New Year's Day in Germany

A public holiday throughout Germany

Public holidays in Germany are generally determined by the federal states. New Year’s Day is one of the holidays recognized in every state, while the Day of German Unity is the one public holiday set by federal law.[1] The Saxon holiday law, for example, expressly lists New Year’s Day as January 1 and says that its statutory holidays count as holidays under federal and state law.[2]

For residents, the practical effect is that most employees do not have to work and children do not have to attend school. The holiday does not move to another date when January 1 falls on a weekend: it remains on January 1, and the calendar information for Germany lists no substitute or observed day.[1]

The turn of the year

New Year’s Day marks the start of the civil calendar year. The date itself is not tied to a German national anniversary: its Germany-wide significance comes from its recognition as a public holiday in every state.[1][2]

Many familiar German customs happen before the holiday, on Silvester. These include setting off fireworks around midnight, exchanging greetings and, in some regions, eating lentil soup, whose coin-like shape is associated with hopes of prosperity. Raclette and fondue are also described as common choices for New Year’s Eve dinner, and friends sometimes exchange lucky charms shaped like pigs, clover, ladybugs or horseshoes.[3]

Those practices are not a checklist that every household follows. For travelers, the useful distinction is that the fireworks, meals and greetings described in German holiday coverage belong to the evening of December 31; January 1 is the holiday that follows. The same source characterizes its morning as generally quiet after the night’s celebrations.[3]

What to expect on the day

Plan to buy groceries before the holiday: shops and supermarkets are generally closed on public holidays in Germany. Petrol stations and shops at railway stations can be exceptions, but opening hours vary; check locally before relying on one.[1] Pharmacies provide an emergency service on Sundays, according to the same government information, so use the local emergency pharmacy listing if you need medicine.[1]

If you are travelling or need an appointment, check the relevant transport operator or institution directly. The broad holiday pattern is that schools are closed and most people have the day off, while services that must operate may follow their own arrangements.[1]