Every year on August 8, Germany celebrates the official public holiday of one city in the country, namely — of the city of Augsburg (federal state of Bavaria).
A holiday known as Peace Day or the Augsburg Peace Festival. Friedensfest), traces its history back to 1650, and since 1950 it has been officially celebrated as state-owned. From the same year, this day is a — state day off for all small and large enterprises in the city of Augsburg.
August 8, 1629 is the — day of the beginning of the oppression of Protestants in the city of Augsburg, which lasted for 20 years, until the so-called «Westphalian Peace» (Peace of Westphalia), concluded in 1648.
The Day of Peace in Augsburg is also associated with the Augsburg Peace of Estates and Religions, concluded on September 25, 1555 between various faiths and estates: Lutheran and Catholic subjects of the Holy Roman Empire and the Roman king Ferdinand I, acting on behalf of his older brother Emperor Charles V. The Peace of Augsburg officially recognized Lutheran and Evangelical religion in the commonwealth of German states.
The rules of the Augsburg religious world are:
— universal peace in the country;
The — estates, which belong to the Augsburg denomination (Lutherans), and the estates of the Catholic faith recognized each other;
— estates have a common church-confessional territory, however, those submitted to other religions may move;
— cities of estates become two-denominational;
— spiritual jurisdictions against Protestants (heretics) are closed.
The classes «supra-denominational legal order» and «confessional analysis» are recognized in all unified German states.
On the holiday itself, various entertainment events — concerts, theatrical performances, a parade of military bands, folk festivals, fairs, and fireworks are held in Augsburg. A tradition for many years has been a special church ministry for representatives of all Christian denominations. Another indispensable attribute of the — holiday is the Children's Drawing Competition on the theme of peace, as well as the ceremony of announcing the winners of the Augsburg Peace Prize (it is awarded every three years).