World Children's Day: Lichtner celebrate 6 years of the Petersburg refuge!

World Children's Day: Lichtner celebrate 6 years of the Petersburg refuge!

September 22, 2025 marked World Children's Day, a day celebrated worldwide to draw attention to the rights of children. In Thuringia, this occasion was celebrated twice as the Lichtner family invited people to a happy party to mark the sixth birthday of their refuge in Petersburg. In bright sunshine, the members of the support association welcomed numerous guests, including many hikers from the area. The impressive refuge, which was built by the Thuringian Forest Association in 1887, became the focus of festive activities.

The celebrations lasted from 10 a.m. until late afternoon and offered visitors a selection of savory delicacies from the grill as well as delicious cakes and refreshing drinks. Many hikers who wanted to admire the view of the Vulture Valley and the Fröbelturm took the opportunity to strengthen themselves and enjoy the social gathering. This refuge, which was repaired in 1954 by the Free German Youth and was reopened in 2019 after a restoration by the Lichte support association, is a popular stop on the “Lichtner Kleeblatt” circular hiking trail and is visited by nature lovers all year round. insuedthueringen.de reports that the event strengthens community and brings joy to the region.

A look at the celebrations in Thuringia shows that World Children's Day was more than just the celebration at the refuge. Last weekend there were activities for children in numerous cities and communities. A charity reading with Manuela Schlüter-John took place in Bad Langensalza, while in Dornburg a castle children's day with puppet shows and discovery tours was on the program against a historical backdrop. In Erfurt, too, the children could look forward to a colorful program that ranged from craft activities to a children's theater. mdr.de notes that children up to 14 years of age could also travel on the bus and train free of charge on this special day - a great opportunity for families to visit the various events.

The importance of World Children's Day cannot be overestimated. Since 2019, September 20th has been a public holiday in Thuringia and makes the concerns and rights of children a priority. Established in 1954 by the United Nations Children's Fund, the international day of remembrance aims to focus on global issues that affect children. n-tv.de mentioned that critical voices were also heard that day, such as those of Peter Herrfurth, the EKM's state youth pastor, who pointed out financial cuts in child and youth work, and Mirjam Kruppa, Thuringia's migration commissioner, who called for expanded protection for children from asylum-seeking and tolerated families.

The events and celebrations marking World Children's Day show how important it is to give children a voice and protect their rights. This goal was pursued in many ways on World Children's Day and was also evident in the celebratory atmosphere at the Petersburg refuge, where the community came together to share joy and honor the importance of children.