On the 3rd of October, Germans celebrate German Unity Day (Tag der Deutschen Einheit); this date marks the anniversary of the nation’s unification. It remembers when the Federal Republic of Germany and the Democratic Republic of Germany united to create one single, federal Germany on this day in 1990.
Many of us remember the fall of the Berlin wall in November 1989. The political events which took place around that time shaped history once again and led to great change. Democratic elections paved the way for unity in the German Democratic Republic on the 18th March 1990. In August that year, the “Treaty of Unification” was signed by leaders in the East and West and Germany’s unification became official on the 3rd October 1990.
Germans around the country will be celebrating this day, and the celebrations are normally hosted in the state capital of the German State presiding over the Bundesrat (Federal Council of Germany) in the respective year. This year it is the turn of Stuttgart – the capital of Baden Württemberg. In addition, various celebrations are held in Berlin. Furthermore, the Oktoberfest (beer festival in Munich), which traditionally runs until the first Sunday in October, now runs until the 3rd of October if the Sunday in question falls on the first or second day of October