German holidays and traditions

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

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 taken extremely seriously. However, the celebrations are as fun as in any other country in the world. So, which dates are of particular importance for the residents of the state?

German holidays: Oktoberfest in Munich

For more than two centuries, Munich has celebrated Oktoberfest every year, with which no other beer festival in the world can compare in terms of popularity. Like many other German holidays, this event lasts for 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 Teresa Meadow, located in the heart of Munich. 14 huge tents are erected here, inside each of which there is a place forten thousand people, as well as 15 small tents, the capacity of which can accommodate about a thousand people. Listing other German holidays, one cannot think of a busier event than this one. Waitresses scurry around the tents serving beer to guests, and the legendary pork sausages are also offered. Of course, the organizers of the event do not forget about the music.

Harvest Festival in Stuttgart

Volksfest is the name of the famous harvest festival that takes place every year in Stuttgart. The event starts on September 23, lasts until October 9, competing with the Munich festival. It's hard to imagine German holidays 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, children have fun riding the rides.

Volksfest is extremely important for the Germans, these days the traditions say 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 is heard everywhere.

German Unity Day

Listing the 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, a holidayis official, celebrated in all corners of the state.

In terms of scale, this event can hardly be compared, for example, with the American Independence Day. There is no military parade, but the people of the country are happy to take part in mass festivities, watch free concerts. Of course, the celebration ends with fireworks. Also on this day, parliamentary sessions are traditionally held.

St. Martin's Day

When naming the most famous German holidays and the customs associated with them, one cannot forget St. Martin's Day. Many people in Germany mention this celebration among their favorites, it takes place on November 11th. There is even a beautiful legend related to this event, the main character 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. At this time, their parents are engaged in a festive dinner. Roast goose is considered an obligatory guest on the festive table, without which it is impossible to imagine this event. Interestingly, St. Martin's Day is also respected in other countries: 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 can serve as proof of this. For example, every year a Love Parade is held in the country, an event is scheduled for July 19th. In honor of the celebrationwomen dress in skimpy outfits, music plays everywhere.

Of course, the Love Parade does not pass without a foamy drink loved by almost all the inhabitants 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 when listing German holidays and weekends associated with them. The religious celebration, which lasts three days, has its own symbol - painted eggs, and the inhabitants of the country traditionally attend Sunday worship. Then adults and children congratulate relatives and friends, everyone exchanges gifts and songs.

Germans begin to prepare for the New Year and Christmas about a month in advance. Holiday fairs are starting to work in all corners of the state. The appearance of the streets is changing, which are filled with colored lanterns, ribbons, garlands. The celebration of the New Year is traditionally accompanied by dances and songs, and fireworks are not complete.

Deserves attention and other German holidays. In May, the inhabitants of the country celebrate the Day of Solidarity of Workers, the celebration is traditionally held on the first day of the month. Thousands of people armed with banners and flags take part in the rallies. Of course, songs are sung.

Religious holidays

Religious celebrations cannot be ignored when listing German holidays. The calendar shows thatmost of them fall in November. For example, the first day of this month, which is considered the day of the saints and the dead, is important for the Germans. Traditions tell November 1 to remember the people who left this world, to visit the graves of friends and relatives, to decorate them with flowers.

An important part of the holiday is the church service, during which the orchestra plays mourning music. After the end of the service, the clergyman sprinkles the graves with holy water.

Festival of Light

This event does not have a history going 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 inhabitants of Germany. Famous architectural monuments, including the Chancellor's Residence, the Bergamont Museum, the Berlin Cathedral and others, become light installations for two whole weeks. City streets sparkle thanks to street lamps and spotlights, which are endless.

Book Fair

Frankfurt Book Fair is an event that every book lover considers it his duty to attend. It is arranged in October, publishing houses from many countries of the world (about a hundred) participate in the festival. Interestingly, this holiday has been celebrated for over 500 years, but its popularity remains consistently high.