Latest news with #Whitsun
Local Germany
16-07-2025
- General
- Local Germany
EXPLAINED: Why German states are clashing over the school holiday schedule
Every summer, while most German children, parents, and schools juggle a rotating schedule for their summer holidays , the southern states of Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg invariably enjoy the last slot in the sought-after month of August. Now this long-standing exception and source of widespread irritation has sparked a war of words between northern states, who say it's time for change, and the two southern states determined to hold on to their privileges. How are summer breaks scheduled? The current rotating summer break schedule, which was put into place around 50 years ago, is designed to avoid travel chaos in Germany by staggering the six-week summer holidays across the states between mid-June and mid-September. The first slot is the least popular because it means that the summer holidays seem to start almost immediately after Easter, that children (and their parents) are obliged to work through the hottest weeks of the year, and that the autumn term becomes almost unbearably long. READ ALSO: When do school holidays begin across Germany this summer? As a result, 14 of the 16 states agree to rotate, starting with the earliest slot and then beginning their summer holidays a week later each year until they reach the final slot and return to the beginning. These 'whiplash' shifts have a habit of wreaking havoc on family schedules, childcare arrangements, and travel plans. Advertisement The system is generally unpopular but widely accepted on account of the fact that it distributes its imperfections equally – or would, if the two southern states didn't claim exemptions. Why are Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg exempt? Most states rotate, but Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg have always claimed a privileged slot. Originally, this was justified on the basis that children in the south couldn't work in August because they needed to help bring in the harvest. More recently, the two states have started claiming they can't begin the summer holidays any earlier because their schools all close for two weeks over Whitsun (Pentecost) in June. Why has a fight broken out now? The current spat flared up when North Rhine-Westphalia's education minister, Dorothee Feller (CDU) pointed out that families in her state would also like a later holiday period. Feller told the Westdeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung that arguments that children in the south need to help with the harvest no longer hold water. Politicians from multiple German states were quick to show their support for Feller's position. In Lower Saxony, the state education ministry posed a question that was widely reported across German media: 'The two southern states should ask themselves why they don't participate in the rolling system of summer holidays'. READ ALSO: Why Bavaria is one the world's top travel destinations for 2025 Advertisement Thuringia's CDU parliamentary group leader, Andreas Bühl, said the current system was 'from another century", adding, "We need a modern, fair system that is geared to the needs of families, schools and the economy – not to decades-old traditions.' Hamburg's school senator, Ksenija Bekeris (SPD), also spoke out in favour of 'joint, consensual regulation for all states.' A young passenger arrives at Stuttgart Airport at the start of the summer holidays in Baden-Wuerttemberg. Other states are unhappy with a holiday scheduling system that privileges the two southern states. Photo: THOMAS KIENZLE / AFP How have Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg reacted? Markus Söder (CDU), Prime Minister of the Free state of Bavaria, flatly rejected any change, saying the state would not swap slots even if Baden-Württemberg did. 'We have our holiday rhythm, which is, so to speak, firmly embedded in Bavarians' DNA,' Söder said. Advertisement Anna Stolz (Free Voters), Bavaria's education minister, backed Söder and further justified the state's position with an appeal to religion. She said that the total number of holiday days is the same nationwide, but that Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg "base their timing on Christian public holidays". Are the current arrangements likely to change? Karin Prien, Germany's federal Education Minister, has called on the Conference of Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs ( Kultusministerkonferenz ) to find a "modern solution" which nonetheless respects the "historical and structural traditions" of Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg, which doesn't sound like the most helpful of interventions. Prien can afford to play for time, however, as school holidays across Germany are currently fixed until 2030/31, which is therefore the earliest point at which a new system could be introduced. READ ALSO: Backlash after German minister suggests cap on immigrant students in schools For the next few years at least, it seems that parents and children in the north and east of Germany will have to continue managing the whiplash shifts, while families in the south enjoy predictability and the opportunity to take their holidays in the cheaper post-peak season. Even beyond 2030, reform remains a distant hope with Bavaria in particular in no mood to compromise. As demands for fairness from the rest of the country grow louder, however, and the practical need for modern solutions mounts, pressure for a broader agreement is unlikely to subside. With reporting by DPA.
Local Germany
19-06-2025
- Local Germany
Key dates: When are the school holidays across Germany this summer?
For millions of students, the school year is comes to an end in June. However, the summer holiday ( Sommerferien ) dates vary from state to state, with the last state (Bavaria) not set to begin its break until the beginning of August. School breaks tend to coincide with the broader summer vacation season in Germany as millions of parents across the country plan their travel or longer breaks from work around their kids time off from school. Even for visitors and those without children, it's helpful to know when school vacations are happening because it gives a sense of when certain regions will see the biggest crowds. That summer holiday periods differ from state to state is no accident. The staggered schedule is intended to avoid overburdening travel infrastructure. But with whole states out for break at once, you can expect local roads as well as regional trains and buses to be quite a bit more congested during school breaks. LISTED: The major rail disruption to prepare for in Germany this summer Here are the summer vacation periods for Germany's 16 federal states this year: Baden-Württemberg From Thursday, July 31st until Friday, September 12th. Bavaria The Free state of Bavaria is the last state to break for summer. Starting from Friday, August 1st until Monday September 15th. Berlin & Brandenburg Thursday, July 24th until Friday, September 5th. Bremen Thursday July, 3rd until Wednesday, August 13th. Hamburg Thursday July 24th until Wednesday September 3rd. Advertisement Hesse Monday July, 7th until Friday, August 15th. Lower Saxony Thursday July, 3rd until Wednesday, August 13th. Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania Monday July, 28th until Friday, September 5th. North Rhine-Westphalia Monday, July 14th until Tuesday, August 26th. Rhineland-Palatinate Monday July, 7th until Friday, August 15th. Saarland Monday July, 7th until Thursday, August 14th. Saxony & Saxony-Anhalt Monday, June 30th until Friday, August 8th. Schleswig-Holstein Monday July, 28th until Friday, September 5th. Thuringia Monday, June 30th until Friday, August 8th. Germany's school vacation periods School children in Germany receive 75 days of holiday per year which are divided into six school holiday periods: autumn, Christmas, winter, Easter, Whitsun and summer holidays. Of these the summer holiday period is the longest by far: It's six or seven weeks compared to a few days up to two weeks for the other breaks.
BBC News
07-06-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Historic parish ale resurrected for church's Whitsun festival
A parish has revived an ancient tradition of brewing its own ale in time for a festival to celebrate Whitsun. The DiscipAle, created by brewer Kevin Brady, was blessed by the Vicar of Wantage Katherine Price and will be served at the parish's Whitsun Cake and Ale festival on Saturday 7 June. Parish ales were common in medieval England at Whitsun until the practice was suppressed after the English Reformation in the 16th century. Wantage Parish said proceeds from the festival would go towards raising funds for the church. David Richardson, a lay preacher with Wantage Parish, came up with the idea to revive the tradition. He said: "These parish ales, which the Puritans had done away with, were part of the culture and history of this country up until 1500. "Because the tradition is to present the ale to your community at Whitsun, we thought that was the right timing."He said whilst one of the goals was to raise funds for the "fabric of the church", it was primarily intended to bring the Wantage community together. "We wanted to do something positive and fun... for ourselves and as a church but also for the people of the town and for people around us." 'Jesus enjoyed a party' Kevin Brady, who runs Indigenous Brewery from his garage in Chaddleworth, near Newbury, Berkshire, said the ale's taste was intended to keep with tradition. "They wanted it quite 'malt-forward' and not so hoppy, which you find with the trendier craft ales these days... I think it will go down well".The Vicar of Wantage, Revd. Katherine Price said: "We know that Jesus enjoyed a drink and a party with his friends."We hope the [festival] will be an opportunity for parishioners and our wider community to enjoy good company, traditional entertainment and a convivial atmosphere." You can follow BBC Oxfordshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
Local Germany
06-06-2025
- Local Germany
What's open and closed for Pentecost in Germany?
Pentecost, or Whitsun, is a Christian holiday that takes place 49 days after Easter Sunday. In Germany, it's followed by a national public holiday called Pfingstmontag , or Whit Monday in English, which takes place on June 9th this year. As with all public holidays, or Feiertage, you should expect the majority of shops and businesses to be closed – and the majority of bars, restaurants and cafés to be open. Since the holiday follows a Sunday, it'll make for two days in a row when most supermarkets and grocery stores in Germany are closed, so remember to plan ahead and stock up on Friday or Saturday! Here's a closer look at what's open and closed on June 9th. Grocery stores Almost all supermarkets, as well as most independent shops will be closed on Monday 9 th June. However, some supermarkets (typically found in central train stations and airports) are legally allowed to remain open on Sundays and holidays. For example, in Hamburg, Edeka will be open at the Hauptbahnhof as well as at the Altona train station. In Munich you can find supermarkets open at both Hauptbahnhof and Ostbahnhof, and in Cologne there is a REWE To Go that should be open all day in the central station. In Berlin there are supermarkets that stay open on holidays is many of the main train stations. See this report in Kaufda magazine for a list of the supermarkets open in these cities. READ ALSO: What your choice of German supermarket says about you Some small kiosks or Spätis – especially in big cities – will remain open, offering a good option for last minute snacks and drinks. Bakeries are also allowed to open for a few hours on public holidays – usually in the morning. But the decision to open and for how long varies from bakery to bakery, so make sure to check ahead if you're looking forward to fresh bread on Monday morning. Advertisement Bars, restaurants and cafés If you're out and about in one of Germany's bigger cities during the holiday, you shouldn't have much trouble finding something to eat or a place to have a drink, but you'll want to check in advance if you have plans to meet friends at a particular place. White peonies glow in the sunshine against the Frankfurt skyline. The photo was taken in the Taunus town of Bad Soden. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Hannes P. Albert Offices, banks and schools Almost all offices will be closed on June 9th, as will banks, post offices and public administration offices. Schools will also be closed and some states – including Baden-Württemberg, Bayern, Berlin, Brandenburg, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern – are giving their pupils (and teachers) the day off on Tuesday June 10 th as well. Public transport & emergency services Public transport runs as usual on holidays, including Pfingstmontag , but be aware that the majority of services will be running on a reduced, holiday timetable. Most doctors' and dentists' practices will be closed for the day, so if you have a non-urgent medical procedure scheduled for June 9th, you might want to check to see if the appointment was made in error. Emergency services will of course function normally, with hospitals remaining open. Most pharmacies will be closed, so it's best to ensure you have enough medication ahead of the holiday. German regulations require that a certain number of pharmacies remain open for emergency purposes, however. You can find a list of emergency service pharmacies here . Tourist attractions and leisure activities Many museums and other major tourist attractions close for public holidays, but some maintain holiday hours. So check ahead for the holidays hours before heading to a particular attraction on Monday. Advertisement Alternatively, if you're visiting Germany over Pfingsten , the holiday offers numerous opportunities to experience both traditional and contemporary German cultural traditions. If you're in the countryside, you may get the chance to see maypole dancing and cows decorated with flowers. In Rothenburg, the Meistertrunk Show features a historical market, medieval costumes, and Biergarten parties. Visitors to Berlin will also have the chance to attend one of Europe's largest street festivals. The Karneval der Kulturen (Carnival of Cultures) is a free, four-day festival and parade which features more than 4,000 performers showcasing the city's cultural richness. Dancers are seen at the parade for the Carnival of Cultures in Berlin. The international street parade with music and dance groups attracts thousands of visitors. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Monika Skolimowska Take note that the route has changed this year, temporarily moving from Kreuzberg to Friedrichshain. READ ALSO: Seven unmissable events happening around Germany in June 2025 And have fun over the long weekend!
Local Germany
26-05-2025
- Local Germany
German rail passengers to see long-distance connections cancelled over Pentecost
Deutsche Bahn (DB) has announced repairs to be carried out between Saarbrücken and Mannheim from June 4th to the 13th -- including the Whitsun holiday weekend. The construction work will bring long-distance rail services through the region to a halt, affecting trains travelling between Frankfurt or Stuttgart and Saarbrücken. The work is scheduled to begin on Wednesday, June 4th, at 7:00 p.m. and finish on Friday, June 13th, at 5:00 a.m. During this time some long-distance services between Paris and Frankfurt will be disrupted. DB's long-distance (ICE) trains as well as France's high-speed intercity TGV trains, which normally stop in Saarbrücken, will be diverted via Karlsruhe and Strasbourg. Long-distance disruptions around Saarbrücken During the work, long-distance EC trains that run between Saarbrücken, Stuttgart, Munich, and Graz are to be cancelled between Saarbrücken and Stuttgart. The same applies to the ICE trains between Saarbrücken and Munich. So passengers coming from Saarbrücken, Homburg, Kaiserslautern, and Neustadt (Weinstraße) will only be able to connect to long-distance services via regional trains and S-Bahn services to and from Mannheim. Local and regional disruptions S-Bahn services in the Saarland will also be affected (and replaced with bus services in some instances). The S2 line from Kaiserslautern to Mosbach (Baden) will be cancelled between Neustadt and Kaiserslautern in both directions. According to a report by SR Aktuelle , an hourly connection on the S1 line -- linking Homburg, Kaiserslautern, Mannheim, Heidelberg, and Osterburken is available as an alternative. In the evening, both the S1 and S2 will be replaced by buses -- starting in Neustadt from 8:39 p.m., and in Kaiserslautern from 8:58 p.m. Buses will also run for the S44 from Kaiserslautern at 3.55 a.m. and 4.00 a.m. to Neustadt. Advertisement Several regional (RB) connections will also be cancelled or altered. The RE 6 line from Kaiserslautern to Karlsruhe will be cancelled in both directions between Neustadt and Kaiserslautern. The RB56 from Kaiserslautern to Bundenthal Rumbach will be cancelled at certain times: on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 8.37 a.m. In the opposite direction, the train from Neustadt to Kaiserslautern will be cancelled from 5.50 p.m. on Sundays and Mondays. Between Neustadt and Kaiserslautern, the RB45 trains will be cancelled at specific times on June 5th, 6th, 10th, 11th and 12th. Both regional and long-distance passengers travelling in this region would be advised to double check current timetables on the DB app or website before beginning their journey. LISTED: The major rail disruption to prepare for in Germany this summer
