Father’s Day – Ascension between contemplation and unconsciousness
Bild: picture alliance/ Moritz Frankenberg/IMAGO/picture alliance/Hans Huber
Ascension Day, Father’s Day, Men’s Day or Men’s Day: 40 days after Easter there is another public holiday with processions and church services. Less pious people go to the gentlemen’s section in handcarts.
When you hear Father’s Day, you often have an image of groups of drunk men walking around with handcarts full of alcohol. Others are simply happy that they can take four days off by taking just one day of vacation. Some people may not be aware that a Christian holiday – namely Ascension Day – is celebrated on Thursday.
Father’s Day Origin: Procession that got out of hand or successful advertising strategy?
It is not entirely clear how this Christian festival became a wet and happy Lord’s Day. Wikipedia says that today’s form of celebration arose in Berlin and the surrounding area towards the end of the 19th century – “probably brought into being by brewery entrepreneurs out of economic interests.” According to the Catholic News Agency (KNA), however, there are indications that the hustle and bustle on Father’s Day could have arisen from the customs surrounding the Ascension Day. As early as the 17th century, some processions ended with a drinking party. This led to the development of organized excursions only for men in some large cities in the 19th century.
At the beginning of the 20th century, a woman of all people – the American Louisa Dodd – started a movement to honor fathers. She and her five siblings were raised alone by their father after their mother died. In 1910, “Father’s Day” was celebrated for the first time in Washington.
Brandenburg police want to increase their control of boats on Herrentag
Whatever the origin, Father’s Day or Men’s Day is often celebrated with (a lot of) alcohol. The Brandenburg police have already announced on the waters in the country to be more closely monitored. “Particular attention is paid to driving at excessive speeds and driving under the influence of alcohol and other intoxicating substances,” said a police spokesman.
According to the police, the same limits apply to alcohol on the waterways in Brandenburg as in road traffic. If you drive a boat, you can expect a fine from 0.5 per mille, and if you drive unsafely you can even face criminal proceedings from 0.3 per mille. The police also warned that alcohol increases the risk of hypothermia or drowning if you fall into the water and recommends wearing life jackets.
Going outdoors with the family on Father’s Day
And if you’re looking for a completely different activity to do with friends or family during the day, you could look for birds, for example. The Nature Conservation Association (Nabu) is open nationwide from May 9th to 12th, i.e. from Father’s Day to Mother’s Day “Hour of the Garden Birds 2024” [nabu.de] called. Birds should be observed in a quiet place in the garden, in the park or from a balcony or room window and the highest number of each species that could be seen at the same time within an hour should be noted. Nabu also provides an online “counting aid” with pictures of the most common bird species.
Maybe it’s also worth taking a trip to the stork village of Linum (Ostprignitz-Ruppin). The first stork chick was discovered there on the roof of the “Storchenschmiede” visitor information center. observer of the Storchen-Webcam [storchenschmiede.org] had reported the offspring, station manager Kristin Garner told rbb. The “Storchenschmiede” is open on Ascension Day.
Traffic jams and increased risk of accidents on Ascension Day
However, you will probably have to allow a little more time for the journey. The ADAC expects heavy travel and excursion traffic on the long Ascension weekend and warns of traffic jams – especially on the highways to and from the coast. The first “traffic jam peak” could occur as early as Wednesday evening, according to the automobile club. Last year, the day before Ascension Day was one of the busiest of the year. The ADAC also expects traffic jams on Sunday evening due to the return traffic.
But no matter where you are going, on Ascension Day it is especially important to keep your eyes open in traffic. According to the Federal Statistical Office, Ascension Day is, along with New Year’s Day and May 1st, the day with the most alcohol-related traffic accidents.
Church services in the open air
The streets are also full because Ascension Day is a public holiday in all federal states. This also applies to many neighboring countries such as Switzerland, Austria, Denmark and the Netherlands. In Poland, however, Ascension Day is not a public holiday.
Ascension Day is always celebrated 40 days after Easter on a Thursday, this year on May 9th. In the New Testament, in the book of Acts, it is written that after the resurrection Jesus was with his disciples for 40 days before he ascended to heaven. This holiday has been celebrated since the fourth century – until today.
In Berlin, on Thursday morning, after a celebratory service in the cathedral, a procession moves to St. Mary’s Church on Alexanderplatz. A final service with communion is then celebrated there. Traditionally, Ascension Day is also celebrated with outdoor services. In Berlin and Brandenburg are various open-air church services [ekbo.de] planned – sometimes with a picnic or barbecue afterwards.
Broadcast: Antenne Brandenburg, May 9th, 2024, 6 a.m