Religion and Holidays
Article 4 of the German Constitution guarantees freedom of belief. Anyone can freely have a religion, join a religious community, change or leave it, or decide to be non-denominational. The State must be neutral and tolerant of all religious and philosophical communities. In Germany, there is no state religion; this means that State and religious and philosophical communities may not enter into an institutional association with one another. However, collaboration between the State and religious communities is possible and religious communities are invited to comment on social matters, take part in committees and forums, and are consulted for advice.
In state schools, religious education is basically compulsory for members of the respective religious community; however, parents can opt out of religious education for their children. Non-denominational teaching of ethics is usual for students who do not take part in religious education. State schools may also provide education for students in ethical matters.
The largest churches in Germany are the Catholic and Protestant churches. They each account for around 30% of the population, with a different regional distribution. In Southern Germany, the Catholic church has a higher percentage; whereas in the north it is the Protestant church. Islam, in its various forms, is increasingly gaining in importance due to immigration into Germany; approximately 4% of the population is Muslim. Just 2% of the population belongs to various other religions represented in Germany, and around 34% is non-denominational. There is no strict division between church and State. The state revenue authorities collect church taxes that the Protestant and Catholic churches, the Jewish communities and a few small religious communities raise from their members. There are also a large number of statutory holidays in Germany based on Christian traditions.
Added to these there are holidays that only apply in certain federal states.
New Year = 1 January
Good Friday = Friday before Easter
Easter Sunday and Easter Monday = March or April
Labour Day = 1 May
Ascension Day = Thursday, 10 days before Whitsun
Whit Sunday and Whit Monday = In June
German Unity Day = 3 October
Christmas Eve = 24 December (afternoon onwards)
Christmas Day and Boxing Day = 25 and 26 December
New Year’s Eve = 31 December (afternoon onwards).
Religions
Religion | Adresse/Address | Telefon/Phone | Internet |
---|---|---|---|
Katholische Kirche Köln, Erzbistum | Marzellenstrasse 32 50668 Köln | 0221/1642-00221/1642-700 | www.erzbistum-koeln.de |
Evangelischer Stadtkirchenverband Köln | Kartäusergasse 9-11 50678 Köln | 0221/3382117 0221/3382121 | www.kirche-koeln.de |
Anglican Church | Bonner Str./Ecke Lindenallee 50678 Köln | 0228 3681 6598 | www.anglicanbonncologne.de |
Armenische Kirche | Allensteiner Str. 5 50735 Köln-Niehl | 0221/7126223 0221/7126267 | |
Baptist Church | Rheinaustr. 9 50676 Köln | 0221/218860 0221/2786974 | www.ibc-cologne.com |
Griechisch-Orthodox | Meister-Gerhardt-Str.10 50674 Köln | 0221/237882 | orthodoxie-koeln.de |
Russisch-Orthodoxe Kirche | Kalk-Mülheimer-Str. 128 Neue Str. 1 | 0221/856552 02203/181465 | www.orthodoxe-kirche-koeln-kalk.de r-o-k.de/deutsch/r_o_k.htm |
Neuapostolische Kirche Köln | Wickratherhofweg 22 50859 Köln | 02 21/402172 | www.nak-koeln-west.de |
Alt-Katholiken in Köln | Jülicher Straße 28 50674 Köln | 0221/2405032 0221/2405132 | www.alt-katholisch.de |
Jüdische Religion | Roonstr. 50 50674 Köln | 0221/9215600 0221/9215609 | www.sgk.de synagoge-koeln@netcologne.de |
Islam Köln | Vogelsanger Str. 290 50825 Köln | 0221/9544100 | www.vikz.de |
Moschee | Eichhornstr. 2 / Ecke Friedrich-Karl-Str. 50735 Köln-Weidenpesch | 0221/713307 | |
Buddhismus Köln | Aquino Str. 27 | 0221/7327475 0221/7327475 | koeln@diamondway-center.org |
Kölner Buddhafield, Osho Uta Meditation | Venloer Str. 5-7 50672 Köln | 0221/5740730 0221/5740736 | |
Hindu Temple HARI OM MANDIR Afgh. Hindu Gemeinde in Köln e.V. | Wikingerstr. 62 51107 Köln (Rath-Heumar) | 0221/ 8027814 0221/8300009 Fax: 0221/8027815 | |
Sikh-Tempel | Kalk-Mülheimer-Str/An der Autobahn 51065 Köln (Buchforst) |