Germans celebrate Father’s Day on Ascension Day

Thursday, Germans ob-serve a religious holiday, “Christi Himmelfahrt,” or Ascension Day. It is a legal holiday throughout Germany, which means stores, public offices and banks are closed.

In addition to celebrating this religious holiday, Germans also recognize Father’s Day on Ascension Day. It is an additional day for families to enjoy time off and do something together. They go on bike trips, hikes or gather for barbecues.

For years, it was customary for men, young and old, to get together and have fun. They met for long walks, and to quench their thirst, they carried around a decorated handcart filled with beer cases or kegs.

Partially, the origin of this day dates back to the German forefathers who walked through their land and fields in the springtime and asked the gods for a fertile year. Afterwards they had a drink together.

Since Ascension Day is an official holiday in Germany, several communities celebrate fests for the whole family. The Hauptstuhl Music Association will present a Father’s Day rock concert at 8 p.m. Wednesday at the local fest grounds near the forest. Celebrations will continue with a barbecue at 11 a.m. on Thursday.

The Kolping Family will sponsor a family day starting 11 a.m. Thursday at the Grillhütte Zillertal (barbecue hut near Luitpoldstrasse and Tenth Street in Landstuhl).

The hiking club Pfälzerwaldverein Martinshöhe, will sponsor a forest fest at Fritz-Claus-Hütte located next to road L466 between Bruchmühlbach and Martinshöhe.

The Singing Association Lyra Drehenthalerhof will start a barbecue at 11 a.m. at the grill hut at Drehenthalerhof (outside of Otterberg, going toward Schneckenhausen).

The German Shepherd Club and the Shooting Club in Bann will have a Father’s Day barbecue at their club houses starting at 10 a.m. Thursday.

The volunteer firefighters in Etschberg (south of Kusel) will offer a bullriding event, children’s activities, with barbecue specialties and cakes starting at 11 a.m. Thursday.