Luxembourg American Annual Heritage Events

Visit the 2008 Upcoming Schedule of Events for specific dates, times and location of events.

Illinois

Schobermesse, Chicago, Illinois

     The Luxembourg Brotherhood of America is the oldest Luxembourg-American organization in existence in the United States. It was founded in 1887 as a fraternal insurance organization on Chicago's south side. Today, it consists of four sections located in the Chicago area and is dedicated to maintaining the strong ties between the Grand Duchy and its American cousins.

      The Schobermesse was a harvest season celebration of the Central European country of Luxembourg. The Luxembourg - American immigrants continued this cultural celebration in the Chicagoland area.

Sauerbraten Dinner

Chicago, Illinois, Luxembourg Brotherhood of America, Sec. 15

Iowa

Oktoberfest, Remsen, Iowa, Last Saturday in October

     The Annual Oktoberfest in Remsen, Iowa is a town wide festival with incredible amounts of Luxembourg foods and good times for everyone who attends. Oktoberfest is Bavarian entertainment with Polka Bands, a Beer Garden, an Arts and Crafts show and a large Family Style ethnic Luxembourger meal served by Remsenites in Bavarian garb. We invite everyone to visit northwest Iowa and share the good times at Remsen Oktoberfest!

     Starting with humble beginnings in 1974, Remsen's Oktoberfest now serves over 2,500 people the last Saturday in October.

National Luxembourg Day in America, Kalmes Restaurant, St. Donatus, Iowa

     Windy and Helen Kalmes of Kalmes Restaurant in St. Donatus cordially invite the public to celebrate National Luxembourg Day in America at their restaurant located on Hwy. 52 in downtown St. Donatus.  The National Luxembourg Day celebration is held annually at the restaurant around June 23, the official National Day in Luxembourg.  Please contact Kalmes Restaurant at 563-773-2480 for the exact date of this year’s celebration.  The National Luxembourg Day meal is served from 5:00 – 8:30 p.m. at the restaurant and includes Luxembourg treipen, wiener schnitzel, homemade noodles, potato pancakes, sour red cabbage and homemade bread and desserts.  Come enjoy some great, traditional food and celebrate Luxembourg and your Luxembourg heritage.

St. Donatus Parish Sausage and Pancake Breakfast, St. Donatus, Iowa

This annual breakfast is held at St. Donatus on the first Sunday in November from 7:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.  The breakfast is served in the parish school building and features all-you-can-eat homemade sausage, pancakes, sweet rolls and apple sauce.   This event also includes prizes, country store, and baked goods.  Everyone is invited to attend.

Annual Mass in Honor of St. Donatus, St. Donatus, Iowa

     The parishioners of St. Donatus Church cordially invite you to celebrate with them the feast of their patron, St. Donatus.  The Annual Mass in Honor of St. Donatus is celebrated on the second Sunday of July at 8:30 a.m. with refreshments following.

     St. Donatus, one of Luxembourg’s favorite patron saints, was born a Christian in Rome in 140 AD.  At the age of 17 he became a soldier in the Roman Army.  In 166 AD, Donatus and his Christian legion were responsible for saving the Emperor and his Army through prayer.  In thanksgiving, Donatus promised to serve God more faithfully and he took a vow of virginity.  In 180 AD, the Emperor condemned St. Donatus to a martyr’s death after he refused to marry the Emperor’s granddaughter and to adore pagan gods.

      In 1646, the relics of St. Donatus were placed in the altar of St. Martin’s Church in Euskirchen, Germany.  Tradition has it that during a Mass at the church, a terrible storm broke out.  As the Jesuit pastor, Fr. Heerde, turned to give the final blessing, lightening struck the church.  The altar, altar cloth and Fr. Heerde’s vestments immediately caught fire.  The priest prayed for the intercession of St. Donatus and at once the fire was extinguished and the priest’s wounds were miraculously healed.  As a result of this incident, St. Donatus is invoked as a special patron of protection against lightening and thunder storms.

      Images of St. Donatus, like the statue found in St. Donatus Church, depict him in Roman military garb with a lightening bolt in his hand.

Minnesota

Treipenfest Banquet – Rollingstone, Minnesota, Last Monday of January

Ginny’s Supper Club, 401 Rolling View Drive, Rollingstone, Minnesota

Sponsored by the Rollingstone Luxembourg Heritage Museum

      The annual Treipenfest in Rollingstone was organized in 1989 to provide financial support for the Rollingstone Luxembourg Heritage Museum.  Treipenfest was established and chaired by Donald and Jean Kalmes for the first ten years and is now managed by a committee aided by many volunteers. 

      Treipenfest is held at Ginny’s Supper Club with two settings:  one at 5 p.m. and the second at 7 p.m.  It is a reservation only event with tickets available beginning in December.  Many door prizes are awarded and about 250 people are served as well as 30 helpers.

      The menu consists of country sausage, Luxembourg-style treipen, sauerkraut and pork, hot potato salad, candied carrots, parsley-buttered potatoes, applesauce, homemade bread and jam, dessert, coffee, tea and milk.  Other beverages are available from Ginny’s Bar.

      Consider attending Treipenfest!  Show your support for the Rollingstone Luxembourg Heritage Museum and enjoy a delicious Luxembourgian meal!  For more information call 507-689-2307 or 507-689-2139.

Ohio

Novena of the Assumption at the Basilica

National Shrine of Our Lady of Consolation, Carey, Ohio

Wisconsin

Green Heart Gala Dinner Auction, Luxembourg American Cultural Society

     The Luxembourg American Cultural Society’s Annual Green Heart Gala Dinner and Benefit Auction is held during Heritage Weekend. The dinner and auction benefits the Cultural Society in its development of the Cultural Center.  The evening activities include a silent and live auction with unique and interesting imports from Luxembourg.

Annual Luxembourg Film Festival, Saukville, Wisconsin

The annual Luxembourg Film Festival is the first U.S. based film festival to show films with historical, cultural, and artistic significance to the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg.

The Luxembourg Society of Wisconsin Special Quarterly Programs

• Fuesicht, Sunday before Ash Wednesday
• The National Holiday, Father Days (June)
• Kirmes, Second Sunday in September
• St. Nick, second Sunday in December

Luxembourg Fest of Belgium, Wisconsin, second weekend of August

     The annual Luxembourg Fest of Belgium, Wisconsin, is held on the second weekend in August the Belgium Community Park. The Fest begins on Saturday with the annual Green Heart 5K Run/Walk. Sunday's events include an outdoor Mass, followed by ethnic foods and refreshments, history and genealogy displays by honored families, and live music.

     Celebrate your heritage and make plans now to attend this year's Luxembourg Fest.

National Flag Day, Waubeka, Wisconsin, Second Sunday in June

     The National Flag Day observance is held on the second Sunday in June with a program starting at 12:30 p.m. that includes a ceremonial rising of the flag, singing of the National Anthem, reciting the Pledge of Allegiance and Presidential Proclamation. Special recognitions are awarded. Crowd favorites include musical Salutes to the Armed Forces and Military Fly over. The program concludes with Benediction and Taps.

     The parade lasts approximately two hours. It features over 100 Marching and Military units including, notable traveling bands, area high school bands, squads, color guard, and pipe/drum units. Area fire departments, equestrian units, floats and vehicles.

     At the Americanism Center, the National Flag Day Foundation hosts a Family Day immediately following the parade. It starts at 4 P.M.This includes horse & buggy rides, games, contest, face painting and treasure hunting in a sand pile, The day concludes with a lighted American Flag at dusk: the National Anthem and fireworks.