On June 23, there are always fewer people on the Lorraine roads towards Luxembourg: normal, it’s the national holiday in the Grand Duchy, we don’t work that day.
Above all, it’s the Grand Duke’s birthday!
Luxembourg’s national holiday has existed for at least two centuries.
If in France, the national holiday is used to celebrate the storming of the Bastille during the revolution, in Luxembourg, it is mainly used to wish a happy birthday to Grand Duke Henri.
But… it’s not his birthday, June 23rd!
Yes, there is a small problem because on his wikipedia file, he was born on April 16, 1955 (they are late for his birthday, well done).
Initially, in 1816, the date of Luxembourg’s national holiday was to change for each new Grand Duke to match his birthday.
This is what happened until the 1960s.
Under Guillaume II, it was December 6 then June 17 under Guillaume III, July 24 with Grand Duke Adolphe, April 22 under Guillaume IV and January 23 with Grand Duchess Charlotte.
The people of Luxembourg realized that there was much more fervor for the birthday of Grand Duke Adolphe, every July 24, than for that of Grand Duchess Charlotte, which had to be celebrated in the middle of winter, on January 23. .
In 1961, Grand Duchess Charlotte, who finally wanted people on her birthday, changed the date of the national holiday and fixed it in the calendar on June 23.
All these successors (there are only two, Jean and Henri), will no longer touch this date… even if it is not exactly their birthday.
Too bad, at least it will be sunny and there will be people!
A party that starts on the evening of June 22
The particularity of Luxembourg’s National Day is that it is indicated on June 23, while the bulk of popular holidays take place… the day before, June 22.
All towns organize torchlight processions called Fakelzuch.
In France, it is the children who dress up as little revolutionaries while in Luxembourg, it is the members of the local associations with the marching bands, who parade.
No difference with us, there is a big firework display which is set off at nightfall: the most beautiful being that of Luxembourg-city which takes place on the Adolphe bridge, one of the emblems of the city.
On June 23, it’s a little more serious.
One of the great appointments are 21 cannon shots which will be fired at 11 a.m. in Luxembourg City and which will be followed by the military parade until 2 p.m. in the streets of the capital.
The tradition of June 23 at Lux is to play with the family, after having had a big party the day before: all the cities organize afternoons with games, in Luxembourg city, it happens in the municipal park with carousels of of yesteryear and hundreds of games to try on the spot.