Ascension Day or Father’s Day

by Jutta Lausberg-Saam
86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

On May 30, Germans celebrate “Christi Himmelfahrt” or Ascension Day. On that day, Germans also celebrate Father’s Day. That means all stores and public offices are closed.

Ascension Day is the 40th day of Easter and occurs 39 days after Easter Sunday. It is a Christian holiday that commemorates Jesus Christ’s ascension into heaven according to Christian belief. The holiday is not only celebrated in Germany but in several other European countries. Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Liechtenstein, Luxemburg, Monaco, The Netherlands, Norway and Sweden will also honor this religious holiday.

For years, it was customary for men of all ages, fathers and non-fathers to have outings on that day. They went for long walks and took a decorated hand cart filled with cold beverages, mostly beer, to quench their thirst or went on a bike ride. These walks and bike rides are meant to have a connection to the Apostle procession, in which the disciples of Jesus went back to the Mount of Olives.

Over time, this has changed and families now spend the day together. They go on bike trips, hikes or have barbecues. With Ascension Day being an official holiday, some communities will offer fests. A Father’s Day barbecue will be held at the Gun Club in Bann; fests will take place in Reichenbach-Steegen at the Alte Mühle, or at Drehenthalerhof near Otterberg.