der
Feiertag
🎉 What does "der Feiertag" mean?
Der Feiertag means public holiday, bank holiday, or generally a day of celebration when people typically don't work due to legal, religious, or traditional reasons. It's an official or unofficial day of rest, often associated with special festivities or customs.
- Gesetzlicher Feiertag: A statutory holiday recognized by the state, where most shops are closed and employees have the day off (e.g., Tag der Deutschen Einheit - Day of German Unity, Weihnachten - Christmas, Ostern - Easter).
- Religiöser Feiertag: A religious holiday, a day that holds special significance within a particular religion and is celebrated accordingly (e.g., Karfreitag - Good Friday, Christi Himmelfahrt - Ascension Day, Pfingsten - Pentecost).
- Regionaler Feiertag: A regional holiday that only applies in certain federal states (Bundesländer) or regions (e.g., Fronleichnam - Corpus Christi, Reformationstag - Reformation Day).
- Personal "Feiertag": Sometimes the term is used metaphorically for a particularly nice, free day, even if it's not an official holiday.
🚨 Attention: Not every day off is a Feiertag. A vacation day (Urlaubstag), for example, is not a statutory holiday.
Article rules for der, die, and das
-ag → always masculine.
Weekdays, months, seasons → almost always masculine.
Caution: see exceptions
📜 Grammar in Detail: Der Feiertag
The word "Feiertag" is a masculine noun, so its article is der.
Declension Singular
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | der | Feiertag |
| Genitive | des | Feiertag(e)s |
| Dative | dem | Feiertag(e) |
| Accusative | den | Feiertag |
Declension Plural
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Feiertage |
| Genitive | der | Feiertage |
| Dative | den | Feiertagen |
| Accusative | die | Feiertage |
📝 Example Sentences
- Morgen ist ein gesetzlicher Feiertag.
(Tomorrow is a public holiday.) - Wir freuen uns schon auf die freien Tage während des Feiertags.
(We are already looking forward to the days off during the holiday. - Note: Often rephrased as 'am Feiertag' - on the holiday) - An dem Feiertag schlafen wir lange aus.
(On the holiday, we sleep in late.) - Wir verbringen den Feiertag mit der Familie.
(We spend the holiday with the family.) - Die Geschäfte sind an gesetzlichen Feiertagen geschlossen.
(The shops are closed on public holidays.)
💡 How "der Feiertag" is Used
The term Feiertag is primarily used in the context of non-working days and special occasions.
- Legal Context: In labor law and calendars to designate official non-working days.
- Religious Context: To name days with religious significance and corresponding ceremonies.
- Cultural Context: In connection with traditions, customs, and festivities that take place on these days.
- Everyday Language: Often as a synonym for a day off or a day for rest and celebration.
Difference to "Urlaub" (Vacation/Holiday): A Feiertag is a legally or religiously mandated day off for (almost) everyone, whereas Urlaub refers to individual days off taken by an employee from their employer.
Difference to "Fest" (Festival/Party): A Fest is an event or celebration (e.g., Geburtstagsfest - birthday party, Stadtfest - city festival), which doesn't necessarily have to take place on a non-working day. A Feiertag is the day itself.
🧠 Mnemonics for Feiertag
Article Mnemonic: Think of der Tag (the day). A Feiertag is a specific type of Tag, and 'Tag' is masculine. So it's der Feiertag.
Meaning Mnemonic: Imagine you feiern (celebrate) on a certain Tag (day) because you have the day off. That's a Feiertag!
🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms (similar meaning):
- der Festtag: (Festival day) Very similar, often emphasizes the festive character more strongly.
- der Ruhetag: (Rest day) Emphasizes the absence of work, but can also be, for example, the weekly closing day of a shop.
- der freie Tag: (Free day / day off) More general term for a non-working day (can also be a vacation day).
Antonyms (opposite meaning):
- der Arbeitstag: (Workday / working day) A day on which work is normally done.
- der Werktag: (Weekday / working day) Usually refers to Monday through Saturday, days when work is typically done (as opposed to Sundays and public holidays).
- der Alltag: (Everyday life / routine) The normal daily routine, often contrasted with special days like holidays.
⚠️ Be careful: "Ferien" usually refers to longer periods off work or school (Schulferien - school holidays/vacation, Betriebsferien - company holidays), not single days.
😄 A Little Joke
Warum freuen sich Skelette nicht auf Feiertage?
Weil sie niemanden zum Ausgehen haben!
(Translation: Why don't skeletons look forward to holidays? Because they have no body to go out with! 😄)
📜 Poem for the Holiday
Der Wecker schweigt, die Arbeit ruht,
Der Feiertag, er tut so gut.
Kein Stress, kein Lärm, nur Stille heut',
Zeit für die Lieben, weit und breit.Ob Ostern, Pfingsten, Weihnachtszier,
Ein jeder Feiertag ist hier
Ein Ankerpunkt im Jahreslauf,
Drum freue dich und leb ihn auf!
(Translation: The alarm clock is silent, work rests, / The holiday, it feels so good. / No stress, no noise, just quiet today, / Time for loved ones, far and wide. / Whether Easter, Pentecost, Christmas adornment, / Every holiday is here / An anchor point in the course of the year, / So rejoice and live it up!)
🧩 Little Riddle
Ich bin ein Tag, doch nicht alltäglich.
Die Arbeit ruht, das ist verträglich.
Mal still und heilig, mal voll Freud',
Gesetzlich frei für alle Leut'.
Was bin ich?
(Translation: I am a day, but not ordinary. / Work rests, which is agreeable. / Sometimes quiet and holy, sometimes full of joy, / Legally free for all people.
What am I?)
Solution: Der Feiertag (The public holiday)
🤓 Interesting Facts about Feiertag
Word Composition: The word "Feiertag" is composed of:
- feiern: to celebrate, express joy, hold a ceremony.
- der Tag: the day (a 24-hour unit of time).
So, it literally means "a day for celebrating".
Cultural Significance: Feiertage structure the year and are important parts of the culture. They often reflect historical events, religious beliefs, or societal values. Germany has nationwide holidays (bundesweite Feiertage) and additional holidays that are only observed in specific federal states (regionale Feiertage).
Summary: is it der, die or das Feiertag?
The noun "Feiertag" is masculine. The correct article is therefore der. You always say der Feiertag (in the singular) and die Feiertage (in the plural).