Kalenderdaten und Feiertage
Calendar dates and holidays
- Die grundlegenden Daten und Feiertage (The basic dates and holidays)
- Nomen und Artikel - Dativ (Nouns and articles - dative)
- Wie gibt man das Datum an? (How do you write the date?)
- Personalpronomen - Dativ (Personal pronouns - dative)
Learn to express calendar dates and holidays in German with focus on nouns and articles in the dative case, personal dative pronouns, and common holiday vocabulary. Suitable for A1 learners to build practical communication about dates and celebrations.
Vocabulary (13) Share Copied!
Exercises Share Copied!
These exercises can be done together during conversation lessons or as homework.
Exercise 1: Reorder sentences
Instruction: Make correct sentences and translate.
Exercise 2: Match a word
Instruction: Match the translations
Exercise 3: Cluster the words
Instruction: Classify the following words into the two categories "Holidays" and "Dates".
Feiertage
Datum
Exercise 4: Translate and use in a sentence
Instruction: Pick a word, translated and use the word in a sentence or dialogue.
1
Der Feiertag
The holiday
2
Schmücken
To decorate
3
Der Tannenbaum
The Christmas tree
4
Frohe Weihnachten!
Merry Christmas!
5
Das Fest
The celebration
Übung 5: Gesprächsübung
Anleitung:
- Nenne den Namen des Feiertags und sein Datum. (Say the name of the holiday and it's date.)
- Was sind deine Pläne für die Feiertage? Mit wem wirst du sie verbringen? (What are your plans for the holidays? With whom are you going to spend it?)
- Welcher Tag ist heute? (What day is today?)
Teaching guidelines +/- 10 minutes
Example phrases:
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Weihnachten ist am fünfundzwanzigsten Dezember. Christmas is the twenty-fifth of December. |
|
Sommerferien sind im Juli und August. Summer holiday is in July and august. |
|
Ostern fällt immer auf ein anderes Datum. Easter is always on another date. |
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Ich plane, Weihnachten mit meiner Familie zu feiern. I plan to celebrate christmas with my family. |
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Ich werde Silvester mit meinen Freunden feiern. I am going to celebrate new year's with my friends. |
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Heute ist der vierzehnte Februar 2025. Today is the forteenth of february of 2025. |
| ... |
Exercise 6: Dialogue Cards
Instruction: Select a situation and practice the conversation with your teacher or fellow students.
Exercise 7: Multiple Choice
Instruction: Choose the correct solution
1. Wir ___ am 1. Mai das Haus mit Blumen.
(We ___ the house with flowers on May 1st.)2. Am 5. Juli 2025 ___ sie den Tannenbaum im Wohnzimmer.
(On July 5th, 2025 ___ she the Christmas tree in the living room.)3. Wir ___ den Weihnachtsbaum immer zusammen als Familie.
(We ___ the Christmas tree always together as a family.)4. An Silvester ___ ihr das Haus mit Lichtern und Kerzen.
(On New Year's Eve ___ you (plural) the house with lights and candles.)Exercise 8: Decorating the May Festival
Instruction:
Verb Tables
Schmücken - Decorate
Präsens
- ich schmücke
- du schmückst
- er/sie/es schmückt
- wir schmücken
- ihr schmückt
- sie/Sie schmücken
Holen - Get
Präsens
- ich hole
- du holst
- er/sie/es holt
- wir holen
- ihr holt
- sie/Sie holen
Helfen - Help
Präsens
- ich helfe
- du hilfst
- er/sie/es hilft
- wir helfen
- ihr helft
- sie/Sie helfen
Feiern - Celebrate
Präsens
- ich feiere
- du feierst
- er/sie/es feiert
- wir feiern
- ihr feiert
- sie/Sie feiern
Kaufen - Buy
Präsens
- ich kaufe
- du kaufst
- er/sie/es kauft
- wir kaufen
- ihr kauft
- sie/Sie kaufen
Hängen - Hang
Präsens
- ich hänge
- du hängst
- er/sie/es hängt
- wir hängen
- ihr hängt
- sie/Sie hängen
Exercise 9: Nomen und Artikel - Dativ
Instruction: Fill in the correct word.
Grammar: Nouns and articles - dative
Show translation Show answersden, einer, einem, der, dem
Exercise 10: Wie gibt man das Datum an?
Instruction: Fill in the correct word.
Grammar: How do you write the date?
Show translation Show answers1. Mai, am, im, 10. März, 22. Februar, am 5. Juli 2025
Exercise 11: Personalpronomen - Dativ
Instruction: Fill in the correct word.
Grammar: Personal pronouns - dative
Show translation Show answerseuch, ihr, dir, Ihnen, mir, uns, ihm
Grammar Share Copied!
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Verb conjugation tables for this lesson Share Copied!
Schmücken to decorate Share Copied!
prasens
| German | English |
|---|---|
| (ich) schmücke | I decorate |
| (du) schmückst | you decorate |
| (er/sie/es) schmückt | he decorates/she decorates/it decorates |
| (wir) schmücken | we decorate |
| (ihr) schmückt | you decorate |
| (sie) schmücken | they decorate |
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Introduction to Calendar Dates and Holidays in German
This lesson focuses on essential German grammar and vocabulary related to expressing calendar dates and common holidays, targeting A1 learners. You will learn how to use nouns with articles in the dative case, form the dative of personal pronouns, and correctly state dates in German sentences.
Key Grammar Topics
- Nouns and Articles – Dative Case: Understanding how definite articles change in the dative case is crucial when specifying dates and holidays, e.g., "am 1. Mai" (on May 1st).
- Personal Pronouns – Dative: Practice using dative pronouns such as "mir" (to me) and "dir" (to you) in context, for example, "Kannst du mir sagen..." (Can you tell me...).
Useful Vocabulary and Phrases
The lesson introduces important German holiday terms like der Feiertag (holiday), Weihnachten (Christmas), Karneval (Carnival), and calendar expressions like der 1. Mai (May 1st). You will get familiar with sentences such as:
- "Am 1. Mai haben viele Menschen in Deutschland einen Feiertag." (On May 1st, many people in Germany have a holiday.)
- "Ich schenke meiner Mutter zu Weihnachten einen kleinen Tannenbaum." (I give my mother a small Christmas tree at Christmas.)
Practical Communication Skills
Engage with dialogues about planning holidays and birthdays, and discussing dates at work. Sentences like "Wann hast du Geburtstag?" (When is your birthday?) or "Welcher Tag ist heute?" (What day is it today?) enhance everyday conversational skills.
Important Cultural Notes and Language Differences
In German, dates are often introduced with "am" plus the dative case, e.g., "am 22. Februar" (on February 22). Unlike English, the day precedes the month, and articles are required. Also, holidays like "Karneval" and "Silvester" have culturally specific traditions that you might want to explore further. Useful expressions include: "Ich wünsche dir frohe Weihnachten" (I wish you a Merry Christmas) which uses the dative to express the recipient of good wishes.
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