day (Buß- und Bettag) – holiday in Saxony, and partially, Bavaria
Public institutions and banks in Saxony are closed on the Repentance and Prayer Day, which is an important festivity of the Protestant Church. In Bavaria, this day is a school holiday. Buß- und Bettag day is celebrated 11 days before the Advent. In 2019, the Repentance and Prayer Day falls on 20 November and in 2020, on 18 November.