Public holidays (Feiertage) are the days when shops are closed and most workers get the day off, but these differ a bit from state to state in the Bundesrepbulik.
There are nine holidays marked in every German state, including Easter, Christmas and New Years Day as well as Labour Day (Tag der Arbeit) and German reunification day (Tag der Deutschen Einheit), for example.
Then there are the holidays that are only observed as days off of work in a handful of states. These include several traditionally Catholic and Protestant holidays that are only recognised in certain regions, depending on their religious leanings.
But in largely secular Berlin, unfortunate workers only get one special public holiday on top of the federal ones, and that is usually International Women's Day (Frauentag) celebrated on March 8th.
Frauentag is a public holiday in just two federal states: Berlin and Mecklenburg–Western Pomerania. The additional Feiertag was introduced in Berlin back in 2019 to compensate for the city-state's dearth of public holidays.
But this year, Women's Day fell on a Saturday, which meant that Berlin's workers were down one day off for the year.
Or rather they would have been, but the capital city is also set to mark an extra public holiday in May this year.
Introducing the 80th 'Liberation Day'
Liberation Day (orTag der Befreiung) marks the end of Nazi rule in Germany on May 8th each year.
On May 8th, 1945, the Nazi army officially surrendered and the opposition forces led by the Soviet Union, the United States, Great Britain celebrated the end of the Second World War.
READ ALSO: Buchenwald concentration camp quietly marks 75th anniversary of its liberation
This year's Tag der Befreiung brings the 80th anniversary of liberation from Nazi rule, or 80 years since the end of the fighting in other words.
Events commemorating the Nazi army's surrender to the Allies and the end of the war will be held in Berlin on the day.
It's worth noting that May 8th falls on a Thursday this year, so those looking ahead can plan a four-day weekend by taking Friday off work as well.
READ ALSO: German word of the day - Der Brückentag
Why celebrate a one-off holiday?
Berlin workers get a relatively low number of public holidays compared to residents in other German states.
The Free State of Bavaria has the most public holidays, with workers there getting 13 days off work in 2025.
Employees in the states of Saarland and Baden-Württemberg get 12 public holidays.
Joining Berlin with a mere ten public holidays this year are the city-states of Hamburg, Bremen as well as the states of Hesse, Lower Saxony and Schleswig-Holstein.
If not for Berlin officially celebrating Liberation Day as a public holiday this year, the number of public days off work would have been down to nine, a number that is simply nicht in Ordnung (not okay).
READ ALSO: How employees in Germany can make the most of public holidays in 2025
What happens on May 8th?
In Berlin a week of remembrance is planned, which includes around 100 commemorative events carried out up until May 11th.
Those who want to learn more about the history around the end of the war, and the events that followed can find thematic guided tours in the city, special exhibits at museums and speeches and events set at historic sites on May 8th. (You can find official city-sponsored events listed on the Berlin.de website.)
As it is also a public holiday, Berlin residents and visitors should expect that many businesses will be closed. This could include grocery stores as well as local shops, banks, pharmacies and doctors offices, etc.
Many cafes, bars, restaurants and Spätis stay open on holidays to take advantage of the extra pedestrian traffic. If you have a particular spot in mind to visit on the holiday, it may be worth calling ahead or double checking their hours online.
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