Public Holidays, School Breaks, Festivals and World Teachers’ Day in Germany – October 2025

October 2025 in Germany combines the charm of golden autumn with political, religious and cultural highlights. While the month has fewer nationwide public holidays compared to May or December, important dates such as German Unity Day on 3 October, World Teachers’ Day on 5 October, and the Reformation Day on 31 October dominate the calendar. In addition, almost all federal states have autumn school holidays (Herbstferien), and internationally renowned events such as the Frankfurt Book Fair, the Festival of Lights in Berlin and the Oktoberfest in Munichattract millions of visitors. Thus, October is not only a working month but also a period in which German history, religion, education and culture intersect in a remarkable way – reports G.business.

Public Holidays in October 2025

October 2025 offers Germany fewer nationwide public holidays than other months, but the ones it does include are highly symbolic and deeply rooted in history. German Unity Day on 3 October celebrates national reunification, while Reformation Day on 31 October marks a turning point in European religious history. Together, these dates shape the rhythm of public life, bringing official ceremonies, church services and cultural events across the country.

3 October – German Unity Day

German Unity Day (Tag der Deutschen Einheit) has been a nationwide public holiday since 1990, commemorating the reunification of the Federal Republic of Germany and the GDR. The main celebrations take place in Berlin with a large citizens’ festival at the Brandenburg Gate, concerts, exhibitions and official speeches. Other cities such as Hamburg, Frankfurt and Munich also mark the day with cultural programmes, parades and church services.

31 October – Reformation Day

Reformation Day recalls Martin Luther’s 95 Theses in Wittenberg on 31 October 1517, which sparked the Protestant Reformation. It is a public holiday in nine federal states: Brandenburg, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Thuringia, Schleswig-Holstein, Lower Saxony, Bremen and Hamburg. On this day, Protestant churches organise festive services, with Wittenberg serving as the symbolic centre of celebrations.

Religious Observances: All Saints’ Day Eve

While All Saints’ Day (Allerheiligen) officially falls on 1 November, the celebrations in Germany often begin on the evening of 31 October, overlapping with Reformation Day and increasingly with modern Halloween traditions. In Catholic regions such as Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate and Saarland, this date carries special significance as it is a public holiday on the following day.

On the eve, families and communities prepare by visiting cemeteries, lighting candles and decorating graves with flowers, chrysanthemums and lanterns, creating an atmosphere of remembrance and quiet reflection. Churches hold solemn masses, sometimes with processions, honouring saints and departed loved ones. In rural Bavaria and the Rhineland, it is common to combine religious observance with local customs such as grave blessings or small parish festivals.

The dual nature of 31 October in Germany highlights the country’s religious diversity: while Protestant communities commemorate the Reformation, Catholic regions already prepare for All Saints’ Day. This cultural overlap makes the transition from October to November a unique blend of faith, tradition and family rituals.

5 October – World Teachers’ Day

World Teachers’ Day, organised by UNESCO since 1994, is observed annually on 5 October. In Germany it is not an official public holiday but a symbolic day of recognition for teachers and education professionals.

• Schools: Some schools mark the occasion with small celebrations, student performances or symbolic gestures, though classes are not cancelled.
• Teacher unions (GEW, VBE): Use the day to highlight challenges, demand better working conditions and emphasise the value of education.
• Parents and pupils: Common gestures include flowers, cards and public expressions of thanks.
• Media and events: Opinion pieces, interviews and panel discussions often focus on the importance of education, especially in Berlin, Hamburg and North Rhine-Westphalia.

Autumn School Holidays (Herbstferien) in October 2025

Germany’s Herbstferien differ by federal state, lasting one to two weeks between early October and early November. Families often use this break for short trips within Germany or abroad.

These staggered schedules stretch the holiday season across the entire month, benefiting tourism, transport and cultural institutions.

Major Festivals and Cultural Highlights

• Oktoberfest, Munich (20 September – 5 October 2025)
  The world’s largest beer festival attracts millions with beer tents, parades, Bavarian costumes and music.
• Frankfurt Book Fair (15–19 October 2025)
  The world’s most important publishing fair, with a 2025 focus on artificial intelligence, digital media and global literature.
• Festival of Lights, Berlin (10–19 October 2025)
  Landmarks such as the Brandenburg Gate, Berlin Cathedral and TV Tower are illuminated with spectacular light art.
• Jazzfest Berlin (late October 2025)
  A hotspot for international jazz artists, held in the Philharmonie and smaller venues.
• Reeperbahn Festival, Hamburg (late September–early October 2025)
  Europe’s largest club festival for new music, combining concerts with conferences and creative industry networking.

October 2025 in Germany is far more than a working month without long public holiday weekends. It unites national milestones like German Unity Day, symbolic observances such as World Teachers’ Day, Protestant and Catholic traditions with the Reformation and All Saints’ Day, diverse autumn school holidays, and world-class festivals. From the Oktoberfest in Munich to the Frankfurt Book Fair and Berlin’s Festival of Lights, Germany becomes a stage where history, education, religion and culture meet.

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