The people of Leipzig keep the memories of Autumn 1989 alive in a wide variety of ways. This is especially true of the memorial held on 9 October, the anniversary of the decisive Monday Demonstrations.

Programm Booklet "Autumn ´89" (PDF, 3,4 MB)

"The Courage to Be Alternative" is the title of this year's Prayer for Peace held in the Nikolai church in remembrance of October 9, 1989. The sermon will be held by Pastor Ret. Christian Führer. Music: Renate Käbisch: "20 Years of Peaceful Revolution" for choir, organ, violin and percussion.

• 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.
  
• St. Nicholas Church
  

The "Speech on Democracy" in the Nikolai church belongs to the highlights on the "Autumn '89" series. As a part of a series concerning importance and major European topics, the speech is held by personalities who have served the cause of democracy in Europe. In 2012, the speech is to be held by Hungarian author and historian György Dalos who lives and works in Berlin. Among others he has written works concerning the uprising in Hungary and the overcoming of dictatorships in Central and Eastern Europe. In 2010, he was awarded the Leipzig Book Prize for European Understanding.

• 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
  
• St. Nicholas Church
  

The Leipzig Light Festival's artistic performance at the Augustusplatz is taking place once again in 2012 in order to remind all of the events which occurred here in 1989. The evening's ceremonies shall be opened with a few words of welcome presented by the City of Leipzig's Mayor, Burkhard Jung, and Hungarian minister Zoltán Balog.

This year, Jürgen Meier, artistic director of the Light Festival, will, together with ballet director and head choreographer Mario Schröder as well as musician Mike Dietrich, use various elements to signify the link between Hungary and Leipzig: dance, live-broadcasts from Augustusplatz and a specially composed soundtrack form the framework for a video with 3D elements projected onto the facade of the opera house showing historic and current social and political events. Simultaneously, all participants shall be invited to form an '89 made up of thousands of candles.

The Light Festival is presented by Leipzig Tourismus und Marketing GmbH.

• 8 p.m. to 9 p.m.
  
• Augustusplatz
  

Until the 25th anniversary of the Peaceful Revolution in 2014, the historical developments which took place in Germany's neighbors of Central and Eastern Europe shall make up the focus for memorials held in Leipzig with Hungary being in the spotlight for 2012.

As early as 1956, thousands of Hungarians demonstrated against the Soviet leadership and for more democracy until their efforts were put to a bloody end by the Soviet army. The country continued to play a central role and not only because of the its liberal position: as a beloved holiday destination in the 1960s for East and West Germans alike, the shores of Lake Balaton became a place of encounter and meeting for Germans on both sides of the political borders. In the 1980s, the democratic opposition movement in Hungary became an example and source of hope in the struggle to overcome the dictatorships in place in Central and Eastern Europe. This democratic movement did not limit its demands solely to its own country, however, but also demanded an end to the division of Europe. On the 2nd of May, 1989, Hungary was the first country in the Eastern Block to begin dismantling their border fortifications.

2012's Light Festival - Press-Kit
(PDF, 319 KB)