Today, March 30, 2018, is Good Friday, a day on which Christians commemorate the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Good Friday is an official public holiday in Germany; however it is also one of the “silent public holidays.” Other days on which a silent public holiday is observed include All Saints’ Day, All Souls’ Day, and Christmas Eve, although there is no uniform list that applies to all sixteen German states. But what are “silent public holidays”? Regulations vary across the German states, but in general states prohibit any kind of public entertainment which disturbs the silence and undermines the seriousness and purpose of the holiday, including dancing and musical performances in all kinds of pubs or other public food establishments. Restrictions on certain activities also depend on the type of silent public holiday, with the most severe restrictions in place for Good Friday. However, prohibitions to ensure the protection of public holidays must be balanced with the constitutional rights to freedom of religion and belief and the freedom of assembly.
Prohibited Activities
All German states have laws for the protection of Sundays and public holidays. The most famous and fought-over ban imposed by these laws to protect silent public holidays is the ban on public dancing. On Good Friday, all German states ban public dancing, although the ban lasts longer in some states than in others. In Bavaria, for example, public dancing is banned from 2 am on Holy Thursday