Today is ๐ฉ๐ผ๐น๐ธ๐๐๐ฟ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ฎ๐ด in Germany. It (now) takes place on the second Sunday before the first Advent Sunday and commemorates all victims of war and violence.
It is often โcelebratedโ or observed on the national stage as well as in the communities. Like the photo of Ehrenhain shows, wreaths are laid down at cemeteries at the war graves. Though nowadays we donโt only think of the fallen soldiers of the two World Wars but all victims who died during the wars and acts of violence.
๐ฉ๐ผ๐น๐ธ๐๐๐ฟ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ฎ๐ด or National Day of Mourning started after World War to commemorate the fallen of WWI. In the 1920s it took place in March on various different days. It was also used by the political parties to further their own agenda.
In West Germany in 1952, the ๐ฉ๐ผ๐น๐ธ๐๐๐ฟ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ฎ๐ด was set on the second Sunday before Advent, and thatโs still when it is.
The closest equivalent to a US holiday is Memorial Day the end of May. However, Memorial Day commemorates only fallen service members and doesnโt include other victims of war and violence like the German ๐ฉ๐ผ๐น๐ธ๐๐๐ฟ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ฎ๐ด now does.
And unlike Memorial Day with its parades, picnics, and sales, Germanyโs National Day of Mourning has a religious component and is a โquiet dayโ which means the day should be spent in quiet and contemplation. Music and dance events are forbidden.
