Luxembourg National Day – June 23, 2024

History of Luxembourg National Day

Around 450 B.C., two Gallic tribes, the Treveri and Mediomatrici, first settled in what is now Luxembourg. The Treveri achieved their apex of prosperity in the 1st century B.C. when they built multiple Iron Age walled sites near southern Luxembourg, eastern France, and western Germany. Julius Caesar captured the entire country in 53 B.C., and it was incorporated into the Roman Gallia Celtica and then Gallia Belgica in 90 B.C. The Franks invaded Luxembourg in the 5th century, putting an end to Roman control by 406 A.D. St. Willibrord was the driving force for the region’s Christianization, and he later founded the Benedictine abbey of Echternach, which is now a major cultural center. Luxembourg passed through several hands between the 480s and 855 AD. before falling to the Holy Roman Empire’s Duchy of Upper Lorraine in 959.

In 963, Siegfried I, count de Ardennes, traded part of his lands for a strategically placed fort called ‘Lucilinburhuc’ (little castle). The name Luxembourg is said to have been derived from the castle. Through marriage, conquest, and alliances, the descendants of Siegfried expanded the territory. The bloodline later became eminent, producing several Holy Roman emperors, Kings of Bohemia, and Archbishops of Trier and Mainz. In 1477, the duchy of Luxembourg was ceded to the Habsburgs and later to the Spanish Habsburgs between 1555 and 1556. In 1684, Louis XIV completed its conquest of Luxembourg city before later restoring it to Spain in 1697. In 1795, the city became French again until the fall of Napoleon in 1814. In 1815, the allied powers raised Luxembourg to a grand duchy at the Congress of Vienna and handed it over to William I, Prince of Orange-Nassau and king of the Netherlands.

During the reign of William I, the Grand Duke’s birthday was celebrated on April 24, although his actual birthday was August 24. Under William II (1840 to 1849), the day was December 6, his real birthday. Between 1849 and 1890, during William III’s reign, the holiday was celebrated on June 17 and then February 19. After World War II, in 1947, the holiday became a national holiday. On December 23, 1961, the day was finally set at June 23 by Grand-Ducal decree. That was due to the fear that the then-reigning Grand Duchess, Charlotte, and her heir apparent’s actual birthday in January may be spoiled by poor weather.