Celebrating Pfingsten in Germany

by: Gerhild Fulson  / Oma Gerhild shares easy, authentic German recipes you can trust, rooted in family tradition and featured in her cookbooks.

Pfingsten (Pentecost) is a public holiday in Germany. Weekend festivals and picnics are the way to celebrate. This is a two-day holiday that is celebrated seven weeks after Easter.

For example, in 2010 it was May 23-24, in 2012 it was May 27-28, in 2014 it was June 8-9, in 2017 it was June 4-5 and in 2022 it's June 5-6. It is also called Whit Sunday and Whit Monday.

Pfingsten - Spring Picnic Ideas

Easy Potato Salad

Cucumber Salad

Quick Meatloaf with hidden eggs

Marble Cake ~ Marmorkuchen

Pfingsten Celebrations

Throughout Germany, the celebrations take on many forms.

Often these are candlelit processions.

First and foremost, this is a Christian celebration that remembers the Holy Spirit being poured out upon the followers of Jesus.

Eastern Bavaria

Huge parades with horses and bands are held in Eastern Bavaria. The medieval towns of Rothenburg and Schwaebisch Hall have elaborate festivals. Frankfurt's festival is celebrated in the woods.

Lower Saxony

Pfingstbaumpflanzen (wreaths) decorate birch trees in Lower Saxony. Because the birch tree is just starting to leaf, tradition has single women finding a birch branch nailed to their side of the house from their secret admirer.

North Rhine-Westphalia

In North Rhine-Westphalia, large wreaths (Pfingstenkranz) are placed in the town squares. These wreath structures are about 30 feet high. Around these the townsfolk dance and sing traditional songs .

Southern Germany

In Southern Germany, the tradition in the rural mountain villages is to decorate the prize cattle and lead them through the streets.

How to celebrate?

Since it is in late spring, the weather is usually warm.

This makes picnics the ideal treat.

So if you live in a part of the world where spring occurs the same time as it does in Germany, then go ahead, celebrate it this way as well.

Pull out your picnic menus -- and enjoy the great outdoors!

From Oma's heart to your table

Complete your set today - order now!

Join Oma's Kaffeeklatsch

Come for coffee & cake (virtually!), & you’ll discover new things about German food, recipes, & all things German.

 

Get my “Top 10 Favorite German Recipes” ebook & more … all delivered free right to your inbox from me, Oma Gerhild 🥰

 

Email address

First name

CLICK TO JOIN NOW

Thanks for joining!

Keep your eyes on your inbox for my email. 

---

Follow Oma on Social Media:

instagramyoutubefacebookpinterest

Comments?  Questions?

You can leave a comment about this recipe or ask a question...

Pop right over to my private Facebook group, the Kaffeeklatschers. You'll find thousands of German foodies, all eager to help and to talk about all things German, especially these yummy foods. 

Meet with us around Oma's virtual table, pull up a chair, grab a coffee and a piece of Apfelstrudel, and enjoy the visit.

Recent Articles

• 
• 

1. Oma's German Rhubarb Crumb Cake (Rhabarberkuchen mit Streusel)

   Jul 02, 25 11:28 AM

   
   This German Rhubarb Cake (Rhabarberkuchen mit Streusel) tastes just like Mutti’s … sweet, tart, buttery, and baked with love.

   Read More

2. Oma's Pineapple Icebox Cake (Ananas-Kühlschrank Dessert)

   Jul 02, 25 10:18 AM

   
   This no-bake ice box cake, ananas-kühlschrank dessert is creamy and ratze fatze easy ... a favorite summer treat made right in the serving dish.

   Read More

3. Slow Cooker Kasseler-Style Peameal Bacon Roast with Sauerkraut

   Jul 01, 25 11:41 AM

   
   This German-style peameal bacon roast with sauerkraut is my favorite hands-off slow cooker meal ... simple, hearty, and wunderbar

   Read More

Let's connect...

From Oma's heart
to your table

Complete your set today - order now!

More about me >

Hi, I'm Oma Gerhild! As a food writer and cookbook author, I'm always looking to find ways to pass on my German heritage using local ingredients. Quick and easy. That's my goal. Wunderbar food. That's the result.