How many public holidays are there in Europe?
There are between 8 and 15 public holidays each year in most European countries, depending on national traditions and religious observances.
For example, the UK has 8 bank holidays, Germany averages 10–13 depending on the state, while Spain and Austria celebrate 14 or more official holidays annually.
Major Holidays Common Across Europe
- New Year’s Day (Jan 1) – Celebrated across all of Europe.
- Easter (March/April, date varies) – Includes Good Friday, Easter Sunday, and Easter Monday.
- Labor Day (May 1) – Recognized in nearly all European countries.
- Christmas (Dec 25) – Universally observed, with some regions also celebrating Dec 26 (Boxing Day/St. Stephen’s Day).
- Ascension Day, Pentecost, and Assumption of Mary – Widely observed in Catholic and Protestant countries.
List of Holidays in Europe (Country-by-Country)
United Kingdom
- New Year’s Day
- Good Friday
- Easter Monday
- Early May Bank Holiday
- Spring Bank Holiday
- Summer Bank Holiday
- Christmas Day
- Boxing Day
Germany
- New Year’s Day
- Good Friday
- Easter Monday
- Labor Day (May 1)
- Ascension Day
- Whit Monday
- Day of German Unity (Oct 3)
- Christmas Day & St. Stephen’s Day
(Extra state holidays: Epiphany, Corpus Christi, All Saints, etc.)
France
- New Year’s Day
- Easter Monday
- Labor Day (May 1)
- Victory in Europe Day (May 8)
- Bastille Day (July 14)
- Assumption of Mary (Aug 15)
- All Saints’ Day (Nov 1)
- Armistice Day (Nov 11)
- Christmas Day
Italy
- New Year’s Day
- Epiphany (Jan 6)
- Easter Monday
- Liberation Day (Apr 25)
- Labor Day (May 1)
- Republic Day (June 2)
- Ferragosto (Aug 15)
- All Saints’ Day (Nov 1)
- Christmas & St. Stephen’s Day
Spain
- New Year’s Day
- Epiphany (Jan 6)
- Good Friday
- Labor Day (May 1)
- Assumption (Aug 15)
- National Day (Oct 12)
- All Saints’ Day (Nov 1)
- Constitution Day (Dec 6)
- Immaculate Conception (Dec 8)
- Christmas Day
| Country | Approx. No. of Holidays | Popular Examples |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 8 | New Year’s Day, Christmas, Easter Monday |
| Germany | 10–13 (varies by state) | Unity Day, Christmas, Easter |
| France | 11 | Bastille Day, Christmas, Labor Day |
| Spain | 14 | Epiphany, Assumption Day, Christmas |
| Italy | 12 | Liberation Day, Ferragosto, Christmas |
| Austria | 13–15 | National Day, All Saints, Christmas |
Note: Europe does not have a single holiday calendar—each country sets its own national holidays, although Christian holidays such as Christmas, Easter, and New Year’s Day are widely celebrated across the continent.