Buß- und Bettag (Day of Repentance and Prayer) in Germany Date in the current year: November 20, 2024

Buß- und Bettag was established in Prussia in 1893. It was a Protestant church holiday. Eventually, Protestant church bodies outside Prussia followed suit and established it as well. After the unification of Germany, it became a national day of remembrance in 1934. However, it was abolished as a non-working holiday five years later.

Buß- und Bettag was celebrated again after World War II, but in 1966 communist East Germany abolished it. After German reunification it became a statutory non-working holiday again, but eventually lost this status in almost all German states. As for now, it is a public holiday in Saxony and a school holiday in Bavaria.

Along with Buß- und Bettag, there are several other remembrance days for honoring the deceased in Germany. The Catholics remember all deceased on All Souls' Day (November 2). The Lutherans do it on Totensonntag (the last Sunday before Advent). Those who died in wars, conflicts or as victims of violent oppression are remembered on Volkstrauertag (the second Sunday before Advent).