
Christmas Eve
Christmas Eve is the day before Christmas Day and the start of the Christmas celebration. It always falls on December 24 in Germany.
Christmas Day is a public holiday in Germany on December 25. Many people spend the day with their family. Large meals with traditional foods are served and Christmas decorations are displayed. German Christmas decorations include nutcrackers, Christmas pyramids, and cribs.
Christmas Day is a public holiday. It is a day off for the general population, and schools and most businesses are closed.
In 2022, it falls on a Sunday, and some businesses may choose to follow Sunday opening hours.
Special sweet snacks are popular during the Christmas season.
©iStockphoto.com/ollo
People generally spend Christmas Day with family members or close friends. Some attend church services and many sing traditional Christmas carols. A large meal is traditionally eaten in the afternoon or early evening. Typical dishes include:
People also eat turkey, beef, venison or wild boar in some parts of Germany.
Christmas Day is a public holiday in Germany. Post offices, banks, stores and businesses are closed. However, stores in some tourist areas may be open and stores at railway stations, airports and along highways are usually open.
There are some restrictions on selling alcohol, public performances and dancing. Public transport services may run as usual, at a reduced service or no service depending on where one lives or intends to travel.
Traditional Christmas decorations include:
Schwibbogen (decorative arc-shaped candle holders) are displayed in the Ore Mountains in Saxony. Each candle holder is made of a single piece of wood or metal and holds more candles on top of an arc. The arc is filled with figures to create a scene. Some scenes represent aspects of the Christmas story, while others display local traditions or events.
Sweet snacks are popular at Christmas. Traditional treats include: Plätzchen (flat biscuits covered in sugar frosting); Lebkuchen (gingerbread); Pfeffernüsse (gingerbread covered in sugar frosting and small candies); Stollen (a rich bread filled with dried fruit and a marzipan roll); and Spekulatius (small cookies flavored with cinnamon, nutmeg and other spices).
Year | Weekday | Date | Name | Holiday Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
2017 | Mon | Dec 25 | Christmas Day | National holiday, Christian |
2018 | Tue | Dec 25 | Christmas Day | National holiday, Christian |
2019 | Wed | Dec 25 | Christmas Day | National holiday, Christian |
2020 | Fri | Dec 25 | Christmas Day | National holiday, Christian |
2021 | Sat | Dec 25 | Christmas Day | National holiday, Christian |
2022 | Sun | Dec 25 | Christmas Day | National holiday, Christian |
2023 | Mon | Dec 25 | Christmas Day | National holiday, Christian |
2024 | Wed | Dec 25 | Christmas Day | National holiday, Christian |
2025 | Thu | Dec 25 | Christmas Day | National holiday, Christian |
2026 | Fri | Dec 25 | Christmas Day | National holiday, Christian |
2027 | Sat | Dec 25 | Christmas Day | National holiday, Christian |
While we diligently research and update our holiday dates, some of the information in the table above may be preliminary. If you find an error, please let us know.
Christmas Eve is the day before Christmas Day and the start of the Christmas celebration. It always falls on December 24 in Germany.
The Second Day of Christmas is a public holiday in Germany. It always falls on December 26.
Ascension Day in Germany is on a Thursday 39 days after Easter Sunday.
Father’s Day celebrates fatherhood and male parenting on different dates worldwide.