Easter Monday in Germany
Easter Monday, or Ostermontag, is a public holiday throughout Germany. It falls on the Monday after Easter Sunday, so its date changes each year; the site calendar lists no substitute day when it falls on a weekend.[1][2]
A holiday set by the states
German public holidays are generally determined by the federal states. Easter is among the holidays recognized in every state, making Easter Monday a nationwide day off for work and school. In Lower Saxony, the state holiday law names Easter Monday and describes state-recognized holidays as days of general rest.[1][2]
The holiday’s practical meaning is a pause in ordinary work and school schedules. Germany’s holiday-pay law provides for continued pay when work is lost because of a statutory public holiday, subject to the law’s conditions.[1]
The Emmaus story and its meaning
Easter Monday is part of the Christian Easter observance. In the Gospel passage read on the day, two disciples are walking toward Emmaus when the risen Jesus joins them; they recognize him when he shares bread with them. The story connects the day with the Easter themes of recognition and renewed hope.[3]
The Emmausgang, or Emmaus walk, is an old Easter Monday custom especially in southern Germany and Austria. It draws on that Gospel account. Participants may walk alone, with family or friends, or as a church group, sometimes going to a church or pilgrimage chapel and including spiritual reflections along the way. It is a regional tradition, not a custom followed everywhere in Germany.[3]
What people do
Some communities organize an Emmausgang with stops for readings, prayer or conversation. The Archdiocese of Munich and Freising describes the walk today as an Easter stroll through spring scenery, with spiritual prompts that give the walk a reflective purpose. Local churches may arrange their own routes and services.[3]
Easter Monday traditions vary by region. In some places, people take part in an Emmaus walk.[3]
What to expect day to day
Most shops and supermarkets close on public holidays, according to the federal government’s information portal. In Bavaria, the state’s shop-opening rules also close shops on public holidays, with exceptions that include some petrol stations, railway-station and airport shops, and certain bakeries or other specified sellers. Exact exceptions depend on state rules and the type of business.[1][4]
Holiday status does not mean public transport must stop: Lower Saxony’s holiday law explicitly permits railway and other passenger transport. Service and opening hours can still vary locally, so check with the transport operator or business before setting out.[2]
Easter Monday in Germany: FAQs
Is Easter Monday a day off in Germany?
Yes. Easter is a public holiday in every German state, and the federal government says people do not have to work or send children to school on public holidays.[1]
When is Easter Monday?
It is the Monday immediately after Easter Sunday. Its calendar date changes from year to year, and the site calendar lists no substitute day.[1]
Are grocery stores and shopping malls open?
What is an Emmausgang?
It is an Easter Monday walk inspired by the Gospel story of two disciples traveling to Emmaus. The custom is especially associated with southern Germany; walks may include spiritual reflections or a visit to a church or pilgrimage chapel.[3]
Sources and references
Sources used for Easter Monday in Germany:
- Useful everyday knowledge- Make it in Germany, the official website for qualified professionals
- Feiertagsgesetz- Lower Saxony Ministry of the Interior, Sport and Digitalization
- Emmausgang- Archdiocese of Munich and Freising
- Ladenschlussrecht- Bavarian State Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Affairs