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The reiging Kaiser, Wilhelm II, was born on January 27. After his accession as kaiser in 1881, I believe that this became a major holiday in Germany, celebrated much like the Queen's birthday in Britain. It would have been not only a personal honor to the kaiser, but be celebrated as a kind of national day with patriotic events. Note that the girl at the right has a sash in three colors, presumablu red, white, and black of the German Empire. The boy at left, however, as a small flag or banner in only two colors. I'm not sure what the colors are. Perhaps they represent Prussia or other German state. We have, however little actual information on how it was actually celebrated in Germany. Unfotunately a web search has turned up no information on how it was celebrated. I note that it was a big event after the War in the Kaiser's Dutch refuge at Doorn with many dignitaries coming to visit. So I assume he made a major national event out of it when he was kaiser. It would be in keeping with his character.
The portrait here was taken in the happier days before World War In (figure 1). We also note boys celebrating dressing up in military uniforms, apparently at a school, early in the War (1915).
Of course after he abdicated in 1918, it was no longer a national holiday. Hopefully some of our German readers can provide some insights on how it was celebrated.
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