Flags on holidays and special occasions in Germany

In many countries the national flag is simply part of Christmas, Easter or a birthday. Germany is different: the federal flag days are almost all days of remembrance and constitutional anniversaries, and the major holidays of the year are mostly church festivals on which public authorities do not fly flags. Private individuals may nevertheless fly flags whenever they like.

Public holidays and flag days

According to the Federal Ministry of the Interior, setting public holidays is in principle a matter for the federal states. The only public holiday set by federal law is the Day of German Unity on 3 October, which the Unification Treaty made a public holiday. Nine holidays apply uniformly nationwide, because all states protect them in their holiday laws.

Conversely, most flag days are not public holidays: 27 January, Europe Day on 9 May, 23 May, 17 June and 20 July are ordinary working days. The National Day of Mourning always falls on a Sunday. All dates are in the guide to flag days.

The Day of German Unity

3 October is the day in 1990 on which the GDR acceded to the area of application of the Basic Law. It is both the national holiday and a flag day. According to Protokoll Inland, the black-red-gold flag was raised in front of the Reichstag building at midnight on the night of 3 October 1990; today the “Flag of Unity” stands there, flying permanently and floodlit at night.

Maypoles and custom

A custom of its own involving masts is the maypole (Maibaum), which is put up on 1 May, especially in southern Germany. Under building law it counts as one of the masts erected for reasons of custom. Under the Model Building Code and, for example, Art. 57 of the Bavarian Building Code, these are exempt from the permit procedure and need no building permit. The requirements for stability still apply.

Sporting events

During World and European Championships, a striking number of black-red-gold flags hang from houses, balconies and cars in Germany. In its glossary, the German Bundestag notes that Germans today identify with the colours as rarely before, which is not only evident at football World Cups. The following applies to such flags:

• Free use: the federal flag and fan merchandise in black-red-gold may be used. The federal service flag with the federal shield is reserved for the authorities under section 124 OWiG.
• Rented flats and residential complexes: whether flags may be attached to a balcony or façade can be governed by the tenancy agreement, house rules or resolutions of the owners.
• Cars: the general rules of road traffic law apply to flags on vehicles.
• Respect: denigrating the flag is an offence under section 90a StGB; a cheerful black-red-gold fan outfit is not.

Private celebrations

Flying flags for birthdays, weddings, anniversaries or club celebrations is possible at any time; there are no rules for it. Besides the federal flag, state flags, city flags, club flags or fantasy flags are often raised. The same applies to state and municipal flags as to the Federation: the flag without a coat of arms may generally be shown by anyone, while the service flag with a coat of arms is reserved for the authorities.

Anyone celebrating in the evening can leave a floodlit flag up; the flag decree also allows this for public authorities. More in the guide to flag lighting, and which flag forms exist is described in the guide to flag types.