OCT 12 WHAT IS GERMAN UNITY DAY?

OCT 12  WHAT IS GERMAN UNITY DAY?

Last week, 'German Unity Day' was celebrated across Deutschland. A new holiday, it commemorates the incredible events of 1990. Suddenly, the Iron Curtain was lifted and the lofty dream of German re-unification quickly became a reality. Gone forever were the separate nations of East and West Germany. With lightning speed, the West German capital of Bonn relinquished the title to Berlin. Six new states were instantly admitted to the nation. Maps were hastily re-drawn. Finally, the Bundestrat passed a law proclaiming October Third as 'German Unity Day.'

Yet as German Unity Day is celebrated for the 28th time, it's hardly taken shape as a beloved national tradition. "It's not marked by a lot of pomp," explained Tuya Roth, a director at a Bonn historical museum. "It's not an occasion for joy and celebration." National polls show that 29% of Germans just plan to 'sleep in' on Unity Day. Former Chancellor Helmut Kohl liked the holiday because "there is nice weather in the fall." He always chose to spend the day outside at a picnic.

Why the ambivalence? First of all, October Third wasn't actually the natural choice. The more significant day should be November Ninth. That's when checkpoints between East and West Berlin were officially opened, ushering the public destruction of the wall between. The event received worldwide media attention and the photos are now considered iconic. HOWEVER...The events of November Ninth, 1938 overshadow those on November Ninth, 1989. That was Kristalnackt, when Berliners showed a horrible lack of humanity by destroying and burning Jewish homes and businesses. Officially, the passing of Article 23 Berlin City Council on Oct. 3rd is when the nation legally became unified, so this date was selected instead.  

Another reason for the holiday's unpopularity is the dubious fate of East/West unification. Let's face it: Forty years of Soviet isolation is difficult to overcome. As expected, after reunification, many East Germans instantly picked up and moved to the modern cities in the West. As expected, they met with resistance from the established people in the West. They called them 'Ossies" (Easties), as they were easily identified by their odd accents and strange dress. It was hard for them to find jobs and housing. Statistics show they still have lower incomes than their western counterparts....28 years later!

While no one in Europe wants to see gigantic military parades goose-stepping past the Brandenburg Gate, it would be nice to see German Unity Day become something more important than an excuse for sleeping in. However.. Let's not forget: "It's a very young national holiday" reminds Roth. "It needs to develop. I feel it will grow each passing year." She's correct. It's difficult for a nation with a history as troubled as Germany to move forward with any national pride. Hmmm...Maybe sleeping in is the best idea after all!