An alternative choice to commemorate the reunification could have been the day the Berlin Wall came down: 9 November 1989, which coincided with the anniversary of the proclamation of the German Republic in 1918, and the defeat of Hitler's first coup in 1923.

It replaced the "German Unity Day" on 17 June, the national holiday of the Federal Republic of Germany from 1954.

Emperor Wilhelm I declined this: "This was also the day of the first Prussian coronation of the king, which should not fall into the shadow of a united German holiday.

[5] Shortly after the Nazis took power in 1933 (the so-called Machtergreifung), May Day (1 May) was established as a national holiday in the German Reich.

[7] It was already celebrated as a "Day of the Labor Movement" since 1890, and also was part of the tradition for the May dance commemorating the Walpurgis Night.

[11] The motive for setting the date of 3 October as the possible Day of Unity was decided by the Volkskammer, the East German parliament, on the impending economical and political collapse of the GDR.

Ladies and Gentlemen, I believe that we have not made an easy decision, but today we have acted within our responsibilities of the voting rights of the citizens of the GDR.

On 3 November 2004, the Federal Chancellor, Gerhard Schröder, suggested that the "German Unity Day" be celebrated on a Sunday, for economic reasons.

The demand worried a part of the population because of discontent for increased working hours would be seen as a provocation and devaluing the national holiday.

[13] The Day of German Unity is celebrated each year with a ceremonial act and a citizen's festival (Bürgerfest).

In addition, various celebrations are held in the federal capital Berlin, mainly based on the Straße des 17.

At the 1999 Day of German Unity celebration in Wiesbaden the Zipfelbund [de] (Compass Confederation) was formalised.

The Zipfelbund are the four communities at the cardinal compass points[15] of Germany: North – List on the island of Sylt, West – Selfkant, South – Oberstdorf and East – Görlitz.