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National Day (Switzerland)

August 1. Swiss National Day. Celebrated with bonfires, fireworks, and lampions (paper lanterns).

Unity Day (Germany)

October 3. Germany's national holiday was moved to this date after the Berlin Wall came down.

Flag Day (Austria)

October 26. National Holiday in Austria. Commemorates the founding of the Republik Österreich in 1955.

St. Nikolaus Day

December 6 is Nikolaustag. On this day the white-bearded St. Nicholas (not to be confused with Santa Claus) brings gifts to children who left their shoes in front of the door the night before. More...

Christmas

Weihnachten, the official Christmas holiday, is December 25 and 26. On Heiliger Abend (Holy Evening or Christmas Eve) families get together for a Christmas dinner and to exchange gifts by the Weihnachtsbaum (Christmas tree). There are many Christmas Eve church services. More...

St. Martin's Day

On Nov. 10 there is traditionally a roast goose (Martinsgans) and lantern light processsions for children. The next day the 11th, at 11:11 am, is also the official start of the Fasching/Karneval season in some regions. More...

Easter

On Easter Sunday, families get together. After the Easter meal, the children search for Easter eggs that the Easter Bunny (Osterhase) has left for them. Many families also go out together in the afternoon for a relaxing Easter walk.