The event was intended to bring together long-time residents and migrants and to provide a sense of their new home to the many refugees and displaced persons.

[1][2] Hesse itself had to catch up in terms of togetherness; the state was only created in 1945 by a decision of the victorious powers of World War II, from areas with different history and development.

[1] The first Hessentag in Alsfeld in 1961 was held on three days, presenting a fair and a parade of the different traditional costumes in Hesse.

The event comes with publicity, improved infrastructure and restoration of historic buildings, but is expensive for the host town.

Other towns attracting more than one million visitors were Dietzenbach (2001), Butzbach (2007), Langenselbold (2009), Stadtallendorf (2010) and Oberursel (2011).