In the month of May, we celebrate the changing of the seasons. The sun is shining and it is much warmer during the day.
The days are longer and people are enjoying beer and “gemütlichkeit” in the beer gardens.
On the 1st of May (Mayday and also Tag der Arbeit), in most small towns, people will come together to put up the Maypole. Most will wear traditional clothes for the event. It is a tradition in smaller villages to steal each other’s poles. To get the Maypole back, the town has to pay a hefty ransom (mostly beer). Once the Maypole is up, the music, dancing, and feasting can begin.
The tradition of putting up a Maypole dates back to the 16th century. Other traditions include dancing or “Tanz in den Mai”, “Maisprung” or May Jump where the brave jump over bonfires at midnight.
Because it is also Workers Day, you can expect trade union marches.
In South Africa and Germany, Mother’s Day is celebrated on the second Sunday in May.
Father’s Day is celebrated in June in South Africa but in Germany, it is celebrated on Ascension Day (Hemelvaart/Christi Himmelfahrt) and thus falls on a public holiday. Ascension Day is always on a Thursday.
Many of the public swimming facilities (Freibad) will open. Other swimming options are to swim in the ocean, a Baggersee, or a lake.
Swimming options Private swimming pools are not so popular in Germany, but there are good public swimming options available.Public swimming pools / Öffentliche Schimmbäder / FreibadFreiseitparks like EuropaparkBaggersee (Man-made lakes)LakesThe ocean / Nordsee or Ostsee Rules for swimming in Lakes Never dive/jump into a lake without knowing the depth of
It is also great weather for outdoor activities.
Sports in Germany South Africans are generally a sport crazy bunch. Not just watching it, but also actively taking part. Participating in sports here in Germany has its challenges, mostly due to the weather. But, as the German saying goes – there isn’t something like bad weather, only bad clothing
| Season | Spring |
| Time | Central European Time (CET), Summertime – the same time as South Africa until the last Sunday of October, when Wintertime starts (30 October 2022). |
| Weather |
The average temperature is between 7.2 and 16.8 degrees Celsius. The days become longer and there are more hours of sunshine. |
Many towns will host spring festivals. Two famous ones are the Frühlingsfest in Munich and the one in Stuttgart.
Tip if you are interested in the Summer night concert in Schönbrunn, which is in June, get your tickets early.
| Holiday | Date | Information | States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public Holidays | |||
| Tag der Arbeit / Worker's Day | 2023-05-01 | Tag der Arbeit / Worker's Day | All |
| Christi Himmelfahrt | 2023-05-18 | Christi Himmelfahrt / Ascension of Christ | All |
| Pfingstsonntag | 2023-05-28 | Brandenburg | |
| Pfingstmontag | 2023-05-29 | Whit Monday or Pentacost | All |
| Observations | |||
| Mothers Day | 2023-05-14 | Same as in South Africa | All |
| Fathers Day | 2023-05-18 | All | |
| School Holidays and Terms | |||
| Pfingstferien | Various | Shool Holidays |
31/05/2023 @ 8:00 pm – 11:30 pm – This is an external event and only shared by us for information purposes Sibusile Xaba and ESINAM are kindred spirits in music and their collaboration brings healing to body and soul. As multi-instrumentalists, the two artists translate messages from their ancestors through rhythms and grooves. Their vocals heighten the trance into rhythmic patterns that bring […]
05/04/2023 – 13/08/2023 @ 11:00 am – 4:00 pm – The Gropius Bau and SAVVY Contemporary are delighted to present the project INDIGO WAVES AND OTHER STORIES: RE-NAVIGATING THE AFRASIAN SEA AND NOTIONS OF DIASPORA – running from 6 April to 13 August 2023 at the Gropius Bau and from 21 April to 4 June 2023 at SAVVY Contemporary. The multi-chapter exhibition brings together works […]
20/04/2023 – 04/06/2023 @ 2:00 pm – 7:00 pm – South African multidisciplinary artist Thania Petersen at SAVVY Contemporary in Berlin as of 20 April 2023: The Gropius Bau and SAVVY Contemporary are delighted to present the project INDIGO WAVES AND OTHER STORIES: RE-NAVIGATING THE AFRASIAN SEA AND NOTIONS OF DIASPORA – running from 6 April to 13 August 2023 at the Gropius Bau and […]
26/05/2023 – 29/05/2023 @ All Day – Afrika festival in Birkenried – Music food and good vibes This is an external event that we share for information purposes only. We are not responsible for ticketsales More info – http://www.afrika.birkenried.de/
26/05/2023 @ 10:00 pm – 11:45 pm – Nomfusi Gotyana, known as Nomfusi, is a South African singer and performer of Afro-Soul music. She was born in the township of KwaZhakele in the Eastern Cape This is an external event and is shared only for information purposes Tickets for this event can be bought on the Africa Festival website The International Africa Festival […]
Asparagus season is from April until 24 June. For more information visit our Spargel page.
Also known as wild garlic or Ramsons. The taste is a cross between onions and garlic. Do not pick them yourself, as they can be mistaken for Lily of the Valley which is poisonous. Bärlauch can be added to omelettes, soups, and stews or used as a pesto.
| Maypole | der Maibaum |
| a state or feeling of warmth, friendliness, and good cheer. | die Gemütlichkeit |
| man-made quarry filled with water |
der Baggersee |
| Lake | der See |
| Ocean | das Meer |
| Beach | der Strand/der Badestrand |
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