Germany’s Father’s Day, Vatertag, is on Ascension Day: the Thursday 39 days after Easter Sunday. It is a public holiday, so it moves with Easter and can be anywhere from late April to early June. Mother’s Day, Muttertag, is the second Sunday of May.

Christmas Eve, Heiligabend, is when most German families open presents, so it has its own row next to Christmas Day. On 6 December, children wake up to find what St Nicholas left in their boots.

Small traditions like these are easy to keep going, and each one is another chance to spend time with the people you love.

Relationship days

Day20262027
Valentine's Day For love and romance
Mother's Day For mothers and mother figures
Father's Day For fathers and father figures
International Day of Friendship The UN day of friendship
Wife Appreciation Day For wives

Global days

Day20262027
Halloween An evening of costumes and treats
New Year's Eve The last night of the year

Christian

Day20262027
Good Friday The crucifixion of Jesus
Easter Sunday The resurrection of Jesus
All Saints' Day Remembering those we have lost
St Nicholas' Day Small gifts, often for children
Christmas Eve The night before Christmas
Christmas The birth of Jesus

Hindu

Day20262027
Diwali The festival of lights

Islamic

Day20262027
Eid al-Adha The festival of sacrificeExpected Expected
Eid al-Fitr The end of RamadanNo date listedExpected

Buddhist

Day20262027
Vesak Honoring the BuddhaNo date listed

Expected dates follow the moon and can move by a day. They are confirmed closer to the time.

Notes on German dates

  • Vatertag follows Easter, so it is a different Thursday each year.
  • Nikolaustag is 6 December every year.
  • Eid dates depend on the moon and are confirmed closer to the time.