One of the best ways to get to know Luxembourg’s cultural heritage is to take part in a number of annual traditions, some unique to Luxembourg.
One such tradition, Mantelsonndeg, is on Sunday 26 October. Read all about it and other special ceremonies or occasions in Luxembourg, and mark your diaries or calendars for the next year so you don’t miss out.
Celebrations are held in Luxembourg City, but also in each municipality, so check your commune agenda to find out what’s happening locally.
Under each entry, you can also read an article giving a fuller explanation of each tradition, its history and cultural signficance, and what to expect at gatherings or ceremonies.
Mantelsonndeg
When: 26 October 2025
What: Stores open exceptionally on a Sunday with discounts on winter coats. The tradition began when people bought heavy coats to keep them warm when they attended family graves for All Saints Day.
Mantelsonndeg in the capital in days gone by © Photo credit: LW-Archiv
What does your winter coat say about you in Luxembourg?
D’Trauliicht & All Saints
When: 31 October and 1 November 2025
What: D’Trauliicht Brennen is an Ardennes tradition carried out on Halloween, where beets are carved with scary faces lit by a candle.
Lanterns were placed outside cowsheds and barns to prevent livestock getting illnesses brought by bad spirits, and on window ledges to protect the family from the souls of the dead.
D’Trauliicht Brennen lantern – an Ardennes Halloween tradition © Photo credit: LW Archives
There are workshops to carve your own lantern taking place from 25 October to 2 November in various places in Luxembourg. Check our What’s On Halloween guide due out on 19 October more details.
All Saints is when Luxembourgers clean their ancestral tombs and put fresh flowers on graves.
Luxembourg traditions – lantern carving, All Saints, and St Hubert’s day
Kleeserchersdag
When: 5/6 December 2025
What: On the eve of 6 December children put out their slippers in the hope of a reward from Kleeschen, also known as Saint Nicolas.
He wears a red mitre, carries a staff, and is accompanied by a donkey and the mean Houséker who gives naughty children a flick of his switch made from branches.
When they awake, children find their shoes or slippers filled with gifts and sweets. Boxemännchen, doughy gingerbread men, are traditionally eaten on 6 December for breakfast.
What is Kleeserchersdag?
Draïkinneksdag
When: 6 January 2026
What: Celebrate the feast of the Epiphany with a frangipane-filled, paper crown-topped cake. If your slice contains the porcelain figurine or fève, you will be crowned king or queen for the day.
If your slice contains the “bean”, you get to be king or queen for the day © Photo credit: Chris Karaba
Celebrate ‘Dräikinneksdag’ with a Three Kings’ cake on 6 January
Liichtmëssdag
When: 2 February 2026
What: The children of Luxembourg take to the streets to celebrate Candlemas Day carrying lanterns or Liichtebengelcher, knocking on doors and singing Léiwer Härgottsbleischen in return for treats.
Liichtmëssdag: a lantern and song tradition dating back to the Celts
Fuesent
When: 2-18 February 2026 (17 February is Mardi Gras)
What: Don fancy dress, feast on donuts and join the Fuesgecken, or Carnival revellers at a parade or masked ball. The Moselle town of Remich carries a straw man through the streets before setting him alight, whilst Diekirch has the largest Carnival cavalcade.
Unmasking the festivities: Carnival parades in Luxembourg
Buergbrennen
When: 21-22 February 2026
What: Bonfires are lit throughout Luxembourg to banish pesky winter spirits and welcome spring. The pyres are known as buergen and are lit by children who carry torches in a Fakelzuch procession.
Buergbrennen is bonfire night in Luxembourg © Photo credit: Laurent Sturm
How Luxembourg ushers in spring with Buergbrennen
Bretzelsonndeg
When: 15 March 2026
What: Men give their sweetheart a sugar and almond coated pretzel. If their love is requited they’ll get a basket of eggs on Easter Sunday. On leap years the roles are reversed.
Let someone know you love them this Bretzelsonndeg
Klibberen
When: Maundy Thursday to Easter Sunday (2-5 April 2026)
What: Luxembourg’s church bells fly to Rome on Maundy Thursday to confess their sins to the Pope. Without the bell chimes, children are called upon to break the silence using rattles – Klibberen roughly translates in “to go rattling.”
Émaischen
When: Easter Monday – 6 April 2026
What: A 19th century tradition celebrated by the potter’s brotherhood at St Michael’s church in the city, and in the village of Nospelt, where little clay bird whistles known as Péckvillchen are sold at special markets.
Nospelt’s traditional bird whistle market for Emaischen © Photo credit: Claude Piscitelli
Make some noise for Klibberen and Émaischen
Meekranz
When: 1 May
What: Make a traditional May wreath to hang on your door, from young branches, and sample Maitrank, a concoction of white wine and sweet woodruff.
Make a Meekranz wreath on the first day of May
Oktav market and procession
When: 27 April to 10 May 2026
What: Head to the Oktav markets at Place Guillaume II or Place de la Constitution and join the street procession which dates to the 17th century in which the statue of Our Lady, Mary, comforter of the afflicted (usually displayed at the Notre Dame Cathedral) is carried through the streets.
Luxembourg’s Oktav procession celebrates its 400th year
Sprangprëssessioun
When: Whit Tuesday or 26 May 2026
What: A UNESCO-recognised, ancient dancing pilgrimage held in Echternach to honour St Willibrord, who founded the local abbey in the 7th century.
The Sprangprëssessioun was put on UNESCO’s list of intangible cultural heritage in November 2010 © Photo credit: Lex Kleren
What is the Echternach Sprangprëssessioun?
Nationalfeierdag
When: 23 June
What: A 19th century tradition celebrating the Grand Duke’s birthday – the next one will be the first for Grand Duke Guillaume. The date in June was made a statutory holiday in 1948, with a procession and street party on the eve of National Day, rounded off with a spectacular firework display.
National Day sees the Grand Duke award honours to citizens, and is followed by a military parade, during which the national anthem is sung.
How Luxembourg celebrates National Day
Schueberfouer
When: 21 August to 9 September 2026
What: A unique Luxembourgish celebration with a 680-year-old history, started by John the Blind. Shepherd herds sheep through the streets whilst musicians play the Hämmelsmarsch or Mutton March to open the two-week funfair with thrill rides and culinary specialities such as whiting fried in beer batter.
