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EspañolGERMAN-AMERICAN STEUBEN PARADE
(Redirected from Steuben Parade)
The 'German-American Steuben Parade' is an annual Parade held every third Saturday in September in New York City. It was founded in 1957 by German-American immigrants who, being part of the largest ethnic group in the United States, wanted to keep the traditions of their homeland alive.
The first Steuben Parade was held in the Ridgewood section of Queens, where many German immigrants lived. Over the years, as the event grew bigger and drew an ever larger number of spectators, the Parade was moved to Fifth Avenue. To this day it starts at 64th Street moving uptown to 86th Street. The Parade finale on 86th Street has a special meaning for German-Americans, as that street and the entire Yorkville neighbourhood was home to many German immigrants between the first half of the 20th century until the 1970s. The neighborhoods most important street - 86th Street - was lovingly called "Sauerkraut Boulevard" and hosted many German-American establishments, ranging from coffeeshops and restaurants to dancehalls.
The Parade was named by its founders after Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben, a Prussian General who served under General George Washington in the 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 and thus his work helped in gain independence for the United States of America.
However, the German-American Steuben Parade is not a Parade in the military tradition. Every year it is led by cadets representing the German Language Club of the Military Academy of West Point, which was founded by General von Steuben. But the rest of the about three hour long Parade is dominated by traditional German brass music groups and marching bands, by clubs and organization wearing traditional German Tracht, as well as by carneval groups, marksmen or other traditions. For many years, the Parade has had a strong Bavarian theme and was dominated by men wearing Lederhosen, women in Dirndl and groups dancing the traditional Schuhplattler. Recently though, the Parade opened up to represent more German themes.
Every year, the German-American Steuben Parade is led by two dignitaries: The Grand Marshal is an American with a distinct German background, while the Guest of Honor is a German with a distinct relationship to America.
In 2007, celebrating the 50th Anniversary German-American Steuben Parade, the Grand Marshal is former US Secretary of State, Henry Kissinger, who was born in the Franconia region of Bavaria in Germany. The Guest of Honor is former German chancellor Helmut Kohl, who is known to have a deep personal friendship towards America. In many speeches throughout his career, Dr. Kohl has mentioned how grateful he was when, as a hungry school boy in post-war Germany, he received food from American GIs.
Over the years the Steuben Parade has had many distinguished Germans and Americans leading the Parade. Former Grand Marshals were Donald Trump, Siegfried & Roy, George Steinbrenner, Carol Alt, Eric Braeden, John Roland, Louis Freeh, as well as many politicians without a personal German background but a great appreciation of the German culture. Among those were Michael Bloomberg, Rudolph Giuliani and George Pataki.
Among the Guests of Honor are three German presidents: Walter Scheel, Richard von Weizsäcker and Johannes Rau, as well as other dignitaries from the political and economical field, including governors Erwin Teufel, Kurt Biedenkopf and Bernhard Vogel.
While the German-American Steuben Parade itself is held on the third Saturday in September, starting at Noon, there are other festivities all weekend. Usually, up to 35 music and costume groups from overseas are greeted at City Hall Park on Friday preceding the Parade. On the eve of the Parade a Gala Benefit Banquet is held at the New York Hilton Hotel & Towers.
The Parade itself leads directly to the German-American Friendship Party in Central Park. This is the largest beer fest in New York, featuring many German brand on tap as well as traditional German food like Bratwurst.
Aside from the Parade, September is host to many German and German-American cultural events. They range from a Johann Strauss Gala in Carnegie Hall to a Jazz concert with German born pianist "Vana" Gierig, from a pop-art event with Berlin and New York based artist Jim Avignon to a German cartoon exhibition. There are also events celebrating the historic aspect of German-American traditions, like a Walking Tour through Little Germany ''Kleindeutschland'' on New York's Lower East Side or a tour through the Tenement Museum there.
The cornflower is the official flower and the logo of the German-American Steuben Parade of New York City. The founders of the Parade found the cornflower the appropriate symbol for the event, as it widely grows in both Germany and the United States. Also, the color blue symbolizes friendship and hope.
The Parade and all related events are organized by the German-American Steuben Parade Committee. Since 2005, the Committee is led by General Chairman Lars Halter, and three Vice Chairmen, Geraldine Brand, Thomas Hacker and Herb Seeff. The membership of the Committee consists of represantatives of a multitude of German-American organisations from the New York metropolitan area, some of them having been involved in the founding of the Parade in 1957.
★ Official Website of the Steuben Parade
★ 2007 Flyer and Program
A group in Bavarian Tracht marches in the 2006 Steuben Parade.
The 'German-American Steuben Parade' is an annual Parade held every third Saturday in September in New York City. It was founded in 1957 by German-American immigrants who, being part of the largest ethnic group in the United States, wanted to keep the traditions of their homeland alive.
| Contents |
| History |
| Von Steuben and the Parade |
| Grand Marshal and Guest of Honor |
| Parade events |
| German-American Friendship Month |
| Logo |
| Organisation |
| External links |
History
The first Steuben Parade was held in the Ridgewood section of Queens, where many German immigrants lived. Over the years, as the event grew bigger and drew an ever larger number of spectators, the Parade was moved to Fifth Avenue. To this day it starts at 64th Street moving uptown to 86th Street. The Parade finale on 86th Street has a special meaning for German-Americans, as that street and the entire Yorkville neighbourhood was home to many German immigrants between the first half of the 20th century until the 1970s. The neighborhoods most important street - 86th Street - was lovingly called "Sauerkraut Boulevard" and hosted many German-American establishments, ranging from coffeeshops and restaurants to dancehalls.
Von Steuben and the Parade
The Parade was named by its founders after Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben, a Prussian General who served under General George Washington in the 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 and thus his work helped in gain independence for the United States of America.
A German Guggemusik band performs at the Steuben Parade in New York
Grand Marshal and Guest of Honor
Every year, the German-American Steuben Parade is led by two dignitaries: The Grand Marshal is an American with a distinct German background, while the Guest of Honor is a German with a distinct relationship to America.
In 2007, celebrating the 50th Anniversary German-American Steuben Parade, the Grand Marshal is former US Secretary of State, Henry Kissinger, who was born in the Franconia region of Bavaria in Germany. The Guest of Honor is former German chancellor Helmut Kohl, who is known to have a deep personal friendship towards America. In many speeches throughout his career, Dr. Kohl has mentioned how grateful he was when, as a hungry school boy in post-war Germany, he received food from American GIs.
Parade VIPs: German Ambassador Dr. Klaus Scharioth, the Mayor of Hamburg (Germany), Ole von Beust, Grand Marshal Carol Alt, General Chairman Lars Halter, and Heinz Buck, President of the German-American Committee of Greater New York
Over the years the Steuben Parade has had many distinguished Germans and Americans leading the Parade. Former Grand Marshals were Donald Trump, Siegfried & Roy, George Steinbrenner, Carol Alt, Eric Braeden, John Roland, Louis Freeh, as well as many politicians without a personal German background but a great appreciation of the German culture. Among those were Michael Bloomberg, Rudolph Giuliani and George Pataki.
Among the Guests of Honor are three German presidents: Walter Scheel, Richard von Weizsäcker and Johannes Rau, as well as other dignitaries from the political and economical field, including governors Erwin Teufel, Kurt Biedenkopf and Bernhard Vogel.
Parade events
While the German-American Steuben Parade itself is held on the third Saturday in September, starting at Noon, there are other festivities all weekend. Usually, up to 35 music and costume groups from overseas are greeted at City Hall Park on Friday preceding the Parade. On the eve of the Parade a Gala Benefit Banquet is held at the New York Hilton Hotel & Towers.
The Parade itself leads directly to the German-American Friendship Party in Central Park. This is the largest beer fest in New York, featuring many German brand on tap as well as traditional German food like Bratwurst.
German-American Friendship Month
Aside from the Parade, September is host to many German and German-American cultural events. They range from a Johann Strauss Gala in Carnegie Hall to a Jazz concert with German born pianist "Vana" Gierig, from a pop-art event with Berlin and New York based artist Jim Avignon to a German cartoon exhibition. There are also events celebrating the historic aspect of German-American traditions, like a Walking Tour through Little Germany ''Kleindeutschland'' on New York's Lower East Side or a tour through the Tenement Museum there.
Logo
The cornflower is the official flower and logo of the German-American Steuben Parade in New York
Organisation
The Parade and all related events are organized by the German-American Steuben Parade Committee. Since 2005, the Committee is led by General Chairman Lars Halter, and three Vice Chairmen, Geraldine Brand, Thomas Hacker and Herb Seeff. The membership of the Committee consists of represantatives of a multitude of German-American organisations from the New York metropolitan area, some of them having been involved in the founding of the Parade in 1957.
External links
★ Official Website of the Steuben Parade
★ 2007 Flyer and Program
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