Holiday season in Bavaria presents intricate challenges.
In Bavaria and Saarland, the Catholic holiday of Assumption Day on August 15th will continue to be observed as a public holiday after 2025. This tradition, honouring the belief of the Virgin Mary's assumption into heaven, is deeply rooted in these two German states.
In Bavaria, the observance of Assumption Day as a public holiday applies to communities with a significant Catholic population or tradition. Municipalities with a Catholic majority are expected to continue the tradition. The exact communities may vary, but those predominantly Catholic and under Bavarian state jurisdiction will maintain the holiday.
Saarland also observes Assumption Day as a public holiday, but unlike Bavaria, other German states and communities will not continue the practice after 2025.
The 2022 Census numbers will determine which communities in Bavaria will have Assumption Day as a holiday after 2025. Six communities are set to gain the holiday, while two will no longer observe it. In total, 1708 cities and communities in Bavaria will have August 15th (2025) off as a holiday, while 348 will not.
Bamberg, Würzburg, Munich, Augsburg, Regensburg, and Ingolstadt are among the cities in Bavaria where Assumption Day is a legal holiday. However, in cities like Nuremberg, Erlangen, Hof, Bayreuth, and Coburg, where there are more Protestants, August 15th (2025) will be a regular workday.
To find out if your community is affected by the change, you can consult a map. In Bavaria, August 15th (2025) is a public holiday if there are more Catholics than Protestants in the municipality.
This tradition, deeply ingrained in Bavarian and Saarland culture, will continue to be celebrated as a significant day of religious observance in these two states.
After the 2022 Census, some communities in Bavaria may adjust their lifestyle, as six cities could gain August 15th (2025) as a home-and-garden day off, while two cities might stop their assumption day celebrations. Meanwhile, in Saarland, the home-and-garden routine will remain unchanged, as Assumption Day will continue to be observed as a public holiday.
