Day of Unity of Germany

Tag der deutschen EinheitGerman Unity Day (Tag der deutschen Einheit) is a national holiday of Germany. It commemorates the successful official reunification of West and East Germany on October 3, 1990. Simultaneously with the unification, this day was declared an official national holiday and a state holiday, while the national holiday of the former Germany - June 17 - was abolished.

On this day, festive rallies and meetings are organized in state parliaments and city halls, where political festive speeches are pronounced. They are attended by members of the Bundesrat (the upper house of the German parliament) and other constitutional bodies of the country, as well as representatives of politics, society and the population (the so-called citizens' delegations - Burgeldelegation).

This holiday has no special customs and traditions. In some areas, concerts and festivities are held, fireworks are held in the evening.

Compared to Bastille Day in France or Independence Day in the United States, Germany’s national holiday is celebrated modestly. The only exception is probably Berlin. However, even here it boils down to a large cultural event, held simultaneously at different stage venues.

The unification of Germany became possible thanks to the “Peaceful Revolution” in the GDR in the autumn of 1989, which serves as the de facto unification of the people and is revered by them more.