For many, Lord's Day heralds a long weekend. Some celebrate traditionally with handcarts, most are family members. Ascension Day also stands for special services.
Magdeburg (dpa/sa) - Saxony-Anhalt celebrated the Ascension Day with open-air services and other events. Excursions and activities with the family were also very popular on Thursday in mixed, windy weather. According to a spokesman for the Situation Center in the Ministry of the Interior, there were no big binges, riots or even fights until the early afternoon. "It's nothing. Everything is completely calm so far." He estimates that the holiday, also known as Men's, or Father's or Gentlemen's Day, is considered by most to be a "day for the family".
According to the Evangelical Church in Central Germany, forest clearings, meadows, palaces, castles, parks, gardens, ruins, mills and dykes became places of special worship and devotion. Baptisms and confirmations were also celebrated, and in some places people would have gathered for festivals and picnics, or went on foot or by bike.
In the cities, people went for walks, bike tours or events along the rivers or in the parks and gardens, for example on "Princess Day" in the Elbauenpark in Magdeburg. Party-loving groups of men in costumes and with handcarts were also part of the cityscape on Herrentag, as were well-stocked cafés, restaurants and ice cream parlors.
The Harz was also a destination for many. But the 1141 meter high Brocken summit presented itself to the numerous visitors from its uncomfortable side with almost 9 degrees and strong wind according to the webcam of Wernigerode Tourismus GmbH. After fog in the morning there was a good view of the surrounding area in the afternoon.
