Does anyone know of a German holiday next week on Thurs. May 4th or May 5th.?
My son called Munich BMW to inquire about a plant tour and they said there was a holiday Thurs. and Friday.
Does this also mean that city tours/ stores will be closed?
Thanks.

I don't know about in Germany but Thursday is Assumption and a holiday in France. Many business are closed on Friday too.

May 5 is a religious holiday, Ascension, which occurs 40 days after Easter. Because this is a Thursday, often the next day becomes a holiday of sorts to make it a long weekend.

In France stores are closed on that day, except perhaps for some very touristy ones. It is hard to avoid holidays in Europe in May.

Moxie, ya got your holidays mixed up; Assumption is Aug. 15.

Sorry I did, I knew it was one of the A ones

Regardless of what it is called in English, May 5th of this year is a oublic holiday in Germany. Friday, 6th of May is not.

What is it called in Germany, and is not the 6th, although not a holiday strictly speaking, a day that many businesses will be closed?

Dear Grand'mere!

It's called Christi Himmelfahrt (Christ's trip to heaven) and is a public holiday in all States, I think.

The Catholic states of Germany (those in the south and west) have all sorts of holidays over and above the usual ones; I taught in a Bavarian school for a year and there was hardly a week went by without a day off for something.

Harzer

Ascension is called in German "Christi Himmelfahrt."

Ascension is a legal holiday throughout Germany. Many businesses close the day after any holiday that falls on a Thursday. It's called a "bridge day" and makes a nice 4 day weekend for the employees. May is a bad month to try to do business in Germany because there are so many holidays. My calendar puts Thursday on May 5th, Cinco de Mayo.

hi there,
business my be closed on 6th, but shops and restaurants will be open. Also You can find city tours and museums open.
have fun
Gar

Just to add, as mentioned previously May is good/bad month for public holidays in May.

The following days are public holidays in Munich / Bavaria
1st May
5th May
16th May
26th May

Geordie