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On Thursday, Germans observe a religious holiday, “Christi Himmelfahrt,” or Ascension Day. It is an official holiday throughout Germany, which means stores, public offices and banks will be closed.
The Bible says Christ’s ascent into heaven took place on the 40th day after Easter. That’s why Ascension Day is always celebrated on a Thursday.
First, Christians celebrated the fest together with Pentecost. Later, in the fourth century, it was observed as a holiday of its own.
Besides celebrating the church fest, Germans also recognize Father’s Day on Ascension Day.
Today, the holiday is an additional day when families can do something together, like go on bike trips, hikes or have barbecues.
For years, it was customary for men, young and old, fathers and non-fathers, to meet and have fun together. They met for long walks, and to quench their thirst they took along a decorated hand-cart filled with beer cases or kegs.
Partially, the origin of that day of men dates back to the German forefathers, who in spring walked through their land and fields and asked the gods for a fertile year. Afterward, they had a drink together.
Since Ascension Day is an official holiday in Germany, several communities will have festivals for the whole family.
The Hauptstuhl Music Association will present a Father’s Day rock concert at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the local festival grounds near the forest. Celebrations will continue with a barbecue at 10 a.m. Thursday.
The Reichenbach Music Association will start Father’s Day activities at 10 a.m.
at the Alte Mühle in Reichenbach-Steegen and the Singing Association Lyra Drehenthalerhof will have a barbecue at their grill hut at Drehenthalerhof near Otterberg.
Trash pickup changes
Because of Ascenion Day Thursday, trash pick up in some villages of the KMC will move as follows:
• From Tuesday to Monday for non-recyclable and biodegradable waste in the Bruchmühlbach, Martinshöhe, Gerhardsbrunn, Langwieden, Miesau, Lambsborn, Elschbach, Buchholz and Vogelbach.
• From Wednesday to Tuesday for biodegradable waste in Trippstadt, Langensohl, Stelzenberg, Hochspeyer, Fischbach, Waldleiningen; for non-recyclable waste and yellow bags in Queidersbach, Schopp, Krickenbach, Linden, Landstuhl-City, Hauptstuhl; and for paper in Kindsbach.
• From Thursday to Wednesday for biodegradable waste in Mehlbach, Olsbrücken, Frankelbach, Hirschorn, Sulzbachtal, Katzweiler, Heiligenmoschel. Schneckenhausen, Wörsbach, Heimkirchen, Niederkirchen, Morbach, Schallodenbach, Eulenbis; for paper in Mehlbach, Niederkirchen, Heimkirchen, Morbach, Wörsbach, Schallodenbach, Heiligenmoschel, Schneckenhausen; for non-recyclable waste and yellow bags in Hütschenhausen, Spesbach, Kottweiler-Schwanden, Katzenbach, Niedermohr, Reuschbach, Reichenbach-Steegen, Albersbach, Fockenberg-Limbach, Kollweiler.
• From June 3 to June 4 for paper in Otterbach, Sambach.
There will be no changes in trash pick up for villages not mentioned here.
(Information by Kaiserslautern County Administration office)
