For each of the holidays, be it religious or state, the Germans treat with great respect and carefully prepare, decorating houses, buying gifts and setting a rich table with beer always present on it.
Some celebrations are days off for the entire country, others are celebrated only in some regions. And of course, throughout the year, you can find many bright and outstanding festivals, fairs and carnivals. The people of Germany just love to have fun and do it with soul and scope.
Winter and annual events of this season in Germany
The coldest time of the year is traditionally the most intense and rich in annual events. Already from the first days of December, a series of fairs and sales, shows and carnivals begins in the country, and thousands of garlands and tall fir trees appear on the streets, on whose fluffy paws stars, Santa figurines and other decorations are hung.
New Year and Christmas in Germany
The main attributes of the Christmas holidays are a wreath with four Adventskranz candles, a Christmas calendar with windows and chocolate. Windows are always painted in houses, candles and images with biblical scenes are displayed on the windowsills, and elegant Christmas trees are adorned on the balconies of residents. Not without fairytale German heroes - The Nutcracker, Frau Hall and others.
The most famous fair on Christmas Eve takes place in the city of Nuremberg. It is traditionally opened by a girl dressed in a golden-winged angel. As in many other seasonal festive markets (Krskindlesmarkt, Alexanderplatz, etc.), the number of which exceeds 2500, the counters are full of sweets, mulled wine and painted souvenirs.
Christmas in Germany celebrated for three days: December 24 - Christmas Eve, 25 - Catholic Christmas and 26 - the day of St. Stephen. The first of three days, Christmas Eve, the Germans spend in the church (including at night mass), and the evening - at a festive dinner with the obligatory pie - Stollen, after which the children are presented with long-awaited gifts. On December 25, families gather again at the table, celebrating their favorite holiday of the year in an atmosphere of warmth and friendliness. After dinner, December 24 in the country is a short working day, 25 is a day off.
New Year in Germany celebrate noisily and violently. On December 31, Germans prefer to take to the streets, drink champagne and watch musical performances, a laser show and a grand fireworks display. It is a wonderful New Year's tradition to “jump” into the coming year. With the last strike of the clock at midnight, the Germans climb onto chairs and, with a cry of Prosit Neujahr, jump down. Also, traditionally on the 31st, a sports race is held for everyone.
After incendiary dances at discos and a large amount of alcohol consumed all day on January 1, the Germans sleep off and "improve their health."
But don't think that the Christmas holidays are already over by January 1st. The spirit of Christmas is in the air right up to January 6 - Three Kings Daywhen children go to neighboring houses to sing songs and receive treats deserved by talent from adults. And on January 7 in Munich, you can catch a grandiose carnival.
February holidays in Germany
The largest of all German film festivals - “ Berlinale". Every year, new films from the film industry are presented here to the audience. The winners are awarded with honorary gold and silver bears. The event takes place over several days at the Berlinale Palast.
Also in February (in the middle or at the end) a major carnival is held in Cologne and Munich Fastnacht (Fasching). Prepare for the carnival ahead of time. On one Thursday in February, there is a women's holiday of permissiveness - Weiberfastnacht. And on the following Monday, with grandiose street processions, concerts and festivities, the Germans celebrate Rosenmontag (Rosenmontag). The next day, Tuesday, is a traditionally children's holiday with gifts and reduced classes in schools. Wednesday among all this carnival series justifies the name "Ash": on this day, after a storm of fun with a headache and a hangover, the carnivals prepare for the great forty-day Lent, which begins after "Ash Wednesday" and continues until Easter.
Spring annual events in Germany
EasterIs a religious holiday celebrated all over the world at the end of March or mid-April. Germany is no exception. Two days of the entire Easter week are most magnificently celebrated: Sunday and Monday (public holiday). Traditional symbols are eggs and rabbits. When you find yourself in Germany during this event, which ends Lent, you will see many beautiful customs, interesting fun, games and interesting traditions of celebrating Easter in Germany.
May 1Like the rest of the world, Germany celebrates Labor and Spring with the traditional maypole decoration and demonstrations.
Mother's Day and Father's Day in Germany - Honored events and public holidays. They are celebrated on the second Sunday in May and on the fortieth day after Easter, respectively. And if it is customary for beloved mothers and grandmothers to show signs of attention and give gifts, then men gather on their day and leave for picnics, grabbing a good basket with goodies and drinks.
Summer Love Parade in Germany
In the summer, a whole season of gay pride parades called Christopher-Street-Day opens in Germany. At the same time, in several German cities, adherents of free sexual relations, dressed in carnival costumes and with funny slogans in their hands (for example, "Have you hugged a gay today?"), Take to the streets at once. Musical support is provided by cars (sometimes very unusually decorated) and buses, slowly moving behind a colorful procession. At the same time, a huge number of residents gather to admire the procession.
Themed events (parties, concerts, exhibitions, etc.) are held in Germany for two weeks immediately before the processions of many thousands. In 2014, the annual love parade became 36 in a row and was held on June 21.
Autumn holidays in Germany
Autumn is not only a season that heralds the onset of cold weather, but also a very rich season for various events and holidays.
September 1 schoolchildren all over the world go to school after vacations. But only in Germany it is customary for children to give huge paper cones filled to the top with sweets to show how sweet it is to study at school.
Oktoberfest
Germany's main beer festival has been celebrated for over two hundred years. Fans of the frothy drink produced by Munich breweries have fun for nearly three weeks. In 2014, the festival starts on Saturday 20 September and ends on 5 October.
Traditionally, on the first morning of the festival, the procession of the owners of beer tents begins, and exactly at 12 noon, the foam festival is officially opened with cannon volleys. The next Sunday, the holiday takes on an even more grandiose form: more than eight thousand people dressed in historical and carnival costumes, accompanied by the sound of orchestras, pass from the Bavarian parliament building to the Teresa meadow, where many tents with an amber drink and a myriad of sausages and sausages await their guests and other snacks. In addition to alcoholic revelry, the festival offers rides for everyone. And the state of health of those who came to Oktoberfest is monitored by medical workers.
October 3 - Day of German Unity
This holiday is perhaps the most modest of all. In honor of the great event for the country, musical performances and festive fireworks are organized in Berlin and some other cities.
Feast of Kirmes (third Sunday in October)
An ancient rural holiday dedicated to the harvest. A couple of weeks before Kirmes, a symbolic straw effigy is buried in the ground along with a bottle of schnapps, and for the holiday itself it is dug up and attached to a decorated tree. The event is accompanied by worship services, games, dances and songs. The next day, the scarecrow is sent to the ground with pieces of pie, shards of glass, the head of a rooster, and the same bottle of schnapps. This tradition is like a symbolic offering to the land for a rich harvest.
Halloween and All Saints' Day, October 31 - November 1
In Germany, they love to dress up in various kinds of evil spirits and other scary carnival costumes on the eve of All Saints' Day. You can't do without the antiquity of a pumpkin candlestick and traditional treats. The biggest party is usually held at Castle Frankenstein. And the very next morning, the Germans rush to the graves of their deceased relatives to honor their memory. In some parts of the country, November 1 is a day off.
National Sorrow Day in Germany, 18 November
A day of mourning with a rich historical background is held in all cities of Germany. The chancellor, heads of government and diplomatic corps make speeches, the country's anthem is always played, and mourning rallies are held. Residents mourn for those killed in the first and second World War.
"Fifth season" in Germany
According to the ancient tradition, the “fifth season”, which marks the beginning of preparations for Christmas festivities and the opening of the festival season, begins annually on November 11 at 11:11 am. This season will last until the very end of February and will end with a magnificent carnival.
In addition, many religious and secular holidays are celebrated in Germany. Some of them are traditionally celebrated at night, while others are associated with very interesting historical events. And there are so many festivals and carnivals throughout the year that it is simply impossible to count them. Having visited the country and having attended several celebrations, you will not only feel love for this cheerful people, but also feel how they know how to relax in Germany.
We often perceive the people of Germany as dry and callous pedants. But as soon as you get to know them in an informal setting, you will surely be convinced of the opposite. Most fully conducive to communication visiting institutions, whose doors are thrown open for guests at nightfall.In Germany, as in most countries, New Year is celebrated on January 1st.
Previously, the New Year was celebrated on January 6 on the Day of the Three Kings and was then called das Groß-Neujahr. And from the end of the 18th century, this holiday began to be celebrated on January 1st.
As in all countries, many different rituals are associated with the celebration of the New Year. So, for example, for a holiday it was necessary to put on new clothes, on this day one should not argue and swear (I believe that it is better not to do this any day), there should be an abundance of various delicious food in the house.
In some northern cities of Germany, tables with various treats were exhibited in front of the house. Also on New Year's Eve, all kinds of bakery products such as Kringeln, Brezeln, herzförmige Kuchen were baked and decorated with New Year's wishes (Neujahrssprüche)
Ich wünsche auch aus Herzensgrund
ein gutes Jahr zur Stund
ein Neues Jahr, das auch erquickt
und alle Übel von euch schickt.
Gott soll auch segnen und erhalten
im Neuen Jahr wie auch im alten
Das wünsch ich auch, Gott mach es wahr!
Die Neujahrsnacht still und klar
deutet auf ein gutes Jahr
There are also standard greetings in the form of simple phrases:
Prost Neujahr!
Guten Rutsch ins Neue Jahr! (colloquial).
Ein gesundes und erfolgreiches Neujahr!
Herzlichen Glückwunsch zum Jahreswechsel!
Die beste Wünsche zum Neuen Jahre!
Fastnacht (Karneval) - carnival(celebrated in February)
The word Fastnacht comes from the word vas (e) naht (Mittelhochdeutsch) and meant "nightly antics and pranks", which manifested the joy associated with the approach of spring. By 1700, this holiday was called Karneval.
Carnival is one of the most fun and original holidays.
Fasching (approx. The so-called Carnival in Bavaria) was not recognized by the church of Martin Luther, and therefore this holiday is not celebrated everywhere. According to Catholic tradition, this celebration is followed by fasting (fastenzeit). They are preparing for February fun already in November. The celebration always begins on November 11 at 11:11 am. The peak of the holiday is "three crazy days" (drei tolle Tage, drei Torkeltage, drei fette Tage). Where Maslenitsa is celebrated, schools and shops are closed. Festive dishes are distinguished by the presence of a variety of fatty foods.
Ostern - Easter
Easter is the main holiday of Christians, which is established in honor of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Wunschformeln:
ein schönes Ostern!
Schöne Ostern!
Frohe (fröliche) Ostern!
Herzliche Ostergrüße!
Man kann sagen:
Ostern fällt / ist dieses Jahr sehr früh
Es ist bald Ostern
Was habt ihr Ostern vor?
Wir hatten schöne (ein schönes) Ostern
nächstes Jahr Ostern
kurz nach Ostern
Vorige Ostern waren wir in Spanien.
Easter is celebrated 40 days after Aschermittwoch. At this time of the year, the weather is not yet stable, and snow may fall. In this case, they say "weiße Ostern", which means "white Easter".
Trinity is celebrated 50-51 days after Easter. From here, the meaning of the phraseological unit "wenn Ostern und Pfingsten zusammenfallen" becomes clear, which means "never; like a crayfish on the mountain whistles; after a rain on Thursday (literally, when Easter coincides with Trinity)".
Children always think that the hare brings them Easter eggs, and sometimes other animals. Adults hide eggs in the house, in the garden, etc. And then the children look for them.
1.Mai - Tag der Arbeit (Labor Day)
In Germany, this day is celebrated with meetings and demonstrations of workers.
The custom of greeting the coming of May dates back to the 13th century. Green twigs and small trees served as decoration and expression of love. Young people usually gave "may-trees" or attached their girlfriend to the house.
Weinachten - Christmas
Christmas in Germany is celebrated on the night of December 25th to 26th. Preparation for the celebration begins 4 weeks before the holiday itself.
The first Sunday after November 26th is Advent, which lasts all 4 weeks before Christmas
Merry Christmas greetings:
Schöne, frohe, fröliche Weihnachten!
Gesegnete Weihnachten!
Frohes fest
Es ist bald Wihnachten
Weihnachten steht vor der Tür
Germany is the leader of European countries and is characterized by a high level of development of life, economy and industry. Germans love order, punctuality and scrupulousness in almost everything. And they treat any holidays, and there are a lot of them in Germany, with all seriousness and thoroughness.
Holidays in Germany
Not all holidays are weekends and are celebrated throughout the country. This is largely due to the state structure of the republic, which is distinguished by federalism. The independence of each of the federal states plays an important role in this.
All national holidays have their own long-standing traditions and foundations, especially for religious and pagan celebrations. Despite the fact that Germany is a highly developed state, it has managed to preserve its identity, measured and calm life.
Like any other country, the German republic has both state and purely national holidays, which are associated with some memorable date or historical day. There are also celebrations in the country associated with Catholic beliefs. In addition, Germany celebrates some well-known holidays such as:
- New Year's 1st January.
- Knowledge Day September 1.
- Workers' Day -1 May, etc.
Features of national holidays
Germany hosts numerous concerts, festivals, fairs and festivals every year. If it's a general day off, then only cinemas, bakeries and cafes will work. All traditions and holidays in Germany are closely related to the culture of this country. Despite their seemingly calm and serious nature, the German people love to have fun. Although the main cultural life of Germany, with a mass of museums and theaters, is concentrated in large cities, bright echoes of the holidays are scattered throughout the quiet and remote corners of the provinces.
Beer festival in Germany
Munich Oktoberfest is the most famous and popular beer festival on the planet. In 2010, he celebrated his 200th anniversary, the celebration is held from September 20 to October 4. This beer festival in Germany is annually attended by more than 6 million drink lovers from all over the world. They come here to taste it and enjoy the unique taste. The famous beer from the best Munich breweries is only brewed during this period in accordance with the beer purity law of 1487. The alcohol content of the drink must not exceed 6.8%. Since its inception, the festival has only been canceled a few times, for good reason:
- Cholera epidemic.
- Prussian-Austrian War.
- Franco-Prussian War.
- First and Second World Wars.
- Hyperinflation in Germany in 1923-24.
The beer festival is held in the Theresa meadow in the center of Munich. 14 large tents with a capacity of 10,000 people and 15 small ones with a capacity of about 1,000 people are being built on it. Life is raging inside the tents: waitresses serve 10 beers at a time, festival guests enjoy a foamy drink and gobble up the famous Munich pork sausages and fried chicken. Beer flows like a river to the incessant sound of music. There are many other entertainments at the festival: carousels, roller coasters, a Ferris wheel. In addition to beer tasting, you can just walk in the park, make new acquaintances, buy souvenirs, visit some attraction or a flea circus.
Harvest festival
The harvest festival Volksfest in Stuttgart is celebrated from 23 September to 9 October. He is the main competitor of the Bavarian festival. Like all beer festivals in Germany, the Volksfest is famous for the amount of frothy it drinks. This festival is in many ways similar to the Munich beer festival, but its main feature is that it is family-oriented.
The holiday is rooted in the distant past. On this day, people rejoice at a good harvest of vegetables, fruits, berries, grains, thank God for his gifts. Churches hold special services dedicated to the holiday, while buildings are adorned with wheat wreaths and the fruits of the new harvest. All vegetables and fruits are consecrated and laid out in front of the altar.
German Unity Day
It is celebrated on October 3rd. It is a national holiday that has been celebrated on the day of the successful unification of West and East Germany since October 1990. This day was declared an official holiday in Germany. And the Independence Day of the Federal Republic of Germany, which was celebrated on June 17, was abolished.
Many national holidays in Germany are characterized by the fact that on this day rallies and sessions of parliament are held in the states and city halls. Members of the upper chamber of the FRG parliament, as well as various politicians and public figures are actively involved in this. Concerts and festivities are held in cities, and in the evening - fireworks await everyone.
German Holidays in October
More than 70 well-known historical and architectural monuments of the city take part in the grandiose festival of light in Berlin, these are:
- Famous Berlin Cathedral.
- Bergamon Museum.
- Chancellor's residence.
- TV tower and others.
All these buildings turn into light installations for two weeks. The Festival of Light has existed not so long ago - since 2005, but has already gained worldwide popularity. Like other holidays in Germany, it attracts a large number of tourists from all over the world.
Berlin during the festival is like a fairy-tale world with millions of colored lights that adorn the buildings. The streets of the city are illuminated at night with spotlights and lanterns. Berliners and visitors alike enjoy watching light performances projected on the walls of buildings. So that tourists can view all the light programs, there are excursion routes - bicycle, bus, walking and even boat. The Berlin festival is rich in its cultural program. Guests and residents of the city are presented with exhibitions of photographs depicting the city at night.
What other holidays are there in Germany in October? The cherished dream and the main holiday of every book lover is the Frankfurt Book Fair. At this festival, publications from more than 100 countries are presented - these are books, magazines, newspapers, comics, various printed materials. It also does not do without the production of multimedia literature. The Book Forum is about 500 years old.
Germans love to have fun and try not to miss a single celebration or holiday. They also honor national holidays adopted from Europeans. The Germans treat those days with honors and with all seriousness when it is necessary to commemorate the dead. Also, the Germans celebrate Halloween - October 31 - an international gathering of evil spirits. In America, he is celebrated by dressing up in masquerade costumes of witches and ghouls and carving a head from a pumpkin. German youth are also having fun.
Germany in November
Basically, all holidays in Germany in November are Catholic festivals. November 1 is the day of all martyrs, saints and the dead. On this day, Catholics visit the graves of deceased relatives and friends. The Germans decorate them and light the lamps. First, all relatives gather at the house of the older family members. Then, after lunch, everyone drives to the cemetery, where flowers are laid at the graves and candles are lit. The pastor begins the church service, he prays and reads sermons, the orchestra plays funeral music. After the end of the service, the pastor bypasses the cemetery and sprinkles the graves with holy water. In some southern states of Germany, November 1 is a day off, on this day it is forbidden to talk loudly and listen to music. Basically, all holidays in Germany in November are Catholic and religious festivals.
Saint Martin's Day is celebrated on November 11. This day is also considered the day of the harvest and is especially loved by children. It is on November 11 that a significant procession takes place with lighted lanterns and torches. Children, long before the holiday, prepare paper lanterns with their own hands, where candles will then be inserted. According to legend, a young soldier Martin warmed a freezing beggar with his cloak. Subsequently, the villagers looked for him with torches and lanterns in order to thank him for his good deed.
Official celebrations in Germany
All public holidays in Germany are common to all states. And they are all declared as days off. And New Year's holidays in Germany are celebrated on the night of December 31 to January 1.
Easter is the most important religious celebration. The holiday includes Good Friday, Easter and the following Monday. Despite the fact that officially religion is separated from the state in Germany, all these three days are days off. The symbol of German Easter, like any other, is colored eggs. On Sunday morning, all residents go to church for divine services, and then young people with children visit their friends and give them congratulations, songs, egg baskets, etc.
May 1 - Workers' Day of Solidarity. On this holiday, as in many countries, numerous demonstrations and rallies are held in Germany. People of various professions come out with flags, banners, march through the city streets and shout various slogans and sing songs.
Christmas fun and New Year celebrations
December 5 and 26 are official days off throughout the country. In this church services are held, people give each other their attention and gifts. It is customary to spend weekends at home, at a decorated Christmas tree and with loved ones. Spruce is usually dressed up in early December, and harvested on January 2-3. A month before the start of Christmas in Germany, fairs open in all cities across the country. Streets are decorated with garlands, multi-colored lanterns and balls, ribbons. During the Christmas sales, a large number of gifts and decorations, delicious food, drinks and costumes are bought. New Year's Eve is celebrated, as elsewhere in Europe, with fireworks, songs, dances.
Love parade
Despite its stiffness and love of order, there are also very unusual holidays in Germany, for example, the love parade. This festival takes place annually in various cities of the German state on 19 July. It is accompanied by loud music, very revealing outfits. One cannot ignore the national drink - beer, it flows like a river. This holiday is like a real carnival, a nationwide procession that lasts a whole day under the incessant musical accompaniment of the best DJs.
Germany is rich in its holidays. Most tourists visiting the country these days not only get involved in the national culture, but also discover a lot of interesting things. After all, there will be a great variety of impressions from visiting Germany.
This note lists German holidays in German with translation - both religious and national. And also some of the holidays of the Russian Federation - so that you know their translation if necessary. I will also share a selection of useful stencil phrases with which you can describe any of the holidays.
Religious German Holidays in German
Weekends for all of Germany are marked in orange. Other holidays are either days off in a number of states or are considered normal working days.
Rosenmontag - Monday roses, or the great German carnival
Palmsonntag - Palm Sunday (the last Sunday before Easter)
Karfreitag - Good Friday, Friday before Easter
Ostern - Easter
Ostersonntag - Sunday of Easter week (first Day of Easter)
Ostermonntag - Monday of Easter week (second Day of Easter)
Christi Himmelfahrt - Ascension of Christ, 40 Day after Easter
Pfingsten - Trinity, 50 days after Easter
Fronleichnam - Feast of the Body of Christ, the second Thursday after Trinity
Reformationstag - the holiday of the Reformation, October 31 is celebrated by the Evangelical Church in memory of the announcement by M. Luther of his theses on 10/31/1517
Buß- und Bettag - Day of repentance and prayer (Wednesday before the last Sunday of the church year)
Heiliger abend - Christmas Eve
Weihnachten - Nativity of Christ (December 25 and 26, one of the most important Christian holidays in honor of the birth of Christ)
Other holidays in German
German state:
Vatertag - Father's Day, always coincides with Christi Himmelfahrt.
Muttertag - Mother's Day, second Sunday in May
Holidays that are usual for us, which are not in Germany:
Let's make a story about any holiday?
And now I bring you templates with which you can tell about German holidays in German, or about any other holiday in any country.
We describe the holiday based on the following five points:
1 .Instead of dots, you can insert the name of the holiday to get a complete idea.
… Ist das wichtigste Fest in Deutschland. -… - the most important holiday in Germany.
Bei uns ist ... sehr wichtig. - This holiday is very important for us.
… gibt es bei uns gar nicht. - We do not have this holiday.
… wird bei uns nicht gefeiert. - ... we are not doing well.
Wir feiern ... immer ganz groß... “We are celebrating… on a grand scale.
2. About the traditions of the described holiday can be told using the following sentences. Here, instead of dots, you need to list what it is customary to occupy yourself with on this holiday.
Bei uns ist es Brauch / Tradition, an diesem Tag… zu machen... - We have a tradition to do ...
In meiner Heimat gehen an diesem Tag alle in / nach ... - In my homeland on this day everyone goes to ...
In meiner Familie gibt es einen großen besonderen Brauch: ... - There is one special tradition in my family ...
Als ich klein war, haben meine Eltern an diesen Tag immer ... - When I was little, my parents on this day all the time ...
Ein spezieller Brauch, von dem ich euch erzählen möchte, ist ... - One particular tradition that I wanted to tell you about is ...
Das ist bei uns nicht so üblich. - It's not so familiar to us.
In meinem Heimatland wird dieses Fest ganz anderes gefeiert: … - In our homeland this holiday is celebrated in a completely different way.
3. Next, you can talk about what dishes are popular on this day. Instead of dots, respectively, you need to substitute the name of the dish.
Zu Essen gibt es an… immer ganz spezielle Dinge: … - Special dishes are prepared from food for a holiday:…
Normalerweise gibt es an (holiday name) immer ... - Usually on (this holiday) always ...
Eine Spezialität in meiner Heimat ist ... - A special delicacy in my homeland is ...
Das traditionelle Gericht an diesem Tag ist ... - The traditional dish on this day is ...
In meiner Familie gibt es an diesem Tag immer ... - In my family this day they always cook ...
Was es an diesem Tag zu essen gibt, ist von Familie zu Familie sehr unterschiedlich. - The dishes served on this day, from family to family, are very different.
4. Personal attitude to this holiday. Everything is simple here again. Just like in the first paragraph, you only need to insert the name of the holiday.
Ich mag… am liebsten. - Most of all I love.
Auf diesen Tag freue ich mich immer sehr. - I am always very happy about this day.
Für mich persönlich ist… das wichtigste Fest im Jahr. - For me ... - the most important holiday of the year.
Ich mag… eigentlich lieber... - I love more …
… hat eine sehr große Bedeutung für mich. “… Is very important to me.
Mir ist das Fest nicht so wichtig. - For me, this holiday is not so important.
Wir feiern das Fest nicht. - We are not celebrating this holiday.
In meiner Familie wird das Fest eigentlich nicht gefeiert. - In my family, this holiday, in fact, is not celebrated.
5. Now the described holiday can be compared with how it is celebrated in another country / in your homeland.
… wird in Deutschland genauso gefeiert wie in Russland. -… he copes in Germany as well as in Russia.
... feiert man bei uns ganz anders als hier... -… celebrate here in a completely different way than here.
Eigentlich feiert man ... bei uns zu Hause ziemlich ähnlich. - As a matter of fact, we celebrate ... quite similar.
In Gegensatz zu Deutschland ist ... bei uns viel wichtiger... - In contrast to Germany ... much more important to us.
Ich mag… hier genauso gern wie bei uns, auch wenn es ganz anderes ist. - I love ... here as well as at home, and despite the fact that here it is celebrated in a completely different way.
Ich finde diese Unterschiede sehr interessant. - I find these differences very interesting.
Es ist irgendwie schön, dass ... hier ganz andres gefeiert wird. “It's still wonderful that… it is celebrated differently here.
That's all about the holidays in German. And you should definitely read the following articles about German holidays.
Germany is a country where punctuality, scrupulousness and order are valued above all else. It is not surprising that German holidays are events, the preparation of which is extremely responsible. However, the celebrations are just as fun as in any other country in the world. So what dates are of particular importance to the inhabitants of the state?
German holidays: Oktoberfest in Munich
For more than two centuries, Munich has celebrated the Oktoberfest every year, which no one in the world can match in terms of popularity. Like many other German holidays, this event lasts several days. It is traditionally arranged in the first decade of October. According to statistics, the celebration annually attracts over 6 million connoisseurs of good beer who flock to Munich from all over the world.
The venue for the celebration is Theresa's meadow, located in the heart of Munich. 14 huge tents are erected here, inside each of which there is space for ten thousand people, as well as 15 small tents, the capacity of which can accommodate about a thousand people. When listing other German holidays, one cannot think of a more lively event than this. Waitresses scurry about in the tents, serving beer to the guests, and legendary pork sausages are also offered. Of course, the organizers of the event don't forget about music either.
in Stuttgart
Volksfest is the name of the famous harvest festival that takes place every year in Stuttgart. The event starts on September 23rd, runs until October 9th, competing with the Munich festival. German holidays are hard to imagine without beer tasting; a drink is also offered in Stuttgart. However, the festival is different in that it provides a wide range of entertainment for the whole family. While parents pay tribute to Bavarian sausages and beer, the kids have fun riding the rides.
The Volksfest festival is extremely important for the Germans, these days tradition tells them to thank God for a great harvest. Special church services are held. The festive procession looks very colorful and large-scale; thousands of residents and guests of the city follow the parade. Hundreds of magicians and artists perform at the fair, music sounds everywhere.
German Unity Day
Listing German holidays and traditions associated with them, one cannot fail to mention the Day of German Unity. The celebration is dedicated to the unification of the country, which ended in 1990. The date of the event has remained unchanged since then - October 3, the holiday is official, celebrated in all corners of the state.
In terms of scale, this event can hardly be compared, for example, with the American one. There is no military parade, but the country's residents are happy to take part in mass festivities and watch free concerts. Of course, the celebration ends with fireworks. Also on this day, parliamentary sessions are traditionally held.
Saint Martin's Day
Naming the most famous German holidays and customs associated with them, one cannot forget St. Martin's Day. Many residents of Germany mention this celebration among their favorite ones, it takes place on November 11. There is even a beautiful legend related to this event, the protagonist of which is a Roman legionnaire who helped people out of trouble.
St. Martin's Day is adored not only by adults, but also by children. The guys run through the streets, lighting their way with lanterns and singing songs. During this time, their parents are having a festive dinner. An obligatory guest on the festive table is considered without which it is impossible to imagine this event. Interestingly, St. Martin's Day is respected in other countries as well: Austria, Switzerland.
Love parade
The Germans are not at all as stiff as it seems to the inhabitants of other countries. The original German holidays are proof of this. Let's say that every year a Love Parade is held in the country, an event is scheduled for July 19. In honor of the celebration, women put on revealing outfits, music sounds everywhere.
Of course, the Love Parade does not pass without the beloved foamy drink by almost all residents of the state, which literally flows like a river. Thousands of people join the festive procession; professional DJs are responsible for the musical accompaniment of the ceremony.
Official celebrations
Easter is an event that cannot be forgotten, listing the German holidays and weekends associated with them. The religious celebration, which lasts for three days, has its own symbol - colored eggs; also, the inhabitants of the country traditionally attend Sunday services. Then adults and children congratulate relatives and friends, everyone exchanges gifts and songs.
For the New Year and Christmas, the Germans begin to prepare for about a month. All corners of the state are beginning to work. The appearance of the streets, which are filled with colored lanterns, ribbons, and garlands, is changing. Celebrating the New Year is traditionally accompanied by dances and songs, and fireworks are not complete.
Other German holidays are also noteworthy. In May, residents of the country celebrate the Day of Solidarity of Workers, the celebration is traditionally held on the first day of the month. The rallies are attended by thousands of people armed with banners and flags. Of course, songs are sung.
Religious holidays
Religious celebrations cannot be ignored by listing German holidays. The calendar shows that most of them fall in November. For example, the first day of this month, considered the day of the saints and the dead, is important for the Germans. Traditions tell on November 1 to remember people who left this world, visit the graves of friends and relatives, and decorate them with flowers.
An important part of the holiday is the church service, during which the orchestra performs funeral music. After the completion of the service, the priest sprinkles the graves with holy water.
Festival of light
This event has no history that goes back centuries like many other German holidays, since it was first held in 2005. However, the Berlin Light Festival fell in love with the Germans, forever becoming one of the favorite celebrations of the people of Germany. Famous architectural monuments, including the Chancellor's Residence, Bergamon Museum, Berlin Cathedral and others, become light installations for two whole weeks. City streets sparkle with countless lanterns and spotlights.
Book Fair
The Frankfurt Book Fair is a must-see for every book lover. It is set up in October; publishing houses from many countries of the world (about a hundred) participate in the festival. It is interesting that this holiday has been celebrated for over 500 years, but its popularity remains invariably high.
