Today is a public holiday in Germany (I do think it should also be a public holiday for Germans abroad, but somehow I doubt it will happen ☺), because it’s the German Unity Day, or Tag der deutschen Einheit.
When I grew up in Germany, that day was celebrated on the 17th June because of the uprising of 1953 in East Germany. Then, when the Berlin Wall came down, that date was changed to the 3rd October.
“Hold on!” I can hear anybody shout, who knows a bit about historic dates: “The wall came down on the 9th November 1989! Shouldn’t that be the new date?”
Yes, technically that should be the new date. Unfortunately it was the date when Hitler started his mass campaign against the Jews (Kristallnacht 9th November 1938), so after a lot of discussions the agreement came to the 3rd October.
I’ve just read that this year’s celebration has the theme “Zusammen Einzigartig” – together unique!
I quite like that, don’t you?
Update 2015: This year Germany celebrates 25 years of unity. Thinking about all the refugees who have arrived in Germany recently, I find the 2013 theme of ‘together unique’ still very appropriate. Congratulations Germany!
Update 2018: This year’s motto is Nur mit Euch – Only with You
Update 2019: This year’s motto is Mut verbindet – Courage unites
Update 2020: This year Germany celebrates 30 years of unity, so the motto is: 30 Jahre –30 Tage –30 x Deutschland
Update 2021: This year’s motto is: Gemeinsam Zukunft formen – Shaping the future together
Update 2023: This year’s motto is: Horizonte öffnen – Open horizons
Update 2024: This year’s motto is: Vereint Segel setzen: Gemeinsam Demokratie und Vielfalt stärken
Thanks for the explanation. You probably remember the Wall much better than I did. I never saw it, nor did I live there. But, knowing about it scared the #$%* out of me.
Actually, I don’t. When I was still in Germany I’ve never been to Berlin, and I already lived in England when the Wall came down. But I agree with the whole thing being/ having been scary.
I learned something new today. That is always a good thing. And a good choice in changing the date for Unity Day.
So we both learned something from each other’s blogs – that’s even better !!!