Luxembourg National Day: Celebrations of the Grand Duke's birthday

On June 23^rd every year, Luxembourg celebrates its national day. In contrast to many other countries, national day in Luxembourg does not celebrate its independence such as the American 4^th of July or Mexican Independence Day on September 18^th, but it celebrates the Grand Duke’s official birthday, a tradition dating back to Luxembourg’s independence in 1815. As a consequence with every new Head of State, the date for the celebration would move according to the birthday of the monarch.

When H.R.H. Grand Duchess Charlotte acceded to the throne in 1919, the celebrations were shifted to her date of birth, January 23^rd, which was eventually declared a national holiday in 1947. A few years later, in 1961, it was decided to move the celebrations to June 23^rd to take advantage of the summer weather for the country’s biggest festival. This date has remained unchanged ever since, despite the fact that the current Grand Duke, H.R.H. Henri, has his birthday on April 16^th.

Although the original Grand Ducal decree refers to June 23 as the ‘Birthday of the Grand Duke’ or ‘Groussherzogsgebuertsdag’, Luxembourgers commonly call it “Nationalfeierdag” (National Day) and typically decorate their houses and communities with the country’s flag: ‘Red, white, and blue - Rout, wäiß, blo’. Municipalities across the country hold festivities on both the eve of national day and the day itself, often complete with fireworks and local traditions. After visiting a different municipality each year, the Grand Duke and his spouse return to Luxembourg City where they are greeted by a military parade and an interfaith religious service called Te Deum.

Read more information here: https://monarchie.lu/en/head-state/national-day