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Local Germany
28-04-2025
- Business
- Local Germany
What's open and closed on May 1st in Germany
May 1st is a nationwide public holiday with traditions dating back well over a century - in German its commonly called Tag der Arbeit (or Labour Day in English). Interestingly, the historical labour strikes and protests that led to the designation of the date as Labour day actually started in the United States in 1886. But in the 130 years since then, Labour Day as its celebrated on May 1st has been largely forgotten in the US, whereas the tradition lives on in Germany and around 65 other countries internationally. May 1st is one of just nine national public holidays that is celebrated in every federal state in Germany - so no matter where you live in the country, you should expect that most shops will be closed on Thursday. Here's an overview of what's open and what's closed during the May 1st holiday. EXPLAINED: Why is May 1st significant in Germany? Shops Supermarkets and most independent shops will be closed closed for Tag der Arbeit. As always in Germany, there are certain supermarkets (typically found only in central train stations) that are legally allowed to remain open on Sundays and holidays. So if you know of a grocery store in your local Hauptbahnhof where you like to shop on Sundays it may also be open on May 1st, but do check the store's hours before heading out, as holiday hours may vary. A report by Focus Online rounded up the supermarkets that will be open in Germany's major cities on May 1st, which you can find here . You may also find the odd exception in the form of a local corner store such a Spätkauf or Kiosk , but generally speaking, you'll be better off assuming that nothing will be open and doing your shopping for Thursday ahead of time. REVEALED: Where to buy groceries on a Sunday in Berlin Advertisement Bars, restaurants and cafés Very often hospitality businesses, especially those in popular tourist areas or big cities, will want to stay open to cater to the May 1st crowds. However, others may have owners or staff that would rather have the day off themselves. In short, if you're out and about in a bigger city for the holiday, you shouldn't have much trouble finding something to eat or a place to have a drink, but you'll want to check in advance if you have plans to meet friends at a particular place. People sitting in a beer garden at the Seehaus am Kleinhesseloher See in the English Garden in Munich. Photo: picture alliance / Andreas Gebert/dpa | Andreas Gebert Tourist attractions and leisure activities Leisure centres, museums and other major tourist attractions also often close on May 1st, while some may maintain holiday hours. But honestly, if you're visiting Germany at this time, May 1st brings a great opportunity to experience contemporary German culture first-hand by diving into a wide range of parties and/or demonstrations on the streets. In a major city, you likely won't need to venture far before you stumble upon a political demonstration, a spring-time festival or a similar holiday events. But if you'd rather plan your day out here are some event lists to get you started in Berlin , Hamburg , Frankfurt and Munich . Offices, banks and schools Almost all offices close on May 1st, as do banks and public administration offices. If May 1st falls on a Thursday, as it does this year, some offices (and many workers) may decide to 'bridge' the holiday and remain closed Friday as well. Schools also close and, once again, some schools may decide to give their pupils (and teachers) the Friday off too. READ ALSO: 'Bridge days' - How to maximise your public holidays like a German this May Advertisement Public transport & emergency services Public transport runs as usual on holidays including May 1st, but be aware that many cities have a holiday timetable with reduced services. Most doctors' and dentists' practices will be closed on May 1st, so if you do have a non-urgent medical procedure scheduled for May 1st, you may want to check ahead that the appointment was not made in error. But emergency services will of course function normally, with hospitals remaining open. If you have a non-emergency medical issue on Labour Day, you can dial 116 117 or try this website for a directory for local medical offices near you. In an emergency, call 112 for the fire brigade or ambulance or 110 for the police. Most pharmacies will be closed, so make sure you have enough medication ahead of the public holiday. Alternatively, a list of emergency pharmacies is found at .
Arab News
03-03-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
Car drives into crowd in German city of Mannheim killing at least one
MANNHEIM: A car drove into a crowd of people in the western German city of Mannheim on Monday, killing at least one person, injuring several others and overshadowing carnival celebrations in the region where police had been on alert for security attacks. Police detained the car's driver and later said he had acted alone, with no broader threat seen for the public. People were seen lying on the ground at the scene and at least two were being resuscitated, an eyewitness told Reuters. Bild newspaper reported that two people were killed and 25 injured, 15 of them seriously, citing security sources. It was unclear whether the driver acted deliberately or if there was any connection to Germany's carnival celebrations, which culminated on Rose Monday with a number of parades, although not in Mannheim, which held its main event on Sunday. The Focus Online website reported that the man detained by police was a 40-year-old from the neighboring state of Rhineland-Palatinate and that he was receiving hospital treatment, citing security sources. Police declined to comment on the suspect's identity, saying this was a focus of their investigation. Security has been a key concern in Germany following a string of violent attacks in recent weeks, including deadly car rammings in Magdeburg in December and in Munich last month, as well as a stabbing in Mannheim in May 2024. Police were on high alert for this year's carnival parades after social media accounts linked to the Islamic State militant group called for attacks on the events in Cologne and Nuremberg. German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser canceled her attendance at the parade in Cologne on Monday, Germany's biggest, due to the events in Mannheim, a spokesperson for the minister said. Rose Monday, the culmination of the annual carnival season celebrated in Germany's mainly Catholic western and southern regions, features parades of floats that often include comical or satirical references to current affairs. This year's carnival has included floats featuring US President Donald Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin, tech billionaire Elon Musk and Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky. Dressed in traditional jester costumes and sporting colorful makeup, thousands of partygoers danced through the streets of Cologne, Dusseldorf and other cities in western and southern Germany ahead of the fasting season of Lent.
Gulf Today
15-02-2025
- Politics
- Gulf Today
Nearly 30 hurt in suspected car ramming attack in Munich
Some 28 people were hurt when a car driven by an Afghan asylum seeker ploughed into a crowd in Munich on Thursday in what the state premier said was probably an attack, putting security back in focus before next week's federal election. The suspected attack also came hours before international leaders including US Vice President JD Vance and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy were due to arrive in the southern German city for the Munich Security Conference. Police said a white car had approached police vehicles that were accompanying a demonstration of striking workers, before speeding up and hitting people. One shot was fired at the suspect and it was unclear if he was wounded, police added. Officers detained the 24-year-old driver. His motive was unclear. "It was probably an attack," Bavaria state premier Markus Soeder told reporters. Bavarian interior minister Joachim Herrmann said the suspect had been known to police for drug and shoplifting offences. Immigration and security issues have dominated campaigning ahead of the February 23 election, especially after other violent incidents in recent weeks, with polls showing the centre-right conservatives leading followed by the far right. In December, six people were killed in an attack on a Christmas market in Magdeburg and last month a toddler and adult were killed in a knife attack in the Bavarian town of Aschaffenburg. Immigrants have been arrested over both attacks. Conservative Friedrich Merz, frontrunner to be Germany's next chancellor, said safety would be his top priority. "We will enforce law and order. Everyone must feel safe in our country again. Something has to change in Germany," Merz posted on X. Merz has accused Social Democrat Chancellor Olaf Scholz of being soft on immigration and last month, he even broke a taboo by winning a parliamentary vote on asylum with the support of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD). The AfD, in second place in polls, also seized on the incident, with co-leader Alice Weidel focusing on the driver being an Afghan asylum seeker. "Should this go on forever? Migration turnaround now!" she posted on social media platform X. Scholz said the perpetrator could not hope for leniency. "He must be punished and he must leave the country," said Scholz, according to news outlet Focus Online. "If it was an attack, we must take consistent action against possible perpetrators with all means of justice." About four hours after the incident, the street where it took place was strewn with items of clothing and bags, a shoe and a pair of glasses. Police set up a gathering point for witnesses in the Loewenbraeukeller, one of Munich's oldest beer halls. A passer-by said he witnessed the incident from a window of a neighbouring office building. The car, a white Mini Cooper, had threaded its way between the police vehicles and then accelerated, he said. Another witness said she had seen part of the incident from a building. The car had accelerated and hit several people in the crowd, she said. People in the crowd had been taking part in a strike held by the Verdi public sector workers' union whose leader, Frank Werneke, expressed shock but said he had no further details. Bavaria's interior minister said he did not suspect there was a connection to the Munich Security Conference, which starts on Friday.
