What is German Unity Day?
German Unity Day, in German Tag der Deutschen Einheit, commemorates the reunification of Germany on 3 October 1990, when the German Democratic Republic, or East Germany, acceded to the Federal Republic of Germany. It is Germany's national day and the only national public holiday set by federal law, while most other holidays are set by the individual states. The holiday is observed on the same date every year, so it is a Thursday or a weekend day in some years. As a federal holiday, it was introduced by the Unification Treaty rather than by a state law.
Each year, the celebrations are hosted by a different federal state, in the city of the state that holds the presidency of the Bundesrat, the upper house of the German parliament. The central event is a citizens' festival with an ecumenical service, an official ceremony, concerts and exhibitions, with stands from all the states. In many cities, there are open-air festivals, and many families use the day for trips. The 3 October celebrations have taken place in cities such as Hamburg, Dresden, Frankfurt and Berlin. The date is also a day of reflection on the legacy of the division of Germany.
Why it is observed
The date was set in the Unification Treaty between the two German states, signed on 31 August 1990. Another candidate, 9 November, the day in 1989 on which the Berlin Wall fell, was set aside because it is also the anniversary of the Kristallnacht pogroms of 1938 and of other events in German history that make it a day of mixed memory. Until 1990, West Germany had marked 17 June as the Day of German Unity, in memory of the 1953 uprising in East Germany. The new holiday was introduced by the treaty and has been observed since 1990.
How the date is set
German Unity Day is fixed on 3 October. It is not moved when it falls on a weekend.
How it is observed
German Unity Day is a nationwide public holiday. Banks, offices, schools and most shops are closed, and public transport runs a Sunday-style timetable, although restaurants and attractions generally remain open. The holiday is fixed on 3 October and is not moved to a Monday, so when it falls on a weekend there is no substitute day. The host city's festival can lead to road closures and crowds. Pay and time off depend on the contract. Check the host city's programme for events. Public events are widely advertised in advance. Check the schedule.
Germany