German-American Day
German-American Day is a holiday in the United States, observed annually on October 6. The holiday, which celebrates German American heritage, commemorates the date in 1683 when 13 German families from Krefeld near the Rhine landed in Philadelphia.
These families subsequently founded Germantown, Pennsylvania, the first German settlement in the original thirteen American colonies.
Originally celebrated in the nineteenth century, German-American Day died out in World War I as a result of the anti-German sentiment that prevailed at the time. The holiday was revived in 1983.
In 1983, President Ronald Reagan proclaimed October 6th as German-American Day to celebrate and honor the 300th anniversary of German American immigration and culture to the United States.
On August 6, 1987, Congress approved S.J. Resolution 108, designating October 6, 1987, as German-American Day.
It became Public Law 100-104 when President Reagan signed it on August 18.
A proclamation (#5719) to this effect was issued October 2, 1987, by President Reagan in a formal ceremony in the White House Rose Garden, at which time the President called on Americans to observe the Day with appropriate ceremonies and activities.
Contributed by Elizaveta Leonova
GERMAN-AMERICAN DAY
ReplyDeleteIn 2012 Americans of German descent celebrated the 329th anniversary of their ancestors' arrival in Philadelphia Harbor. Back in 1683 a group of immigrants from Krefeld couldn't know that they would be followed by several millions of Germans who would afterwards give rise to the largest ethnic group in America.
The American German-American Day is not the only German-related day in October.Special Days in October are: DAY OF GERMAN UNITY(October 3)
This official German holiday commemorates Germany's reunification in 1990, when East and West Germany once again became one country (the Federal Republic of Germany). GERMAN PIONEERS DAY(Ontario, Canada) - Day after Canadian Thanksgiving. A law passed by the Ontario provincial Legislative Assembly in 2000 proclaimed the annual celebration of the German contributions to Canada on the day after Canadian Thanksgiving (the second Monday in October). The celebration, held in connection with Kitchener's annual Oktoberfest, actually includes Austrian and other Germanic ethnic groups.
This year Barac Obama proclaimed:
"NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim October 6, 2012, as German-American Day. I encourage all Americans to learn more about the history of German Americans and reflect on the many contributions they have made to our Nation".
With support from a number of German-American social and cultural organizations, in the honour of this holiday series of Dinner Dance events embracing German culture through the presentation of German music, song and dance were organized. I'd like to share with you some photos of such a celebration: http://www.gadct.org/gallery.htm
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