Ascension Day 2025: Holidays full of traditions and experiences!

Ascension Day 2025: Holidays full of traditions and experiences!

Deutschland - On May 29, 2025, the Ascension of Christ will be celebrated in Germany, an important holiday that refers to the episode in the history of the Apostles, in which Jesus Christ came to heaven 40 days after his resurrection. This tradition, also referred to as a driveway, has its roots in Christian faith and has been recognized as a legal holiday in all 16 federal states since 1936. Ascension Day always falls on Thursday, exactly 39 days after Easter Sunday. The date will fall on May 29th in 2025, followed by May 14, 2026 and May 6, 2027. This movable definition allows the holiday, between April 30th and June 3, depending on the date of Easter Sunday, which is celebrated on the first Sunday after the first spring moon, like nw.de reported.

Ascension Day is not only celebrated as a religious festival, but also has a social component. This day is also known as Father's Day, which had its origin in the 19th century, as men took excursions and often consumed alcohol. The Bollerwagentrieben, which increase on this day, are a modern expression of this tradition. Men move through the villages with handcarts and drinks, a custom that emerged from the previous “men's section” of the 16th century and is understood in many ways as a leisure offer for men, as Infranken.de explained.

religious meaning

The religious background of Ascension Day is deeply rooted. It is said that Jesus Christ, according to the Gospel of Luke, rose to heaven on the 40th day after his resurrection. This event, known as the "Ascensio", is the end of its earthly work. Although this Ascension Day was celebrated at Pentecost until the 4th century, over the centuries of Ascension Day developed into an independent festival that was established in the churches around 370 AD, as Remszeitung.de

on Ascension Day, asking processions take place in many Catholic communities. These processions are often connected to rich harvests and can be accompanied by services outdoors. Nevertheless, Ascension Day is not a quiet holiday; There are no restrictions on public events, which makes the day a lively social event in many regions.

traditions and customs

The diverse customs on Ascension Day are excursions and hikes, often combined with the typical Bollerwagentrieben. These excursions are part of the German tradition that has developed over the years. Men's groups traditionally move through the landscape with handcarts, which makes today's Father's Day a mixture of festive customs and social gathering. The complex origin of these traditions is shown in the linking of religious festivals and the social celebration of the father. As Ascension Day remains both a day of faith and coexistence in the community.

Most shops in Germany are closed on Ascension Day, with exceptions such as bakeries, petrol stations and kiosks. Super markets in train stations or airports may also be open. Families and friends often use Friday after Ascension Day as a bridge day to treat themselves to an extended break and celebrate the holidays together.