Today marked the 35th anniversary of German Unity. Each year, the country rotates between states to host the national festivities, and this year, the celebration took place in Saarbrücken, the capital of the Saarland, our new home state.
From my experience, there isn’t a traditional way to celebrate Unity Day, at least not in the same way the U.S. celebrates the Fourth of July with cookouts and fireworks. So, we decided to spend our day at the national celebration in Saarbrücken. Schools and workplaces were closed, and thankfully, the Saarland made all public transit free for the day. We planned our route, bundled up for the chilly weather, packed snacks and water bottles, and set out to arrive around 11 A.M.
The event was attended by the German Chancellor and President, along with the President of France, though we didn’t attempt to spot them in the crowd. We didn’t have much of a plan, but we were excited for a bit of spontaneous exploration. The festivities stretched across the city, beginning right outside the train station.
The city was divided into themed sections. The first area we visited focused on Saarland itself, and it was fun to see all the familiar places showcasing their specialties. We even discovered a few new ones. The next section highlighted public service roles: the police had a helicopter on display; the military hosted a pull-up bar competition; there were numerous fire trucks to my one-year-old’s delight; and customs officials let my seven-year-old try on their full gear.
Another section celebrated each of Germany’s sixteen states, complete with local food and entertainment. The kids loved the magician performing inside a replica of the Cologne Cathedral, while we enjoyed regional beer and wine. We also explored a sports-themed area, where the kids climbed a rock wall, and we were pleasantly surprised to see an American football team represented. Finally, we visited a section dedicated to national government departments, where my husband won his favorite prize of the day, a new coffee mug.
Many booths offered giveaways, so we came home with plenty of branded pens and slap bracelets. But our favorite freebie for the kids was a small wooden bread plate they could brand with their names, along with a couple of children’s books, including The French Fries Petition and a mystery about a missing Lyoner sausage.
We originally planned to stay just a few hours, but we ended up spending nearly the entire day exploring without repeating any section. Everyone had a blast, two of the kids even managed stroller naps, and we all loved seeing what the celebration was about. The most chaotic part of the day was definitely getting back on the packed return train with a stroller, but we managed to find seats and made it home safely, just in time for our evening routine.
