Germany (North Rhine-Westphalia) : public and bank holidays, closure of banks, stock exchanges, school vacations

School holidays :

Catholic or protestant : Since pre-historic times in Europe, festivities (bonfires, offrerings) were marking the beginning of longer hours of daylight with fires and ritual. The Roman festival of Saturnalia lasted several days in December (gambling and offerings). Germanic tribes also celebrated mid-winter (drinking and rituals). The Bulgarian (with Koleduvane) and the Polish (with Gwiazdka) perpetuate this tradition. Jesus of Nazareth was probably born in springtime (Reformists favour autumn). But in the 4th century, December 25th was chosen for the celebration of his birth by Pope Julius I (Bishop Liberus is also mentioned in 354 A.D.). Thus, a Christian element was introduced in the long-established mid-winter festivals. Before 1582, the Papal States and other Italian city states celebrated New Year’s Day on Christmas Day.

Secular holiday :

Secular holiday : The world's most widely celebrated holiday, New Years was set on January 1 by Julius Caesar because that was the date the Roman consuls took over their duties. Paid holiday when falling on Saturday or Sunday

School holidays : Www.ferien-in-nrw.de
calendar gazetted by the Ministry of Education
all study programs are aligned with the requirements of the Bologna Process
PISA ranking (average 493): 509 (among the 15 best WW)
school day duration: 5:30 hours
Schooling is mandatory till age 16
Average class size: more than 24
number of instructional hours per year in lower secondary education: 752
Usually no school on Saturday
No uniform required
University of Münster ranking: Times Higher Education #161/QS ranking #308/Shanghai (2023) #201-300

We carry confirmed dates till Feb 2029

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Tradeshows : Www.imm-cologne.com/ lasts one week - 2024 edition confirmed

Culture : In Cologne, Crazy Days have been prepared since November. People wear costumes. Girls try to cut men's neckties. A second carnival is dedicated to ghosts and ends with the burning of Nubbel , a straw figure. In Cologne only

Culture : 'Rosenmontag' is celebrated in the carnival strongholds of Germany (Hochburgen), East Belgium, but also Austria and some cantons of Switzerland,

Culture : During one week (starting with the date indicated), there are carnivals in several towns and regions in Germany (Catholic regions). For business, avoid the Thursday (in Cologne, Dusseldorf, Bavaria and Baden-Württenberg). and the Monday (in Bonn, Cologne and Dusseldorf. The days of Carnival (the week, which ends with Ash Wednesday) are not offical holidays. Only Carnival Monday and Shrove Tuesday are de-facto -holidays in the "strongholds" of Carnival (Cologne, Düsseldorf, Mainz and Aachen - but also in several townships in the "western" states), because of the traditional Carnival-Processions.

School holidays :

Catholic or protestant : The First Council of Nicaea (a gathering of bishops in the early days of Christianity) wanted to find a day to commemorate the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ. This commemoration had to be linked to Jewish holiday traditions, since the last supper of Christ was believed to be a Jewish Passover meal. But the Jewish calendar is based on lunar and solar cycles, so the Easter celebration had to follow the same calendar.

Catholic or protestant : Not a paid holiday