Easter Holiday in Germany in 2024: Holidays in each federal state

Easter eggs on child edited — Easter holiday in Germany

Holidays in Germany – Easter Holiday in Germany 2024. The Resurrection of the Lord, commonly known as Easter, stands as the oldest and most significant celebration in the Christian church. In the year 2024, there will be an unusual occurrence with a break of more than a month between Catholic Easter and Orthodox Easter. Here are the details regarding when Easter falls in 2024 and the corresponding days off for employees and students during this period.

Easter in the Orthodox and Catholic traditions is celebrated on different dates

Unlike certain holidays with fixed dates, such as Christmas (December 24-26), Labor Day (May 1), or German Unity Day (October 3), Easter does not have a set date. The celebration always occurs on the first Sunday after the first full moon following the vernal equinox. However, Orthodox and Catholic Easter diverge in their dates due to the use of different calendars for calculation. The Orthodox Church determines Easter based on the spring equinox in the old-style Julian calendar, while the Catholic Church relies on the Gregorian calendar for the same astronomical event.
Read also: German Easter Traditions: How to celebrate Easter in Germany

Easter in Germany in 2024

In 2024, Orthodox believers will celebrate the Resurrection of the Lord on May 5. This year marks an unusual occurrence, with a break of more than a month between Catholic Easter, falling on March 31, and Orthodox Easter. As a result, Good Friday (Karfreitag) is set for March 29, and Easter Monday (Ostermontag) for April 1. It’s noteworthy that in Germany, only Good Friday and Easter Monday are recognized as public holidays nationwide.
Read also: Learn these Easter greetings in German with English translations

When is Easter holiday in Germany 2024?

For many students in Germany, Easter is eagerly anticipated, as nearly all federal states observe school holidays around this period. However, the specific dates vary depending on each individual state. In Hamburg, there is no designated Easter break; instead, students enjoy the spring break, scheduled from March 18 to 28 in 2024. Here are the Easter holiday dates for 2024 in each federal state: