Men bring luggage carts along for Father's Day festivities. - Men Embracing the Boller Car on Father's Day Celebration
In Germany, Ascension Day serves a unique purpose as it coincides with the country's celebration of Father's Day. Thousands of men gather across various regions to partake in this traditional joint commemoration, often marked by copious quantities of alcohol, lively music, and colorful costumes.
Father's Day, a day to honor fatherhood, originated in Germany at the end of the 19th century, predominantly around Berlin. While Ascension Day has since been a public holiday since 1934, it was initially associated with solemn processions around fields, seeking divine intervention for a bountiful harvest. Over time, the religious association eroded, and the now well-known, lively, and predominantly secular celebration emerged.
During the annual "men's day outing," often referred to as the "ham tour," participants transport their liquid refreshments using barrows. These vehicles are also frequently seen adorned with lilacs or birch branches. The tradition, however, has its drawbacks, with increased alcohol consumption leading to a significant increase in traffic accidents on Ascension Day. As many as three times more accidents are reported on this day compared to the average.
Despite the associated risks, the tradition remains cherished, serving as an opportunity for men to dedicate one day to their friendships.
Ascension Day, traditionally a Christian holiday marking the ascension of Jesus Christ into heaven 40 days after Easter, has a rich history in Germany. The significance of the day stretches back to the 4th century, when Christians first observed the event. However, the modern secular celebration on Ascension Day, particularly in Germany, is markedly different from its religious origins.
Ascension DayFather's DayBerlinGermany
- The community policy might advise against overconsumption of beverages during the lively and predominantly secular celebration of Ascension Day and Father's Day, particularly in Berlin, to reduce the high number of traffic accidents associated with the tradition.
- The fusion of outdoor-living, fashion-and-beauty, and food-and-drink traditions can be observed during the annual "ham tour" on Ascension Day and Father's Day, with participants transporting their refreshments in barrows adorned with lilacs or birch branches.
- Ascension Day, a day that originally commemorated the ascension of Jesus Christ into heaven, now serves as an opportunity for men in Germany to indulge in social-media banter, entertain themselves, and perhaps even engage with celebrities and pop-culture discussions in between rounds of their traditional "ham tour."
- The environment, in terms of parks and fields, has been a significant part of both the historical solemn processions around Ascension Day and the modern, lively celebrations of Ascension Day and Father's Day in Germany.
- As the lifestyle of German men seems to revolve around the Ascension Day and Father's Day celebrations, home-and-garden enthusiasts might take note of the unique traditions and customs associated with this day, such as the "ham tour" and the adornment of barrows with lilacs or birch branches.
