German-American Day (
German: Deutsch-Amerikanischer Tag) is a holiday in the United States, observed annually on October 6 under
Pub. L.Tooltip Public Law (United States)100–104, 101
Stat.721.[1] It celebrates German-American heritage and commemorates the founding of
Germantown, Pennsylvania (now part of Philadelphia), in 1683.
History
Germantown was inhabited by 54 German families who had accompanied
Johan Printz to the
Swedish settlement on the Delaware several years earlier and had resettled themselves.[2][3] In 1688, the inhabitants organized the
first petition in the English colonies to abolish slavery. Originally known as "German Day", the holiday was celebrated for the first time in Philadelphia in 1883, on the 200th anniversary of the founding; similar celebrations developed later in other parts of the country.[4] The custom died out during
World War I as a result of the war, but the holiday was revived in 1983 in
joint resolution 108. Senator
Richard G. Lugar introduced the bill on April 8, 1987.[5]
Observances
In 1983, President
Ronald Reaganproclaimed October 6 as German-American Day to celebrate and the 300th anniversary of German immigration to and culture in the United States.[6] On August 6, 1987, Congress approved S.J. Resolution 108, designating October 6, 1987, as German-American Day. It became
Pub. L.Tooltip Public Law (United States)100–104, 101
Stat.721 when President Reagan signed it on August 18. A proclamation (#
5719) to this effect was issued on October 2, 1987, by President Reagan in a formal ceremony in the
White House Rose Garden, at which time the President called on Americans to observe the day with appropriate ceremonies and activities.
Presidents since then have continued to make proclamations to observe German-American Day.[7][8]
(federal) = federal holidays, (abbreviation) = state/territorial holidays, (religious) = religious holidays, (cultural) = holiday related to a specific
racial/ethnic group or
sexual minority, (week) = week-long holidays, (month) = month-long holidays, (36) =
Title 36 Observances and Ceremonies