German-American Day

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

German-American Day
Observed by
German-Americans
TypeCultural
DateOctober 6
Next timeOctober 6, 2025 (2025-10-06)
FrequencyAnnual

German-American Day (German: Deutsch-Amerikanischer Tag) is a holiday in the United States, observed annually on October 6 under Pub. L. 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

Though the founding of Germantown on October 6, 1683, was to provide the date for German-American Day, most of the first thirteen

Germantown, Pennsylvania, which, due to greater numbers, would subsequently be dominated by Germans within a generation, thanks in part to the efforts of Caspar Wistar.[6]

Observances

In 1983, President Ronald Reagan proclaimed October 6 as German-American Day to commemorate the 300th anniversary of the founding of Germantown, Pennsylvania, and to celebrate German culture in the United States.[7] On August 6, 1987, Congress approved S.J. Resolution 108, designating October 6, 1987, as German-American Day. It became Pub. L. 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.[8][9]

See also

References

Citations

  1. United States Government
    . August 18, 1987. Retrieved October 12, 2017.
  2. .
  3. ^ Hull, William I. (1935). William Penn and the Dutch Quaker Migration to Pennsylvania. p. 395.
  4. ^ Keyser, Naaman H.; Kain, C. Henry; Garber, John Palmer; McCann, Horace F. (1907). History of Old Germantown: With a Description of its Settlement and Some Account of its Important Persons, Buildings and Places Connected With its Development. Germantown, Philadelphia: H.F. McCann. p. 20.
  5. ^ "History of Germantown, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania". genealogytrails.com. Retrieved January 23, 2020.
  6. ^ Prof. William I. Hull: William Penn and the Dutch Quaker Migration to Pennsylvania.
  7. ^ Reagan, Ronald (January 19, 1983). "Tricentennial Anniversary Year of German Settlement in America". U.S. Diplomatic Mission to Germany. Berlin: United States Department of State. Retrieved July 29, 2007.
  8. ^ "Presidential Proclamation – German-American Day, 2015". whitehouse.gov. October 15, 2015. Retrieved October 4, 2018.
  9. ^ "German-American Day, 2017". Federal Register. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration. October 6, 2017. Archived from the original on October 11, 2017. Retrieved October 12, 2017. Alt URL

Sources