Liechtenstein National Day

Last updated
Hans-Adam II at the Liechtenstein National Day 2023 Hans Adam II Schlosswiese 2023.jpg
Hans-Adam II at the Liechtenstein National Day 2023

Liechtenstein National Day (German : Staatsfeiertag Liechtenstein) is public holiday held annually on August 15 that jointly celebrates the Assumption of Mary and Liechtenstein's continued independence and values as a country. It was originally created to also celebrate the birthday of Franz Joseph II the following day.

The day typically involves a ceremony held outside Vaduz Castle with speeches by the prince and the President of the Landtag of Liechtenstein. [1] Afterwards, a folk festival is hosted in Vaduz by a chosen municipality, and then in the evening torches are carried through the Fürstensteig , bonfires are lit, and then a ceremonial firework show is held in Vaduz. [1]

History

The holiday was conceived in 1940 as a means of reinforcing the Liechtenstein's loyalty to the prince and the country's continued independence during World War II. [2] It was also designed to defy the German National Movement in Liechtenstein (VDBL), who sought the annexation of Liechtenstein into Nazi Germany. [3] The first celebration was held on 15 August 1940, during which the VDBL caused provocation by burning a swastika in Triesen and later in Planken. [3] The VDBL ignored the holiday and instead celebrated the birthday of Adolf Hitler on April 20. [3]

The following year in 1941, the fireworks were held for the first time. [2] The process of carrying torches through the Fürstensteig and lighting the bonfires originate from 1943. [2] The holiday continued following the war, and since 1963 the annual folk festival has been held in Vaduz. [2] Since 2022, after the event was cancelled for two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the folk festival is now hosted by a chosen municipality but still in Vaduz. [4]

Following the death of Franz Joseph II in 1989, under the recommendation of Hans-Adam II, the Landtag of Liechtenstein voted to keep the holiday. [3] Today, the holiday is not as strong towards personal loyalty to the prince but places a heavier focus on the value's of Liechtenstein as a country. [2]

References

  1. 1 2 Steiger, Melanie (15 August 2021). "Liechtenstein in Feierlaune". Liewo Sonntagszeitung (in German). Retrieved 24 August 2025.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Büchel, Donat; Frommelt, Fabian (14 January 2022). "Staatsfeiertag". Historisches Lexikon des Fürstentums Liechtenstein (in German). Retrieved 24 August 2025.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Peter, Geiger (7 August 2015). "«Mier heben zemma» – Liechtenstein feiert zum 75. Mal sein Fürstenfest". Liewo Sonntagszeitung (in German). Retrieved 24 August 2025.
  4. ↑ "Staatsfeiertag: alles «zurück ins Städtle»". Liechtensteiner Vaterland (in German). 1 June 2022. Retrieved 24 August 2025.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.