Von Steuben Day is a holiday traditionally held on a weekend in mid-September (von Steuben was born September 17), celebrating the Prussian-born Baron Friedrich von Steuben , who arrived in the United States as a volunteer offering his services to General George Washington in the American Revolutionary War . Von Steuben is still regarded as one of the most important German Americans, as his training of the young American troops made victory against the British possible. Thus, his work helped gain independence for the United States of America. The day is generally considered the German-American event of the year, and many participants wear tracht costumes, including dirndls and lederhosen , to celebrate their heritage. Celebrations focus on parades where participants march, dance, and play music.
29-580: The German-American Steuben Parade is an annual parade traditionally held in cities across the United States on Von Steuben Day. The New York City parade is held every third Saturday in September. It was founded in 1957 by immigrants from Germany who, part of the most significant self-reported immigrant ancestral group in the United States, wanted to keep the traditions of their German homeland alive. The Philadelphia parade, founded in 1970,
58-565: A grand marshal to lead the front or other parts of the parade. Since the advent of such technology, it became possible for aircraft and boats to parade. A flypast is an aerial parade of anything from one to dozens of aircraft, both in commercial context at airshows and also to mark important dates, such as national days or significant anniversaries. They are particularly common in the United Kingdom, where they are often associated with Royal occasions. Similarly, for ships, there may be
87-698: A Miss German-America, who serves as Queen of the Steuben Day Parade in September. She is selected based on her German-American heritage and knowledge of German culture. She is expected to promote the parade, its events, and numerous German festivals throughout the New York region each summer. Past winners include: Nicole Radske (2006), Christina Rom (2007), Melissa Gratzl (2008), Virginia Kovak (2009), Stephanie Russell-Kraft (2010), Denise Manukian (2011), Kirsten Mueller (2012), Kristina Kren (2013) Stefanie Kraker (2014) and Samantha Hart (2015). The cornflower
116-526: A deep personal friendship with America. Over the years, many distinguished Germans and Americans have led the Steuben Parade. Former Grand Marshals include Donald Trump , Siegfried & Roy , George Steinbrenner , Carol Alt , Michael Bloomberg , Eric Braeden , John Roland , Louis Freeh , Norbert Schramm . Several Mayors of New York City of non-German background have also led the parade, including Rudolph Giuliani and George Pataki . Among
145-751: A not-for-profit organization registered in New York with 501(c)3 status. To celebrate the accomplishments of Baron von Steuben, the Philadelphia Von Steuben Day Parade is 50 miles from Valley Forge, where Steuben trained the Revolutionary Army. Philadelphia is where the Continental Congress met to sign the Declaration of Independence . It was also home to Benjamin Franklin , sent to France by
174-729: A sail-past of, e.g., tall ships (as was seen during Trafalgar 200 ) or other sailing vessels as during the celebrations of the 60th anniversary of World War II . The longest parade in the world is the Hanover Schützenfest that takes place in Hanover every year during the Schützenfest . The parade is 12 kilometres (7.5 miles) long with more than 12,000 participants from all over the world, among them more than 100 bands and around 70 floats and carriages. Christian Haub Too Many Requests If you report this error to
203-535: A specific racial/ethnic group or sexual minority , (week) = week-long holidays, (month) = month-long holidays, (36) = Title 36 Observances and Ceremonies Parade A parade is a procession of people, usually organized along a street, often in costume , and often accompanied by marching bands , floats , or sometimes large balloons . Parades are held for a wide range of reasons, but are usually some variety of celebration . The term "parade" may also be used for multiple different subjects; for example, in
232-449: Is not a parade in the military tradition. The rest of the about three-hour-long parade is dominated by traditional German brass music groups and marching bands, by clubs and organizations wearing traditional German Tracht , as well as by carnival groups, sharpshooters, or representatives of other traditions. For many years, the parade has had a solid Bavarian theme, dominated by men wearing lederhosen , women in dirndl , and groups dancing
261-614: Is the official flower and the logo of the German-American Steuben Parade of New York City, as it widely grows in both Germany and the United States. Also, the color blue symbolizes friendship and hope. In addition, the Cornflower was the national Flower of Prussia since its introduction by Kaiser Wilhelm I to honor his mother Queen Louise of Mecklenburg-Strelitz and because of its color ( prussian blue ). The German-American Steuben Parade Committee organizes
290-584: Is usually held every fourth Saturday in September. The Chicago parade was featured in the 1986 film Ferris Bueller's Day Off . Many parades were canceled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. While Steuben Day is celebrated in many cities all across the United States , the largest crowds gather in New York City . Every year on the third Saturday in September, German-Americans celebrate
319-522: The Canadian Armed Forces , "parade" is used both to describe the procession and in other informal connotations. Protest demonstrations can also take the form of a parade, but such cases are usually referred to as a march instead. The first parades date back to c. 2000 BC , only being used for religious or military purposes. The Babylonians celebrated Akitu by parading their deities and performing rituals. To celebrate
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#1732782481558348-530: The Red Army commemorated Victory in Europe with a parade and the ceremonial destruction of captured Wehrmacht and Waffen-SS standards. The parade float got its name because the first floats were decorated barges that were towed along the canals with ropes held by parade marchers on the shore . Floats were occasionally propelled from within by concealed oarsmen , but the practice was abandoned because of
377-716: The "Candy-Bomber" from the 1948–49 Berlin Airlift . In 2007, celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the German-American Steuben Parade, the Grand Marshal was former US Secretary of State, Henry Kissinger , born in the Franconia region of Bavaria in Germany. The Guest of Honor was Dr. Klaus Scharioth, the German Ambassador to the United States. Also invited was former German chancellor Helmut Kohl , known to have
406-634: The Annual Steuben Parade on Fifth Avenue and an Oktoberfest -style beer fest complete with food and live music in Central Park . The parade was founded in 1957 and has grown into one of the largest celebrations of German and German-American culture in the United States. In 2007, German-Americans celebrated the 50th anniversary of this affair and welcomed former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger as Grand Marshal and former German chancellor Helmut Kohl as Guest of Honor. In 2017,
435-491: The Continental Congress. It was during this trip that Franklin was introduced to von Steuben. In addition, in 1683, William Penn invited the thirteen German families from Krefeld to join his "Grand Experiment". They eventually settled and founded Germantown, now a section of Philadelphia. In 1983, a parade celebrated the 300th anniversary of the founding of Germantown. At that time, a group from Krefeld brought
464-654: The Friday preceding the parade. On the eve of the parade, a gala benefit banquet takes place as a fundraiser for the parade. The parade leads to the German-American Friendship Party in Central Park . This is the most significant beer fest in New York, featuring many German brands on tap, as well as traditional German food such as bratwurst . Each May, the German-American Steuben Parade Committee crowns
493-609: The Guests of Honor have been three German presidents: Walter Scheel , Richard von Weizsäcker and Johannes Rau , as well as other dignitaries from the political and economic fields, including state prime ministers Erwin Teufel , Kurt Biedenkopf and Bernhard Vogel . While the German-American Steuben Parade is held on the third Saturday in September, starting at noon, other weekend festivities exist. Usually, up to 35 music and costume groups from overseas are greeted at City Hall Park on
522-805: The Philadelphia metropolitan area. The Steuben Day Observance Association of Philadelphia and Vicinity is a not-for-profit organization registered in Pennsylvania with 501(c)3 status. The Chicago parade was in the 1986 John Hughes movie Ferris Bueller's Day Off , even though other movie details indicate that the film takes place near the end of the school year, not in September or on a Saturday. Drunk History , season 2 episode 8 "Philadelphia", as retold by Nick Rutherford features David Cross as Baron von Steuben. (federal) = federal holidays, (abbreviation) = state/territorial holidays, (religious) = religious holidays, (cultural) = holiday related to
551-641: The Tri-Centennial Bike, a thirteen-seat bicycle that has become a feature of our annual parade. While the German–American Steuben Parade is held on the fourth Saturday in September, starting at noon, other weekend festivities exist. On the eve of the parade, a gala benefit banquet is held at the Cannstatter Volksfest Verein. On Parade day itself, the day begins with an Ecumenical Service at 10:00 am. After
580-595: The US and Canada, wearing their traditional German costumes. The parade honors one or more Grand Marshals, either American citizens with a German background or German citizens with a special relationship to America. Every year, the German-American Steuben Parade is led by cadets representing the German Language Club of the Military Academy of West Point , which General von Steuben founded. However, it
609-709: The federal government's victory in the American Civil War , 145,000 Union soldiers marched in a two-day Grand Review of the Armies in Washington, D.C. They passed before the President, the Cabinet, and senior officers from May 23–24, 1865. At the end of hostilities in Europe in 1944–45, "victory parades" were a common feature throughout the recently liberated territories. For example, on 3 September 1944,
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#1732782481558638-555: The high incidence of drowning when the lightweight and unstable frames capsized. Strikingly, among the first uses of grounded floats – towed by horses – was a ceremony in memory of recently drowned parade oarsmen. Today, parade floats are traditionally pulled by motor vehicles or are powered themselves. Multiple grand marshals may often be designated for an iteration of the parade, and may or may not be in actual attendance due to circumstances (including death). A community grand marshal or other designations may be selected alongside
667-519: The parade and all related events. Since 2014, the committee has been led by General Chairman Bob Radske . The two Vice Chairwomen are Nicole Miskiewicz and Melissa Alke-Sparnroft. The committee membership consists of representatives of many German-American organizations from the New York metropolitan area, some involved in founding the parade in 1957. The Steuben Parade is overseen by the German-American Committee of Greater New York,
696-595: The parade celebrated its 60th anniversary with Grand Marshals Admiral Nielson from the German Navy along with longtime Parade Volunteer and German-American Community Leader Heinz Buck. But three years later, the parade was canceled on the grounds of COVID-19 pandemic and was deferred to 2021. The first Steuben Parade was held in the German neighborhood of Ridgewood Queens. In 1958, the parade moved to Yorkville, known then as Germantown, and lined up on 86th Street. Over
725-409: The parade still marches up Fifth Avenue but now ends only at Fifth Avenue and 86th Street. It is led by cadets representing the German Language Club of the Military Academy of West Point, which General von Steuben founded. The three-hour parade is dominated by traditional German groups, spectacular colorful floats, marching bands, clubs, and organizations from Germany, Switzerland, and Austria, as well as
754-702: The parade, participants are welcome to join the Oktoberfest held by the Bavarian Volksfest Verein on the grounds of the United German-Hungarian Club. The Steuben Day Observance Association of Philadelphia and Vicinity organize the parade and all related events. The association is led by General Chairman Thomas Markow and two Vice Chairmen, Werner Fricker and James Schwartz. The association's membership consists of representatives of many German-American organizations from
783-672: The personnel of the 2nd Canadian Infantry Division marched six abreast to the music of massed regimental pipe and drum bands through the streets of Dieppe , France, to commemorate the liberation of the city from German occupation, as well as commemorate the loss of over 900 soldiers from that formation during the Dieppe Raid two years earlier. On the Moscow Victory Parade of 1945 held in Moscow , Soviet Union in June 1945,
812-603: The traditional Schuhplattler . Recently, though, the parade opened up to represent more German themes. Every year, the German-American Steuben Parade is led by one or more Grand Marshals, either American citizens with a German background or German citizens with a special relationship with America. The Grand Marshals in 2009 were Congressman Michael McMahon , Fox 5 TV reporter Linda Schmidt, A&P Chairman Christian Haub , and Parade Co-founder Ted Dengler. In previous years, Grand Marshals included Hollywood star Ralf Möller , NYSE CEO Duncan Niederauer and Col. Gail Halvorsen ,
841-463: The years, as the event grew more extensive, it drew an ever-larger number of spectators. Soon, it gained the city's recognition and marched up Fifth Avenue, turning onto 86th St, and marching across to First Avenue to cheering crowds. 86th Street was once the heart of Little Germany and was affectionately called the "German Boulevard." It hosted many German shops, Konditereis, Biergartens, Vereins, theaters, restaurants, newspapers, and dance halls. Today,
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