Sunday of the Dead in Germany

The Sunday of the Dead (Totensonntag) is a religious holiday in the German Evangelical Church dedicated to the memory of those who have passed away. Like the National Day of Mourning, it is a “silent day” - this means that in some regions of Germany music or dance events are prohibited.

Is Sunday of the Dead a Public Holiday?

While Sunday of the Dead is not a public holiday, it is categorized as a silent day (stiller Tag) in all or part of Germany. In some states, special restrictions may apply for certain types of activities, such as concerts or dance events. Depending on the state, businesses may follow normal or restricted opening hours, or they may be closed for the day.

What Do People Do?

Many Germans visit the graves of loves ones who have passed away. Services are held in many Lutheran churches.

Public Life

The Totensonntag is a so-called “silent day” (stiller Tag). In some German states music or dance events are prohibited by law. Like on any other Sunday, offices, banks and schools are closed. Public transport usually runs on a normal Sunday schedule.

Background

The Sunday of the Dead was initiated in 1816 by Frederick William III of Prussia.

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.