This is a list of public holidays in Liechtenstein .
Date | English name | German name | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1 January | New Year's Day | Neujahr | |
2 January | Berchtold's Day | Berchtoldstag | Bank holiday only |
6 January | Epiphany | Drei Könige | |
2 February | Candlemas | Mariä Lichtmess | |
movable | Shrove Tuesday | Fasnachtsdienstag | Bank holiday only 4 March 2025 17 February 2026 |
19 March | Saint Joseph's Day | Josefstag | |
movable | Good Friday | Karfreitag | Bank holiday only 18 April 2025 3 April 2026 |
movable | Easter Monday | Ostermontag | 21 April 2025 6 April 2026 |
1 May | Labour Day | Tag der Arbeit | |
movable | Ascension Day | Auffahrt | 29 May 2025 14 May 2026 |
movable | Whit Monday | Pfingstmontag | 9 June 2025 25 May 2026 |
movable | Corpus Christi | Fronleichnam | 19 June 2025 4 June 2026 |
15 August | National Day [1] | Staatsfeiertag | |
8 September | Nativity of Mary | Maria Geburt | |
1 November | All Saints Day | Allerheiligen | |
8 December | Immaculate Conception | Maria Empfängnis | |
24 December | Christmas Eve | Heiliger Abend | Bank holiday only |
25 December | Christmas Day | Weihnachten | |
26 December | Saint Stephen's Day | Stefanstag | |
31 December | New Year's Eve | Silvester | Bank holiday only |
Boxing Day is a holiday celebrated after Christmas Day, occurring on the second day of Christmastide. Boxing Day was once a day to donate gifts to those in need, but it has evolved to become a part of Christmas festivities, with many people choosing to shop for deals on Boxing Day. It originated in the United Kingdom and is celebrated in several Commonwealth nations. The attached bank holiday or public holiday may take place on 27 or 28 December if necessary to ensure it falls on a weekday. Boxing Day is also concurrent with the Christian festival Saint Stephen's Day.
Liechtenstein, officially the Principality of Liechtenstein, is a doubly landlocked German-speaking microstate in the Central European Alps, between Austria in the east and north and Switzerland in the west and south. Liechtenstein is a semi-constitutional monarchy headed by the prince of Liechtenstein of the House of Liechtenstein, currently led by Hans-Adam II. It is Europe's fourth-smallest country, with an area of just over 160 square kilometres and a population of 40,023. It is the world's smallest country to border two countries, and is one of the few countries with no debt.
The economy of Liechtenstein is based on industry, with a small but significant agricultural sector, and services. The country participates in a customs union with Switzerland and uses the Swiss franc as its national currency. It imports more than 85% of its energy requirements. Liechtenstein has been a member of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) since 1991. It also has been a member of the European Economic Area (EEA) since May 1995 and participates in the Schengen Agreement for passport-free intra-European travel.
Vaduz is the capital of Liechtenstein and also the seat of the national parliament. The village, which is located along the Rhine, has 5,696 residents. The most prominent landmark of Vaduz is Vaduz Castle, perched atop a steep hill overlooking the village. It is home to the reigning prince of Liechtenstein and the Liechtenstein princely family. The village's distinctive architecture is also displayed in landmarks such as the Cathedral of St. Florin, Government House, Village Hall, the National Art Gallery, as well as the National Museum. Although Vaduz is the best-known village in the principality internationally, it is not the largest; neighbouring Schaan has a larger population.
Hans-Adam II is the Prince of Liechtenstein. He is the son of Prince Franz Joseph II and his wife, Countess Georgina von Wilczek. He also bears the titles Duke of Troppau and Jägerndorf, and Count of Rietberg. Under his reign, a 2003 constitutional referendum expanded the powers of the Prince of Liechtenstein. In 2004, Hans-Adam transferred day-to-day governmental duties to his eldest son Hereditary Prince Alois as regent, like his father had granted him in 1984 to prepare him for the role.
Whit Monday or Pentecost Monday, also known as Monday of the Holy Spirit, is the holiday celebrated the day after Pentecost, a moveable feast in the Christian liturgical calendar. It is moveable because it is determined by the date of Easter. In the Catholic Church, it is the Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church, marking the resumption of Ordinary Time.
The music of Liechtenstein has produced an internationally renowned composer in Josef Rheinberger (1839–1901), who was mentor to Engelbert Humperdinck and a friend of Franz Liszt.
Liechtenstein Castle is a castle near Maria Enzersdorf in Lower Austria, bordering Vienna. It is on the edge of the Wienerwald. Liechtenstein Castle is the eponymous ancestral seat and place of origin of the House of Liechtenstein, the ruling family of the Principality of Liechtenstein. The family owned the castle from the middle of the 12th century until the 13th century, and again from 1808 to the present.
Vaduz Castle is the palace and official residence of the Prince of Liechtenstein. The castle gave its name to the town of Vaduz, the capital of Liechtenstein, which it overlooks from an adjacent hilltop.
Berchtoldstag is an Alemannic holiday, known in Switzerland and Liechtenstein. It is near New Year's Day, during the Rauhnächte, in Switzerland nearly always on 2 January, with the status of a public holiday in a number of cantons. Its observation is attested since the 14th century, although celebrations were limited after the Protestant Reformation.
Liechtenstein's one railway line, the Feldkirch–Buchs railway, is operated by Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB). As such, it represents an exception to the more usual Liechtenstein practice of cooperating closely with Switzerland, as in the case of the principality's use of the Swiss franc as its currency and its membership of a common customs area with its western neighbour
Liechtensteiners are people native to Liechtenstein linked strictly with Swiss Germans and Swabians. There were approximately 34,000 Liechtensteiners worldwide at the turn of the 21st century.
The United States and Liechtenstein executed their first treaty in 1926. Diplomatic relations were established in 1997. Since then, the relations between the two nations have been stable. Representatives of both countries in 2002 signed a mutual legal assistance treaty focused largely on jointly combating money laundering and other illegal banking activities.
The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to Liechtenstein:
PostAuto Switzerland, PostBus Ltd. (known as PostAuto Schweiz in Swiss Standard German, CarPostal Suisse in Swiss French, AutoPostale Svizzera in Swiss Italian, and AutoDaPosta Svizra in Romansh is a subsidiary company of the Swiss Post, which provides regional and rural bus services throughout Switzerland, and also in France, Germany, and Liechtenstein.
Alois, Hereditary Prince of Liechtenstein is the eldest son of Hans-Adam II, Prince of Liechtenstein, and Countess Marie Kinsky von Wchinitz und Tettau, and the heir apparent to the throne of Liechtenstein. Alois has been regent of the country since 15 August 2004, while his father remains the official head of state.
The education system in Liechtenstein is similar to the Swiss education system.
The Liechtenstein Institute on Self-Determination (LISD) is a research institute on self-determination, self-governance, and diplomacy. LISD is affiliated with the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton University. Founded in 2000 by the Prince Hans-Adam II of Liechtenstein, the Institute aims to enhance global peace and stability through its projects, publications, and commentaries.
Women's suffrage in Liechtenstein was introduced on 1 July 1984, after the 1984 Liechtenstein women's suffrage referendum. This was the last nation in Europe to introduce this right.