Celebrating the Day of Prayer and Repentance in Germany: dates, celebration, conventional congratulations, greetings, traditions and customs on the Day of Prayer and Repentance

  Dates for the Day of Prayer and Repentance celebration in Germany

The date of the Day of Prayer and Repentance celebration in Germany changes every year.

The Day of Prayer and Repentance celebration date in Germany:
Wednesday 19 November 2025 .

Below is a list of dates for celebrating the Day of Prayer and Repentance in Germany by year, provided that in previous and subsequent years the present practice and time of the holiday celebration is preserved:

• Wednesday, 20 November 2024 - Day of Prayer and Repentance 2024Germany Germany
• Wednesday, 19 November 2025 - Day of Prayer and Repentance 2025Germany Germany
• Wednesday, 18 November 2026 - Day of Prayer and Repentance 2026Germany Germany
• Wednesday, 17 November 2027 - Day of Prayer and Repentance 2027Germany Germany

  Other names of the holiday

Holiday name in German: Buß- und Bettag.

We are not aware of any other names for the Day of Prayer and Repentance in Germany.

  Holiday status in the territory of Germany

The holiday is an official extra non-working day only in the following federated states (lands) of Germany:

• Saxony

  Wishes and congratulations, greetings on the Day of Prayer and Repentance in Germany

No information available.

  Description of the Day of Prayer and Repentance celebration: customs and traditions:

This holiday is a special quiet day for repentance of sins and prayer for absolution. This is an Evangelical Church holy day. It is observed on the Wednesday prior to the Remembrance Sunday and after the All Souls Day. On this day, worship services held are attended by believers and there the rector or rectress assists in penance.

  The origin of the Day of Prayer and Repentance holiday

Throughout history, people have often observed days of repentance and fasting, timed to coincide with various events, in the hope of grace and confirmation. As far as we know, the Day of Repentance and Prayer was first kept in Strasbourg in 1532 in response to the Austro-Turkish War. The Day of Repentance and Prayer as we know it today was introduced by the Evangelical Church in 1934 as a public holiday in Germany, and since 1995 it has been a statutory holiday only in one federated state (region) of Germany.

  Photos, pictures for the holiday