Nationalfeierdag Lëtzebuerg
Luxembourg’s National Day, also known as the ‘Grand Duke’s Birthday’, this is arguably the highlight of Luxembourg’s calendar year and many people correspond their travel plans with this celebration on June 23rd. On June 22nd there is a candlelit parade and then the city explodes into a big street party, with the state staging an incredible firework display. To ensure maximum enjoyment, Luxembourgish workers have the following day (the 23rd) off work.
Bretzelsonndeg
Pretzel Sunday is a uniquely Luxembourgish tradition. It occurs every year on the third Sunday of Lent. Luxembourgish pretzels, which symbolize two lovers arm in arm, are totally different from the German variation which are very bready and adorned in rock salt. Here, they are made of puff pastry painted with icing and sprinkled with almonds. It is traditional that a man offers his sweetheart one of these on Pretzel Sunday. If the girl accepts it, he can then visit her on Easter Day, when he will receive chocolate eggs from her in return.
If he isn’t so lucky in love, the girl gives him an empty basket. This is where the Luxembourgish expression ‘de Kuerf kréien‘ (to be given the basket i.e. to be rejected) derives from.
In leap years, the tradition is reversed: girls offer their beau a pretzel.
It is said that in the olden days, the Pretzel Sunday custom set the seal on many marriages.
Nowadays, in Luxembourg City, Pretzel Sunday is like a mini festival. The Jhangeli tourist train is decorated with pretzels and tours the streets with a band. The procession, which includes pastry chefs from all over the country and the ‘Pretzel Queen’, walks through the streets giving away the sweet treats to bystanders.
Mantelsonndeg
Each year shops in the capital open their doors on the Sunday before All Saints Day for ‘Coat Sunday’. In days gone by, this was to allow residents living in the countryside to come into the city and buy their new winter clothes, or coat (mantel) before visiting the graves of their ancestors on November 1st. Nowadays it offers a nice opportunity to shop, often with promotions.
In Luxembourg It's Three 