Luxembourg’s National Day is the equivalent of America’s July 4th. There’s booze, grilled food, fireworks and bands. The party starts on the eve of the actual holiday around 10 p.m. and goes all night, you need your jacket because the June temps are only in the sixties and there’s always a threat of rain – wait, no, those things only apply to the Luxembourg celebration. Maybe it’s not exactly like July 4th, but it’s pretty close.
So what, exactly, is National Day? It is an official celebration of Luxembourg’s nationhood. It also honors the Grand Duke’s birthday, although no rulers have ever been born on June 23. Grand Dutchess Charlotte, whose birth this holiday originally celebrated, was born January 23. Sometime during her 1919-1964 reign, the holiday was moved from winter to summer for more favorable weather conditions.
Luxembourg has been a Grand Duchy since 1815 when William I of the Netherlands became the first grand duke. Since then, there have been seven grand dukes and two grand duchesses. The current sovereign, Grand Duke Henri Albert Gabriel Félix Marie Guillaume, was born in 1955. He married Cuban-born Maria Theresa Mestre y Batista-Falla and they had five children. Henri became the Grand Duke when his father abdicated in 2000.
National Day kicks off with a 4 p.m. changing of the guard ceremony. At 10 p.m., a torchlight parade winds through the city and at 10:10 an army and military music parade march through Place de la Constitution and up to Place Guillaume II. 11:30 p.m. brings the impressive, no-holds-barred fireworks display that lights up the town. Then live bands and DJ’s perform until dawn at six different outdoor locations around the city.
Bars and food stands are set up on every street, selling local bubbly crémant and Luxembourgeoise beer, fries, cheese, sausages, churros and other delish, artery-clogging delights.
The actual National Holiday, June 23, is filled with official ceremonies, military parades, and a 101 cannon salute.
Luxembourg, National Day, Duke’s Birthday,Fete Nationale,
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