Liberation Day
Son_of_Imoen
Member Posts: 1,806
in Off-Topic
Today, the 5th of May, the Netherlands celebrates Liberation Day. It's been 70 years since on the 5th of May 1945 the surrender of all German forces in the Netherlands was signed in Wageningen. For us, the Second World War was over on that day. 70 years later, it's mostly celebrated with music festivals called Liberation Festivals, though parades of World War II vehicles and meetings with veterans can also be part of it.
It makes me wonder. On what day does your country celebrate the end of the Second World War and how do you celebrate? I also wonder if it is celebrated in Germany as well? Germany was defeated on the 8th May, but also for them it was the end of a rule of terror by the Nazi regime.
Alas there's been many wars since, but none as big as the one that ended 70 years ago.
When and how does your country celebrate Liberation Day?
It makes me wonder. On what day does your country celebrate the end of the Second World War and how do you celebrate? I also wonder if it is celebrated in Germany as well? Germany was defeated on the 8th May, but also for them it was the end of a rule of terror by the Nazi regime.
Alas there's been many wars since, but none as big as the one that ended 70 years ago.
When and how does your country celebrate Liberation Day?
3
Comments
We used to celebrate VJ (victory over Japan) Day to commemorate the end of the Second World War, but that stopped being a federal holiday in 1975. Apparently the state of Rhode Island still celebrates it on the second Monday in August.
(not really but you'd be amazed at how many people believe that line)
As for the celebration itself it consists a bunch of boring speeches, parades (guess that's the most accurate translation), watching tv broadcast of the celebration in various parts of the country, wearing "traditional" finery if you're some kind of masochist who also has poor fashion sense, socializing, family dinners... actually there must be some wikipedia thing on this... there we go: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norwegian_Constitution_Day
Though I mainly consider it the "national hot dog and ice cream day". If you're not buying several hot dogs and ice creams from street vendors, you're doing things wrong.
In Russia, May, the 9th, is the Victory Day when we commemorate those who fough and died for the freedom and live of future generations.
Canadian dignitaries as well as veterans do attend any ceremonies commending sacrifices that our military made throughout the world though.
Basically its video of Berlin after the war. You can change the settings to 1080p and get surprisingly good footage given that it is 70 year old video. Anyways I thought it was a telling reminder of the devastation of the war.