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The Local Europe rolls out Membership across two more sites

The Local's move to a Membership model continued on Tuesday when our sites in Denmark and Switzerland became the latest to ask regular readers to join our growing community.

Published: 5 March 2019 16:16 CET
The Local Europe rolls out Membership across two more sites
Copenhagen and Geneva, where our readers can now join The Local. Photos: AFP

On Tuesday March 5th The Local Denmark and the Local Switzerland followed in the footsteps of our sites in Sweden, Germany, France, Spain and Italy by introducing Membership.

So from now on regular readers of those sites are being asked to pay a small contribution which will grant them access to all the news and essential features from Switzerland and Denmark.

We are pleased to report that scores of readers have already taken advantage of “Early Bird” offers for Denmark and Switzerland and signed up as Members of the sites.

Membership has proved a success so far for The Local with almost 10,000 regular readers signing up to our sites across Europe, including almost 3,000 for each of our sites in Sweden and France.

While we haven't yet convinced all our readers to join, the feedback we receive from members is overwhelmingly positive. A growing number are placing their trust in us by signing up for “Lifetime Membership”.

Members appreciate the work we put it to explain the crucial news stories in each country and how they impact internationals living there as well as the advice we give them on how to navigate their lives in their adopted homes.

They appreciate the benefits of Membership, which include:

  • Access to an unlimited number of news and features articles on the site
  • Exclusive features just for Members on all kinds of subjects to help explain Denmark and life in the country
  • Improved coverage – with a freelance budget we aim to improve our coverage and get more voices on the site
  • As a Member you'll be able to comment on all articles from now on
  • Fewer adverts – as a Member you'll see less advertising on our articles
  • Unlimited access to all The Local's other news sites around Europe
  • Special newsletters just for members

But we need many more people to join us.

Our primary aim is to continue to grow amid an increasingly tough media landscape, and contributions from Members will help us not have to rely on advertising revenue in future. That will help us improve what we write about and make us more accountable to readers rather than advertisers.

Our Membership scheme is not just about having to balance the books amid stiff competition for ad revenues.
 
We wanted to be in a position to offer more insight into the countries we cover and to explain the news our readers need to know about.
 
We wanted to explain how each country works and give people the advice they need.
 
Membership is also motivated by our desire for our readers to become more involved in what we do and how we do it. We want to tell our readers' stories and stick up for their rights.
 
We hope they don't think of their monthly or yearly payment as a fee, but as an investment.
 
We are grateful for all the support and trust we have been given in each country.
 
Ben McPartland
 
Managing Editor, The Local Europe
 
 

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TRAVEL

EXPLAINED: What and where are Germany’s public holidays in 2021?

Here's what you need to know about state and national public holidays this year.

Published: 20 October 2020 13:07 CEST
Updated: 4 January 2021 09:28 CET
EXPLAINED: What and where are Germany's public holidays in 2021?
Fireworks at the Brandenburg Gate for the New Year on January 1st, 2018. Photo: DPA

Unfortunately 2021 is not looking like the best year for public holidays in Germany. Unlike countries such as the UK or US, workers don’t receive a day off if a public holiday falls on a weekend (and they work a Monday through Friday schedule).

German Reunification Day on October 3rd falls on a Saturday, and both Christmas and the day after fall on a Saturday and Sunday. Several other regional holidays occur on a Sunday. 

READ ALSO: Should Germany ensure that workers get a day off for every public holiday?

That said, there is still a generous helping of holidays in Germany, particularly for some southern states. Other Bundesländer have their own public holidays, whether International Women’s Day in Berlin or World Children Day in Thuringia, both of which have only been a work-free day since 2019.

We look at all public holidays around the Bundesrepublik, where they’re celebrated, and what they’re all about.

Here are the national holidays first:

New Year’s Day: Friday January 1st

Good Friday: Friday April 2nd

The Friday before Easter is a countrywide public holiday, in which Christians commemorate the crucifixion of Christ. Some states take its religious significance more seriously than others, such as in 12 out of the 16 states where it's 'illegal' to dance on the day.

Yet some (here's looking at you, Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg) particularly enforce the ban.

Easter Monday: Monday April 5th

Labour Day: Saturday May 1st

The holiday in honour of workers dates back over 130 years and is celebrated around the country with a range of festivals involving everything from dancing around poles to chasing away evil spirits. 

In Berlin, one of the largest – and typically rowdiest – marches campaigning for workers' rights nationwide typically occurs on May 1st in the Kreuzberg district. 

Photo: DPA

Christi Himmelfahrt/Father’s Day: Thursday May 13th

In its most pure form, this day is about commemorating Jesus' event into heaven. Yet the public holiday, which also marks Germany's Father's Day, is an epic excuse for many to delve into day-drinking debauchery rather than pious reverence.

Whit Monday: Monday May 24th

This religious holiday marks the Holy Spirit's descent on Jesus' followers. But whether you're religious or not, it's always a nationwide public holiday in Germany.

Day of German Unity: Sunday October 3rd

This monumental day commemorates the reunification of former East and West Germany in 1990, following the fall of the Berlin Wall.

Christmas Day: Saturday, December 25th

Day after Christmas: Sunday December 26th

Not all western countries (the US for example) have December 26th as a day off work. But in Germany it remains a public holiday for all workers. However, as it falls on a Sunday there will be no day off during the week in 2021.

Now let’s take a look at other state specific holidays, and where they’re celebrated.

Heilige Drei Könige/Three Kings Day: Wednesday January 6th (Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, Saxony-Anhalt)

For countries such as Spain, this day is celebrated as a public holiday nationwide. It commemorates the arrival of the magi in Bethlehem to present their gifts to the baby Jesus.

READ ALSO: What you should know about Three Kings Day in Germany

While Germans don't usually exchange gifts on the day as is done elsewhere, there's a delicious Kings Cake (Königskuchen) featuring currants, candied lemon peel and raisins.

International Women’s Day: Monday March 8th (Berlin)

For the third year in a row, Berliners are celebrating their own public holiday. For most, it’s only the second time around since it fell on a Sunday in 2020.

READ ALSO: What you should know about Frauentag, Berlin's newest public holiday

Fronleichnam: Thursday June 3rd (Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland, Hessen)

This holiday is known in English as Corpus Christi, or the Feast of the Body of Christ. While it's an official public holiday in six German states, it's celebrated in Roman Catholic communities around the country.

Maria Himmelfahrt: Sunday August 15th (Bavaria and Saarland)

World Children's Day: Monday September 20th (Thuringia) 

Berlin also celebrated Weltkindertag, even if not as a public holiday, in 2020 by this work of street art with the number of children in Germany. Photo: DPA

The eastern state has only celebrated the day as a public holiday since 2019, following Berlin’s example of declaring a public holiday in honour of a specific group. Children are the future, a state description of the holiday reads, and as such extra time should be devoted to improving their well-being. 

Reformation Day: Sunday October 31st (Brandenburg, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Thuringia, Lower Saxony, Bremen, Hamburg, Schleswig-Holstein)

This day marks the anniversary of religious reformation in Europe, commemorating when Martin Luther nailed his 95 proposals on to the door of a church in 1517. Only in 2017, on the 500th anniversary, was it a public holiday for all of Germany.

Allerheiligen/All Saint’s Day: Monday November 1st (Baden-Württemberg, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland and Bavaria)

Catholics, and some Protestants, honour this day by visiting the graves of deceased relatives. While it's recognized in five states as a public holiday, some states have declared it a stiller Tag, in which certain activities like dancing in public are restricted.

Buß- und Bettag: Wednesday November 17th (Saxony)

The “Buß- and Bettag” (day of penance and prayer) always takes place on the Wednesday before the Ewigkeitssonntag (Eternity Sunday), also called Totensonntag (the Sunday before Advent on which the dead are commemorated).

READ ALSO: Saxony public holiday: What is the history behind Buß- und Bettag?
 

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