Sundays and Holidays; Applying for an Exemption from the Prohibitions of the Holiday Act

Public holidays throughout Bavaria are:

• New Year's Day
• Three Kings Day (Epiphany)
• Good Friday
• Easter Monday
• May 1
• Ascension Day
• Whit Monday
• Corpus Christi
• October 3 as German Unity Day
• All Saints’ Day
• Christmas Day
• Boxing Day

The Assumption of Mary is a legal holiday only in municipalities with a predominantly Catholic population.

In the city of Augsburg, August 8 (Peace Festival) is also a legal holiday.

On Sundays and public holidays, any publicly visible work that is likely to disturb the peace and quiet of the holiday is prohibited, unless otherwise specified by law.

During the locally customary time of the main church service (usually between 7:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m.), the following activities are also prohibited:

• all avoidable noise-producing activities near churches,
• public entertainment events (sports events are permitted),
• hunts.

These prohibitions do not apply

• to the operation of the postal service, railways, and other companies engaged in the transport of passengers,
• to repair work on vehicles, to the extent necessary to continue the journey,
• for work that cannot be postponed and is necessary to meet domestic and agricultural needs, to prevent harm to health and property, in the interest of public institutions, or to prevent or remedy an emergency,
• for light work in gardens carried out by the owners or their family members.

In addition to public holidays, “quiet days” are designated. On quiet days, public entertainment events that are not in keeping with the solemn character of these days are prohibited.
However, sporting events are permitted, except on Good Friday and the Day of Repentance and Prayer.

The following days are designated as “days of quiet”:

• Ash Wednesday
• Maundy Thursday
• Good Friday (Note: On Good Friday, all types of musical performances in establishments serving alcohol are prohibited without exception. Furthermore, sporting events are prohibited.)
• Holy Saturday
• All Saints’ Day
• Memorial Day
• Remembrance Sunday
• Day of Repentance and Prayer (Note: On the Day of Repentance and Prayer, sporting events are also prohibited.)
• Christmas Eve

The quiet hours begin at 2:00 a.m.; on Good Friday and Holy Saturday, they begin at 12:00 a.m.; and on Christmas Eve, they begin at 2:00 p.m.; they end at 12:00 a.m. each day.

The regulations governing the observance of the Feast of the Assumption in communities where it is not a legal holiday, and of the Day of Penance and Prayer, are as follows:

• During the locally customary time of the main worship service, from 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., all avoidable noise-producing activities in the vicinity of churches are prohibited, insofar as these activities are likely to disturb the worship service.
• Employees who are members of a religious denomination and work for any public or private business or administrative body have the right to be absent from work. This does not apply to work that, under the provisions of the Trade Regulation Act, may be performed even on statutory holidays, nor to work necessary for maintaining operations or for conducting urgent business with government agencies. Employees shall not suffer any disadvantages other than a possible loss of wages for missed work time as a result of their absence.
• Classes are canceled at schools of all types.

Jewish holidays

• Passover (the first two and the last two days),
• Feast of Weeks (two days),
• Feast of Tabernacles (the first two and the last two days),
• New Year (two days),
• Day of Atonement (one day)

are protected as follows:

• During the locally customary time of the main religious service, the following are prohibited in the vicinity of synagogues and other premises used by the Jewish religious community for worship: all avoidable noise-producing activities likely to disturb the service, public outdoor gatherings, parades, and processions.
• Students of the faith attending schools of all types are excused from classes!
• Employees of the Jewish faith working in all public and private businesses and administrative offices are entitled to take the day off from work. This does not apply to work that, according to the provisions of the Trade Regulation Act, may also be performed on statutory holidays, nor to work necessary for maintaining operations or for conducting urgent business with government agencies. Employees shall not suffer any disadvantages other than a possible loss of wages for missed work time as a result of their absence.

Municipalities may grant exemptions from individual prohibitions in specific cases for compelling reasons.

The required documentation when applying for an exemption may vary depending on the specific case. Please contact the relevant municipality for further information.

Contact:

+(49) 09131 / 86 - 2290

+(49) 09131 / 86 - 1876

The requirements for granting an exemption from the prohibitions of the Public Holidays Act are, in particular:

• It must be an individual case. General exemptions are not permitted.
• The aim is to avoid undue hardship in the specific case.

There must be no risk of undermining the protection afforded by public holidays.

• Application for Exemption
  Please contact the relevant municipality to find out exactly which documents are required.