Upper Franconia's Mariä Himmelfahrt holidays canceled for two local municipalities
News Article: Changes in Public Holiday Observance for Maria Himmelfahrt in Bavaria
Starting from 2025, several municipalities in Bavaria will observe the public holiday for Maria Himmelfahrt (Assumption Day, August 15), following a change in regulations based on the 2022 census results.
According to a press release issued by the Chamber of Industry and Commerce Coburg, two Franconian municipalities - Seßlach (Landkreis Coburg) and Marktschorgast (Landkreis Kulmbach) - will no longer observe Maria Himmelfahrt as a public holiday[1]. This means that businesses, shops, and authorities in these towns will be open as usual on this day starting from 2025[3].
On the other hand, four new municipalities will gain the holiday status for Maria Himmelfahrt in 2025. These include Marktrodach (Upper Franconia), Baiersdorf and Weisendorf (Middle Franconia), Schwebheim (Lower Franconia), as well as Memmingerberg and Oettingen in Bayern (Swabia). These municipalities, now with a Catholic majority as defined by the 2022 census, will join the traditionally Catholic-majority cities such as Munich, Augsburg, Würzburg, Regensburg, and Ingolstadt in recognising Maria Himmelfahrt as a legal holiday[2].
The criterion for having the Assumption Day as a holiday depends on having a large enough Catholic population according to recent census results. The updated regulation follows the 2022 census and applies henceforth from 2025, expanding the list of municipalities in Bavaria celebrating this Catholic feast with a public holiday[2].
It is worth noting that the place where work is done on Maria Himmelfahrt, not the location of the employer, determines whether an employee has the day off. This means that employees who work in Seßlach on Maria Himmelfahrt will no longer have the previously applicable work rest starting from 2025[4].
In total, 348 Bavarian municipalities will not observe the holiday for Maria Himmelfahrt in 2025, while 1708 out of 2056 municipalities will do so[5]. Frank Jakobs, head of the Recht und Steuern department of the Chamber of Industry and Commerce Coburg, is involved in the issuance of this press release[6].
These changes in holiday status for Maria Himmelfahrt in various Bavarian municipalities for the year 2025 have been reported by the IHK Coburg[1].
References: [1] IHK Coburg Press Release [2] Bavarian State Chancellery [3] IHK Coburg Report [4] German Labour Law [5] Bavarian State Statistical Office [6] Chamber of Industry and Commerce Coburg
Behind the changes in public holiday observance for Maria Himmelfahrt in Bavaria, lies a significant shift in the regulations, stemming from the 2022 census results. This shift will impact the finance and business sectors, as two Franconian municipalities - Seßlach and Marktschorgast - will no longer observe Maria Himmelfahrt as a public holiday, subsequently requiring businesses, shops, and authorities in these towns to remain open on this day. Conversely, four new municipalities, including Marktrodach, Baiersdorf, Weisendorf, Schwebheim, Memmingerberg, and Oettingen in Bayern, will recognize Maria Himmelfahrt as a legal holiday, which might provoke changes in their respective finance and business operations.
