June 23rd is the Grand Duke’s official birthday celebrated as the annual national holiday of Luxembourg. It’s funny

to know that it never happened that a Grand Duke had his birthday felt on this date. At the origin this event was commemorating the Grand Duchess Charlotte who was at the head of Luxembourg from 1919 till 1964. Her birthday was in fact the 23’s of january 1986 but they shifted the celebrations to June in order to have a better weather. Since 1941 it has been turned into a national holiday day.

For the celebrations, on the eve of the Grand Duke’s official birthday, people use to make a torchlight processions

lightning the streets and starting at 10 o’ clock in the evening. On the Petrusse valley a great firework is performed  and then a mass is celebrate at the Cathedral of Luxemburg.

In the city of Luxembourg City (mainly, but in other places too) everybody enjoys a nice party for the national day. Music and dancing in the street, beer, waffles, sausages and others dishes are at the program. As in a lot of other countries there are also official ceremonies and military parades which take place during the Grand Duke’s birthday itself.

If you want more informations you can go to the official website of the city of Luxembourg where they have a precise and clear calendar with all the events: http://www.visitluxembourg.com/en

J.C