October 3rd is a national public holiday as the Day of German Unity. Normally all supermarkets and shops are closed on such days. We say where the shops are also open on public holidays.
The Day of German Unity is a public holiday throughout Germany. Normal supermarkets and shops will therefore remain closed on October 3rd and customers will not be able to shop. In many German cities, however, there are often a few exceptions and supermarkets are open.
There are special regulations according to the Shop Closing Hours Act for train stations, petrol stations and pharmacies. Some shops in airports also have partially adjusted opening times.
You can also do your shopping on German Unity Day in the following cities and markets:
The purchase of baked goods is permitted in Berlin between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m
Bakeries open five hours on German Unity Day
In the so-called “Unification Treaty”, October 3rd was designated “Day of German Unity” in 1990 and a public holiday throughout Germany. It is the German national holiday and is intended to commemorate the reunification of the FRG and the GDR. This was finally decided on October 3, 1990 with the “effectiveness of the accession of the German Democratic Republic to the Federal Republic of Germany”. Since then, Brandenburg, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Thuringia and Berlin have all counted as federal states of today’s Federal Republic of Germany.
On October 3, 1990, the Unification Treaty came into force, through which the GDR joined the Federal Republic. For 30 years there has been a Germany again. A lot of memories were created during that time, in the east as well as in the west. But the mentalities are still different. A guest contribution by Klaus Kelle.
For 30 years there has been a united Germany again. But the process of reunification was not as easy as most had imagined. A guest commentary by Hugo Müller-Vogg.
On the Day of German Unity, ZDF is showing one of the classic Karl May films: “Winnetou and the Half-Blood Apanatschi”. Uschi Glas plays the settler’s daughter Apanatschi in it. In the summer, there was a heated debate about cultural appropriation and racism surrounding Winnetou.
This year Germany is celebrating the 32nd anniversary of German unity. The celebrations will be held throughout Germany on October 3rd. Here you can find out where you can follow the Day of German Unity in the live stream.
