Luxembourg's official bank holidays, weekends and weekdaysLuxembourg's official bank holidays, weekends and weekdays

New Year's Eve in Luxembourg is held on the night of December 31 to January 1: it is celebrated much more modestly than catholic Christmas.

Traditions

Fireworks and flares

You can typically see local residents launch fireworks and flares around midnight at designated locations where municipalities have lifted the ban on pyrotechnics.

Family dinner

The holiday is traditionally celebrated among family members with a festive dinner. However, many people also go out for a walk on the city streets.

In Luxembourgish society, Easter is celebrated in both religious and secular circles.

Traditions

Quiet week

It is quiet in Luxembourg during Holy Week. Traditionally, the main cathedral bell is sent to Rome to confess its sins.

Religious celebrations

Religious celebrations take place during Easter and attending mass is the usual custom. Meanwhile, kids and adults alike have Easter egg hunts.

The Emaischen Festival

The Emaischen Festival, a traditional local market, takes place on Easter Monday: special little clay birds called Péckvillercher can be found there.

On May 1, several thousand people throughout Luxembourg traditionally take part in demonstrations organized by Luxembourg's largest trade unions, the OGBL and LCGB.

Traditions

Manifestations

These festive manifestations are meant to be a reminder of the struggle of the free trade unions for the social gains for all.

Wreaths of green foliage

By weaving wreaths of green foliage in towns and villages people mark the arrival of spring and the beginning of the sunny season.

Lily as a present

On this occasion, you can present a lily of the valley sprig to your loved ones.

This is a relatively new holiday in Luxembourg. It is therefore too early to talk about established traditions.

• Europe Day was celebrated for the first time in Luxembourg on May 9, 2019. Since that, this day has been declared a public holiday and an official day off. 
• Festive-themed events will take place around the country and in the capital.

The Ascension of Jesus is a national holiday celebrated on the fortieth day after Easter. This is a statutory weekend in Luxembourg and it is accompanied by a traditional church service.

Traditions

Church service

A festive church service is held

Poultry dishes

It is a common tradition to eat poultry dishes or pastries in the shape of chicken.

Pentecost Monday, Spirit Day, or Pfingstmontag are all the names of the one holiday that is celebrated on the fiftieth day after Easter.

Traditions

Dove

The symbol of the holiday is the dove, which is seen as a sign of the descent of the Holy Spirit to earth.

Flowers and greenery

To symbolize the arrival of spring, it is customary to decorate houses and churches with flowers and bright greenery.

Church services

Churches hold a celebratory mass on this day.

One of the major public holidays. Luxembourg's National Day was historically considered to be the birthday of the Grand Duke. Although no sovereign was born on this date, the holiday was definitively established on June 23 in the middle of the last century.

Traditions

Torchlight procession

Parade

Fireworks

Concerts

The Assumption of Our Lady Virgin Mary is a religious holiday and an official day off. Shops, banks, schools, and most businesses are closed.

Traditions

Church service

Religious people gather in churches to receive Holy Communion and to pray

Blessing of herbs

This ritual has been preserved only in a small number of localities in Luxembourg.

Procession

A procession in honor of the Virgin Mary is held in and around the capital.

This holiday is marked on November 1 and is closely related to the Commemoration of the Deceased Day, which is right next to it, on November 2.

Traditions

Memory of the deceased

During All Saints, it is common to visit the burial places of friends and relatives to honor the memory of the deceased.

Church visits

Traditionally, a church service is held on All Saints' Day.

In winter, Luxembourg celebrates its main festive event — Christmas. Preparations usually start well in advance: the Luxembourg Christmas season traditionally kicks off in the second half of November.

Traditions

Winterlights festival

The capital is decorated with festive lights as part of the Winterlights festival

Christmas fairs

Open to adults and children all over Luxembourg

Concerts and Shows

As well as street performances, plays and parades

Another public holiday in Luxembourg, which is celebrated right after Christmas. Similarly to December 25, the following date is non-working.

Traditions

Religious holiday

In Luxembourg, the celebration has a religious rather than a secular nature.

Boxing Day

In some other states, you can hear the name Boxing Day, which is more or less common.