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Local Germany
29-05-2025
- General
- Local Germany
Vatertag, Herrentag, Männertag, Christi Himmelfahrt: Germany's many names for Ascension Day
Few holidays go by as many different names as Ascension Day in Germany. Interestingly, an analysis of these four different names, and why and when they were introduced, shows that Germany is spiritual, hearty, caring, and complex. Here's the history of the many German names for the public holiday in brief: (As an aside, it's worth noting that there's no settled explanation in Germany for why and how three quite distinct traditions ended up merging into one, or on the exact order of events which led to this outcome). Christi Himmelfahrt (Christ's Ascension) Christi Himmelfahrt is basically the German translation of Ascension Day -- it literally means Christ's Ascension (or even more literally 'Christ goes to sky'). A fun word to say (particularly for English-speaking children) and an important religious celebration, Christi Himmelfahrt is always on a Thursday because it always takes place exactly 40 days after Easter Sunday. According to the Gospel, after he came back to life, Jesus Christ spent 40 days visiting his disciples and sharing the news of his miraculous resurrection, and then at the end of this period, he ascended bodily into heaven – along with his mother, Mary, he was one of only two to ever accomplish this feat. Christi Himmelfahrt has been a holiday in Germany since the Middle Ages, when people went into the fields to pray for a good harvest. Interestingly, it has also been associated with excessive alcohol consumption for very nearly as long, because after praying, the faithful tended to celebrate with a serious feast, and for a good feast there should also be good drink. Advertisement In some Catholic regions, processions into the fields continue to take place. While the holiday retains its religious character in much of western and southern Germany, the situation is rather different in northern and eastern Germany. Herrentag (Gentlemen's Day) At some point during the 18 th century, these processions began evolving -- or perhaps reverting to earlier, more pagan traditions. In a celebration of fertility and masculinity, men would arrive in the village square in decorated wagons and whoever had fathered the most children would be presented with a ham (or an similar prize). The tradition evolved again at the end of the nineteenth century, when working men from Berlin started getting together for a daytrip into the countryside on Ascension Day, accompanied by a cart filled to bursting with food and beer. This development seems to have been prompted by the introduction of Mother's Day in Germany, inspiring men to cast about for a day of their own. People meet on Father's Day in Cottbus. Outside the churches, the day of Ascension is nicknamed 'Father's Day' in Germany. Its notorious for men's parties and drinking bouts, but is increasingly also a family day. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Frank Hammerschmidt Vatertag (Father's Day) At some point, it seems that people started wondering about the wisdom of encouraging male-only beer and testosterone-fuelled excursions into the countryside. READ ALSO: Why Germans get wholly wasted on Ascension Day In 1910, American Sonora Louisa Dodd established Father's Day in honour of her father, a war veteran who raised her and her five siblings on his own after his wife's death. The idea arrived in Europe in the 1920s and efforts were made to rebrand Herrentag as Vatertag (with a view to replacing drunken male revelry in the woods with wholesome quality time at home). Advertisement German men have been impressively stubborn in their allegiance to the traditions of Herrentag , however, with many still clinging to their wagons of beer in preference to spending quality time with their children. Männertag (Men's Day) The terms Herrentag and Männertag are generally used interchangeably ( Herrentag is more common in eastern Germany). Optimistically, they also seem to gesture at a general trend towards greater inclusivity across the centuries. Christi Himmelfahrt was a holiday for nearly everyone when it was first introduced. Back then nearly everyone in Germany was a Catholic. But still, it was notably a holiday designed to celebrate just one man. Herrentag let more people in on the action, but only men of a certain class. Herr literally means 'sir' or 'lord'. Vatertag is arguably a step more inclusive, because there are no class barriers to becoming a father. Now, under the auspices of Männertag , participants no longer need to be divine, or a gentleman, or a father. They just need to be men who enjoy time with their friends, large quantities of beer, and elaborately decorated handcarts! Even further, increasingly some German families choose to observe the holiday altogether, finally casting out the idea that the day should belong only to the men.
Local Germany
28-05-2025
- Local Germany
Where drivers in Germany can expect the worst traffic around Ascension Day
Ascension Day ( Christi Himmelfahrt ) commemorates Christ's ascension to heaven 40 days after his resurrection. The holiday, which is also known as Vatertag, or Father's Day, in Germany, always falls on a Thursday -- this year on May 29th. The following Friday is officially school-free in Baden-Württemberg, Bayern, Berlin, Brandenburg, Bremen, Hamburg, Hessen, and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern – and in numerous individual schools in other states. With many workers also taking the Friday off as a Brückentag , or bridge day, the German roads and highways will be extra busy. Here's where traffic is expected to be the most intense over the holiday weekend. Germany's largest motoring club, the ADAC, has warned of heavy traffic jams due to the increased volume of drivers, as well as around 1,200 road works across the Autobahn network. 'There is a particular risk of traffic jams on the motorways near urban centres, the travel routes towards the Alps and the coast and on the access routes to local recreation areas,' the ADAC announced. Traffic jams are expected to begin as early as Wednesday, ramping up in the afternoon between 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. But as of 11a.m. Wednesday morning, traffic jams were reported in the Hamburg area, with vehicles at a standstill on the A7 between Fleestedt and the Elbe tunnel in the direction of Flensburg. The most congested day of the year Days around the Ascension Day holiday are known to be among the busiest days of the year on German roads. In 2024, the day before Ascension Day was one of the most congested days of the year. The wave of returning travellers is expected to reach its peak on Sunday afternoon and continue into the evening. In comparison, it should be relatively quiet on the Autobahn network on Friday and Saturday, making these days more ideal if you're planning a daytrip. Advertisement International travellers should also bear in mind that Ascension Day is also public holiday in Austria, Switzerland, and the Netherlands. Longer than usual travel times are expected on the Tauern, Fernpass, Brenner, Rhine Valley, and Gotthard routes. Many vacationers from southern Germany are heading to Italy. Despite major construction on the Brenner Pass, the route is expected remain open with two lanes in both directions. Germany's busiest roads Experts say the following routes are particularly prone to traffic jams over the long weekend: A1 Köln – Hamburg Kölner Ring (A1/A3/A4) A2 Berlin – Dortmund A3 Köln – Nürnberg A4 Görlitz – Chemnitz A5 Heidelberg – Karlsruhe A6 Heilbronn – Nürnberg A7 Hamburg – Flensburg und Würzburg – Füssen/Reutte A8 Stuttgart – Salzburg A9 München – Berlin A10 Berliner Ring A24 Hamburg – Berliner Ring A81 Heilbronn – Singen A93 Inntaldreieck – Kufstein A95/B2 München – Garmisch-Partenkirchen A96 München – Lindau A99 Autobahnring München Tighter controls on the borders If you are travelling across international borders this weekend, don't forget to plan for longer than usual waiting times on your return journey as a result of increased border controls. Under current rules, all travellers, including children, are required to carry identification documents. READ ALSO: How long can Germany keep its tighter border controls in place?
Local Germany
27-05-2025
- Local Germany
What's open and closed in Germany on Ascension Day?
Ascension Day, known as Christi Himmelfahrt in German, is among the nine public holidays that are observed in all federal states. It's observed on May 29th this year, so those living in Germany should expect most businesses to be closed on Thursday. The day is also known as Father's Day ( Vatertag ) or Men's Day ( Männertag ), and many German men take it upon themselves to spend the day hiking outside with a wagon full of beer in tow. Almost all supermarkets are to be closed for the holiday, as will be offices, government services and schools. Restaurants, cafes and beer gardens on the other hand can often remain open as holiday traffic makes it a good day for business. Here's an overview of what's open and what's closed on May 29th. Grocery stores Almost all supermarkets, as well as most independent shops will be closed closed for Christi Himmelfahrt. However, there are certain supermarkets (typically found in central train stations, airports or petrol stations) that are legally allowed to remain open on Sundays and holidays. So if you know of a grocery store in your local Bahnhof where you like to shop on Sundays it may also be open on May 1st, but do check the store's hours before heading out, as holiday hours may vary. Small kiosks or Spätis -- especially those in big cities -- sometimes also remain open, and can work in a pinch if you need last minute snacks or drinks. Bakeries are also sometimes allowed to open for a few hours on public holidays -- usually in the morning. But holiday hours here depend on the operator, so you're advised to ask ahead before counting on picking up fresh bread on Thursday morning.. You may also find the odd exception in the form of a local corner store such a Spätkauf or Kiosk , but generally speaking, you'll be better off assuming that nothing will be open and doing your shopping for Thursday ahead of time. REVEALED: Where to buy groceries on a Sunday in Berlin People sit on banks of the Elbe River in Dresden on Father's Day. Photo: picture alliance/dpa/dpa-Zentralbild | Robert Michael Bars, restaurants and cafés As mentioned above, many hospitality businesses, especially those in tourist areas and big cities, will want to stay open to cater to the holiday crowds. But it is also sometimes the case that business owners or staff would rather have the day off themselves. Put simply, if you're out and about in a bigger city for the holiday, you shouldn't have much trouble finding something to eat or a place to have a drink, but you'll want to check in advance if you have plans to meet friends at a particular place. Advertisement Offices, banks and schools Almost all offices are set to be closed on May 29th, as are banks, post offices and public administration offices. Since the holidays falls on a Thursday this year, some offices (and many workers) may decide to 'bridge' the holiday and remain closed Friday as well. Schools also close and, once again, some schools may decide to give their pupils (and teachers) the Friday off too. READ ALSO: Brückentag, Fenstertag and Zwickeltag - All the German words for getting longer holiday weekends Public transport & emergency services Public transport runs as usual on holidays including Christi Himmelfahrt , but be aware that transport in most cases will be running on a holiday timetable with reduced services. Most doctors' and dentists' practices will be closed for the day, so if you do have a non-urgent medical procedure scheduled for May 29th, you may want to check ahead that the appointment was not made in error. But emergency services will of course function normally, with hospitals remaining open. If you have a non-emergency medical issue on Thursday, you can dial 116 117 or try this website for a directory for local medical offices near you. In an emergency, call 112 for the fire brigade or ambulance or 110 for the police. Most pharmacies will be closed, so it's best to ensure you have enough medication ahead of the holiday. But German regulations require a certain amount of pharmacies to remain open for emergency purposes. If you need one, you can find a list of emergency service pharmacies here . Advertisement Tourist attractions and leisure activities Many museums and other major tourist attractions close for public holidays, but some maintain holiday hours. So check ahead for the holidays hours before heading to a particular attraction on Thursday. Alternatively, if you're visiting Germany at this time, the holiday offers an opportunity to experience contemporary German cultural traditions. On Father's Day, men walk along the north shore of the Maschsee with their wagons full of beers. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Moritz Frankenberg You could do as the Germans do and take a crate of beer to the nearest forest or lake, and not return home until every last drop has been drunk. For both drinkers and non-drinkers alike, the holiday is celebrated by many Germans with a trek or a bike ride into nature with a group of friends. EXPLAINED: Why Germans get wholly wasted on Ascension Day Or you could take it easy and plan your day around any of the special events set to make the holiday. To get started, here are the official city event pages for Berlin , Hamburg , Frankfurt and Munich . Regional differences in shop closures It's worth noting that the extent of shop closures for the holiday varies from region to region. According to a report by Heidelberg 24, all day closures in Baden-Württemberg are standard as openings are severely restricted by state regulations. Advertisement Compared to other regions, the city-states of Berlin or Bremen are more relaxed -- there some Spätis can remain open all day. Touristy places such as the island of Sylt or some parts of Bavaria also use special regulations for the holiday which make allowances for certain hospitality businesses.
