Opening horizons - the celebrations to mark the Day of German Unity
Germany’s national holiday will be a celebration of democracy for hundreds of thousands of guests in Hamburg.
Why is Hamburg hosting the national holiday festivities?
The Day of German Unity celebrates the officialreunification of Germany that resulted from the GDR’s accession to the Federal Republic of Germany, which entered into legal force on 3 October 1990. Traditionally, the celebrations of the Day of German Unity are held in a different federal state each year. The host in each case is whicheverfederal state currently holds the presidency of the Bundesrat, the upper house of the German parliament.
Where will Hamburg be celebrating the Day of German Unity?
The festivities will be taking place at Hamburg’s best-known public places: the “Festival of Unity” will be held at Binnenalster lake, on Rathausmarkt and Gänsemarkt squares, and in Mönckebergstrasse. Two examples: The federal states will be presented on the traditional “Ländermeile” (state mile) along Mönckebergstrasse. On Rathausmarkt square, Germany’s key constitutional bodies will be presented: the Bundesrat, the German Bundestag, the Federal Government and the Federal Constitutional Court.
Which guests are expected to attend the 33rd Day of German Unity in Hamburg?
Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and a number of ministers will be travelling to Hamburg to celebrate Germany’s national holiday. Many other guests from the worlds of politics, business and society, not to mention several hundred thousand citizens, are also expected to join the festivities on 2 and 3 October.
What does the host have to say about the Day of German Unity?
“It is a positive message: opening horizons,” says Hamburg’s First Mayor Peter Tschentscher: “Hamburg is an international hub of progress and diversity. We want to harness the power of these strengths to open up new horizons together. This is our message for German Unity Day.”
Fun fact: What do trees have to do with the Day of German Unity?
To mark the Day of German Unity, Hamburg’s Mayor Tschentscher has planted an apple tree given to him by Bodo Ramelow, the premier of the state of Thuringia, which hosted the celebrations in 2022. Traditionally, a campaign known as “Einheitsbuddeln” (Unity Digging) is launched ahead of the national holiday to encourage people to plant a tree for Unity Day. Around 300,000 trees have been planted since the campaign began in 2019.
