Day of the German-speaking Community of Belgium
Encyclopedia
The Day of the German-speaking Community of Belgium is celebrated on November 15 each year. It is a public holiday for the German-speaking Community of Belgium
but it is not celebrated elsewhere in Belgium
. The equivalents of the other communities are the Day of the Flemish Community
(July 11) and the Day of the French-speaking Community (September 27).
, and is made up of two territories consisting nine municipalities. This territory roughly covers the formerly Prussian
districts (Kantone) of Eupen, Malmedy and Sankt Vith (Saint-Vith). The East Cantons were part of the Rhine Province
of Prussia
until 1920, but were annexed by Belgium following Germany's defeat in World War I
and the subsequent Treaty of Versailles
. Today Malmédy is not part of the German-speaking Community.
In 1989, there was a call for proposals for a flag and arms of the Community. In the end the coat of arms of the Community was designed by merging the arms of the Duchy of Limburg and the Duchy of Luxembourg, to which the two parts of the community belonged before Belgian independence.
A Decree adopted on October 1, 1990 and published on November 15, 1990 prescribed the arms, the flag, the colours and the Community day, which was to be celebrated on November 15.
Here is an English extract of the original version of the Decree:
German-speaking Community of Belgium
The German-speaking Community of Belgium is one of the three federal communities of Belgium. Covering an area of 854 km² within the province of Liège in Wallonia, it includes nine of the eleven municipalities of the so-called East Cantons...
but it is not celebrated elsewhere in Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
. The equivalents of the other communities are the Day of the Flemish Community
Day of the Flemish Community
The Day of the Flemish Community of Belgium, also known as the Flemish Community Day, is celebrated every year on 11 July in remembrance for the Battle of Golden Spurs or Guldensporenslag and is observed only by the Flemish Community of Belgium.- History :...
(July 11) and the Day of the French-speaking Community (September 27).
History
The German-speaking Community measures over 853 km2 in Belgian region of WalloniaWalloon Region
The Walloon Region, commonly called Wallonia, is one of the three federal Regions of Belgium, and its capital is Namur. It comprises, as defined by Article 5 of the Constitution of Belgium, the provinces of Walloon Brabant, Hainaut, Liège, Luxembourg and Namur...
, and is made up of two territories consisting nine municipalities. This territory roughly covers the formerly Prussian
Prussia
Prussia was a German kingdom and historic state originating out of the Duchy of Prussia and the Margraviate of Brandenburg. For centuries, the House of Hohenzollern ruled Prussia, successfully expanding its size by way of an unusually well-organized and effective army. Prussia shaped the history...
districts (Kantone) of Eupen, Malmedy and Sankt Vith (Saint-Vith). The East Cantons were part of the Rhine Province
Rhine Province
The Rhine Province , also known as Rhenish Prussia or synonymous to the Rhineland , was the westernmost province of the Kingdom of Prussia and the Free State of Prussia, within the German Reich, from 1822-1946. It was created from the provinces of the Lower Rhine and Jülich-Cleves-Berg...
of Prussia
Prussia
Prussia was a German kingdom and historic state originating out of the Duchy of Prussia and the Margraviate of Brandenburg. For centuries, the House of Hohenzollern ruled Prussia, successfully expanding its size by way of an unusually well-organized and effective army. Prussia shaped the history...
until 1920, but were annexed by Belgium following Germany's defeat in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
and the subsequent Treaty of Versailles
Treaty of Versailles
The Treaty of Versailles was one of the peace treaties at the end of World War I. It ended the state of war between Germany and the Allied Powers. It was signed on 28 June 1919, exactly five years after the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. The other Central Powers on the German side of...
. Today Malmédy is not part of the German-speaking Community.
In 1989, there was a call for proposals for a flag and arms of the Community. In the end the coat of arms of the Community was designed by merging the arms of the Duchy of Limburg and the Duchy of Luxembourg, to which the two parts of the community belonged before Belgian independence.
A Decree adopted on October 1, 1990 and published on November 15, 1990 prescribed the arms, the flag, the colours and the Community day, which was to be celebrated on November 15.
Here is an English extract of the original version of the Decree:
Article 1. The Day of the German-speaking Community shall be celebrated every year on 15 November.
Article 2. The German-speaking Community shall bear the following arms:
- In silver a red lion together with nine blue cinquefoils, surmonted by a royal crown.
- The flag of the German-speaking Community shall show on a white field a red lion together with nine blue cinquefoils.
- The colours of the German-speaking Community shall be white and red in a horizontal position.
Article 3. The flag of the German-speaking Community shall be hoisted on 15 November on the official buildings of the German-speaking area (Gebiet of Belgium; outside this area, it shall be hoisted on the buildings, which, because of their use, are placed under the liability of the German-speaking Community or are temporarily put at its disposal.
In the German-speaking area of Belgium, the flag shall be further hoisted on the administrative buildings in the same conditions and on the same days as the Belgian national flag.
Source: Official website of the German-speaking Community