Grand Duke's Official Birthday
{{Short description|Annual national holiday of Luxembourg}}
{{Infobox holiday
|holiday_name = Luxembourgish National Day
|type = national
|image = 2016 Nationalfeierdag Lëtzebuerg 01.jpg
|imagesize =
|caption = Parade on Luxembourgish National Day in 2016
|official_name = Lëtzebuerger Nationalfeierdag
|nickname =
|observedby =
|litcolor =
|longtype =
|significance =
|begins =
|ends =
|duration = 1 day
|frequency = annual
|scheduling = same day each year
|date = 23 June
|celebrations =
|observances =
|relatedto = Monarchy of Luxembourg
}}
The Grand Duke's Official Birthday (Luxembourgish: Groussherzogsgebuertsdag, {{langx|fr|Célébration publique de l'anniversaire du souverain}}), also known as Luxembourgish National Day ({{langx|lb|Lëtzebuerger Nationalfeierdag}}, {{langx|fr|Fête nationale luxembourgeoise}}, {{langx|de|Luxemburgischer Nationalfeiertag}}),[http://www.luxembourg.public.lu/fr/actualites/2009/06/06-nationalfeierdag/index.html Fête nationale au Luxembourg 2009] at the Government of Luxembourg is celebrated as the annual national holiday of Luxembourg. It is celebrated on 23 June, although this has never been the actual birthday of any ruler of Luxembourg. When the monarch of Luxembourg is female, it is known as the Grand Duchess's Official Birthday.
Development of the holiday
The monarch's birthday has not always been celebrated on 23 June. Under William I (1815–1840), the date was 24 April (although his actual birthday was 24 August), and under William II (1840–1849), it was 6 December, his actual birthday. Because William I abdicated between 24 April and 6 December, the holiday was celebrated twice in 1840.{{cite book | last = Dostert | first = Paul | author2 = Margue, Paul | title = The Grand Ducal Family of Luxembourg | url = http://www.gouvernement.lu/publications/download/grandducalfamily.pdf | access-date = 2006-08-02 | year = 2002 | publisher = Service Information et Presse | location = Luxembourg City | isbn = 2-87999-018-1 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060630101240/http://www.gouvernement.lu/publications/download/grandducalfamily.pdf | archive-date = 2006-06-30 | url-status = dead | page = 103 }} Under William III (1849–1890), the date was set at 17 June until 1859, after which his birthday was celebrated on 19 February, two days after his actual birthday.
With the separation of the orders of succession, the Dutch and Luxembourgish thrones split in 1890. The Nassau-Weilburg monarchs celebrated their official birthdays on their actual birthdays. In 1947, the day was declared the 'national holiday'. As both the then-reigning Charlotte and the heir apparent (and regent) Jean were born in January, it was feared that their actual birthdays, therefore the nation's holiday, would be marred by poor weather.{{cite web | url=http://www.eu2005.lu/en/savoir_lux/lux_publications/tt_savoir/tt_savoir.pdf | title=Everything you need to know about Luxembourg | access-date=2006-08-02 | page=13 | publisher=Service Information et Presse }} Thus, on 23 December 1961, the date was fixed on 23 June by Grand Ducal decree.{{cite web | url=http://www.legilux.public.lu/leg/a/archives/1961/0592712/0592712.pdf#page=9 | title=Mémorial A, 1961, No. 59 | access-date=2006-08-02 | format=PDF | publisher=Service central de législation | language=fr | archive-date=2006-11-09 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061109010429/http://www.legilux.public.lu/leg/a/archives/1961/0592712/0592712.pdf#page=9 | url-status=dead }}
Celebration of the holiday
The festivities of the Luxembourgish National Day begin on the afternoon of June 22nd.https://luxembourg.public.lu/en/society-and-culture/festivals-and-traditions/national-day.html Retrieved 5 May 2023. A torchlight parade takes place at dusk on the evening of June 22nd, and dancing and festivities continue late until the night.https://luxembourg.public.lu/en/society-and-culture/festivals-and-traditions/national-day.html Retrieved 5 May 2023. June 23rd is a public holidayhttps://publicholidays.lu/2023-dates/ Retrieved 5 May 2023. and processions with the Grand Ducal Family of Luxembourg take place.https://monarchie.lu/en/head-state/national-day Retrieved 5 May 2023.
See also
- King's Official Birthday, a similar celebration in the Commonwealth realms
- Koningsdag, a similar celebration in the Netherlands
References
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Category:National symbols of Luxembourg
Category:Birthdays of heads of state