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Deutsche-Einheit
Deutsche-Einheit

Germans grateful to neighbours, friendly countries

Germans will today celebrate their Unity Day under the theme: Building Bridges. The Day, which is also known as Tag der Deutschen Einheit, is its national day, celebrated on October 3 as a public holiday, the German Ambassaor to Ghana, Mr Christoph Retzlaff, has disclosed.

The celebration in Ghana

In Ghana, he said, a reception which would be attended by Ghana government officials, his colleague ambassadors and traditional rulers, among others, will be held in Accra.

The Ambassador who was happy about the existing cordial relationship between the two countries, was positive that the relations would be further strengthened.

He expressed Germany’s appreciation to its European neighbours and friendly countries, whose partnership, support and determination helped the country to achieve its important feat.

The German reunification and the European integration were the joint effort of many states, he emphasised.

Reunification

According to him, the day commemorated the anniversary of German reunification in 1990 when the goal of a united Germany that originated in the middle of the 19th century was fulfilled again. 

The fall of the Berlin Wall on November 9, 1989, which marked the end of the Cold War, paved the way for German reunification barely a year later. 

The Unification Treaty that was signed on September 20, 1990 and declared October 3 the national holiday, sealed the end of the division of Germany.

“On October 3, 1990 the West and the East formally reunited, thereby overcoming the artificial separation created after the Second World War,” he stated.  

Therefore, the name addresses neither the re-union nor the union but the unity of Germany. 

National holiday

The day has been Germany’s national holiday since 1990, when the reunification was formally completed. 

The Ambassador noted that the Day of German Unity is Germany's statutory national holiday. 

The day is usually celebrated with a three-day festival.

 Various programmes are held, including performances by live bands, while a lot of food, drinks and sweets are sold at various stands.

The festival's entertainment programme includes activities suitable for families. 

Horseback riding, a big wheel that offers great views over the Tiergarten, karaoke, theatre performances, dice games, merry-go-rounds and other attractions keep the whole family busy.

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