Traditionen
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Traditions and holidays

Easter and Christmas are the most important holidays for most people in Germany. Both holidays are of Christian origin. At Christmas, the birth of Jesus Christ is celebrated and at Easter, the resurrection after his death. Christmas (Weihnachten) begins with "Christmas Eve", on 24th of December. It is customary for the family to decorate a Christmas tree, eat dinner together and then exchange presents with each other to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. This is followed by the first and second Christmas holidays on December 25th and 26th, which are used by many to spend time with the family.

Also at Easter (Ostern), the time spent with the family is the most important thing. The holiday takes place according to the Christian calendar in March or April. Easter weekend begins on Fridays with Good Friday, the day on which, according to Christian tradition, Jesus Christ was crucified. On this day, there is a dance ban in discotheques and bars in Germany. On the following Holy Saturday, the 40-day fast ends, during which many Christian believers try to do without something, for example eating meat. In the evening there is a big Easter fire in many church congregations and on Easter Sunday the resurrection of Jesus Christ is celebrated - three days after his death. Easter Monday is another holiday. At Easter it is customary to hide Easter bunnies and chocolate Easter eggs, which are then hunted for by children.

Pentecost (Pfingsten) is celebrated on the 50th day after Easter. According to Christian tradition, Pentecost is the day on which the Holy Spirit seized the apostles and made them speak and understand all the languages of the world. This enabled them to spread the Word of God throughout the world and the Christian community was born. Pentecost also consists of two holidays, Pentecost Sunday and Pentecost Monday.

Many Christian holidays are also public holidays, i.e. they are basically work-free. Most holidays are the same in all German federal states, but there are differences. The Epiphany, the holiday of the Three Kings (Heilige Drei Könige, 6th of January), for example, is a holiday in Baden-Württemberg, but not in Rhineland-Palatinate and Hesse. During holidays most shops are closed. On 6th of January therefore, many people travel from Mannheim (Baden-Württemberg) to Ludwigshafen (Rhineland-Palatinate) or Viernheim (Hessen) to go shopping.

Another important holiday is the 1st of May, the Labour Day (Tag der Arbeit). It is the holiday of the working society that fought for its rights. Traditionally, there are trade union demonstrations and festivals in many places.

October 3rd is the Day of German Unity (Tag der Deutschen Einheit). It commemorates the reunification of East and West Germany on 3rd of October 1990, a day on which a big festival takes place every year in a different federal state.

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