German Unity Day: Jena and Erlangen Celebrate Their Partnership
About 200 guests from Erlangen to visit Jena – a ceremony, city tours, discussions, music, and group singing on October 3
Jena and Erlangen are once again celebrating German Unity Day together this year: Around 200 guests from the Bavarian sister city are expected in Jena on October 3. The visitors from Erlangen will arrive in four buses and spend the day with their hosts in Jena. An extensive program invites everyone to engage in conversation, experience history, and celebrate the partnership between the two cities.
The connection between Jena and Erlangen is itself a piece of German unity: The city partnership was established as early as 1987—at a time when hardly anyone believed that Germany would be reunified. It is thus one of the earliest connections between a West German and an East German city. Since then, the official partnership has evolved into a vibrant connection between people.
Encounters Take Center Stage at the Ceremony
The main ceremony begins at 11 a.m. at the Volkshaus. Mayor Dr. Thomas Nitzsche of Jena and Mayor Jörg Volleth of Erlangen will welcome the guests. However, the focus will not be on long speeches, but rather on personal encounters: At the tables, residents of Jena will strike up conversations with their guests from Erlangen—discussing personal memories of the division of Germany and reunification, as well as what German unity will mean in the coming ten years and how it can be further shaped.
Musical accompaniment is provided by two ensembles from the sister cities: the accordion ensemble of the Erlangen School of Singing and Music, conducted by Elke Niedermeier, and the Carl Zeiss JENA e. V. Accordion Orchestra, conducted by Ulrike Thier. The accordion is this year’s “Instrument of the Year.”
Discover Jena Together Through a Quiz
While a separate afternoon program featuring various guided tours will be offered to guests from Erlangen, the pub quiz provides an opportunity for everyone to come together: Starting at 2:30 p.m., both guests from Erlangen and all residents of Jena can put their knowledge to the test at Café Immergrün (Jenergasse 6). The quiz with BigKev will be a fun, two-hour event—space is limited to a maximum of 35 people.
Focus on the Partnership with Ukraine
At 3:00 p.m. at the Historic City Hall, the focus will be on another special connection Jena has: the triangular partnership with Erlangen and Brovary in Ukraine. The JenaUA e. V. association invites you to an event in the Town Hall foyer titled “Voices of Partnership: Presentation, Music, and Dialogue.”
A presentation, music, and—above all—direct conversation will showcase what has already emerged from the still-young partnership with Brovary. The event will also address the question of how municipal friendship with Ukraine can be concretely fostered amid the difficult conditions of the ongoing war.
Joint Closing Ceremony on the Church Square
The day will conclude at 5:00 p.m. with an ecumenical service at St. Michael’s City Church. The accordion ensemble from the Erlangen Singing and Music School will once again provide the musical accompaniment.
At 6:00 p.m., all residents are invited to the church square for a sing-along. Under the motto “Germany Sings and Resonates,” the day will come to a close there together with the guests from Erlangen. At 6:30 p.m., Jena will bid farewell to the guests from Erlangen.
Overview of the Program on October 3
11:00 a.m. – Ceremony marking German Unity Day
Volkshaus
Welcome remarks by Mayor Dr. Thomas Nitzsche and Mayor Jörg Volleth; musical performances by the two accordion ensembles from Jena and Erlangen.
2:30 p.m. – Pub quiz with BigKev
Café Immergrün, Jenergasse 6
Duration: approx. 2 hours, maximum 35 people
3:00 p.m. – “Voices of the Partnership: Presentation, Music, and Dialogue”
Historic City Hall, City Hall Foyer, Markt 1
Event organized by JenaUA e. V. as part of the city partnership with Brovary
5:00 p.m. – Ecumenical service
St. Michael’s City Church, Kirchplatz
6:00 p.m. – Community Sing-Along “Germany Sings and Resonates”
Church Square
6:30 p.m. – Farewell and departure of guests from Erlangen
Church Square
Registration is requested
The events are open to all interested residents. The specified participant limits apply to the guided tours and the pub quiz. To help us better plan seating capacity for the ceremony, pleaseregister by September 28 by emailing bereich-ob@jena.de or calling 03641 49-2008.