Himmelfahrt: Division of public holidays in Bavaria - where is the day off?

Veröffentlicht:

Von:

Munich (dpa/lby)- The Catholic high festival of the Assumption of Mary again leads to a division within Germany, which concerns the relationship between different faiths in the communities. This holiday, which is celebrated in the predominantly Catholic regions of Bavaria, clearly represents the demographic differences between the different areas of the Free State.

unequal holiday regulations in Bavaria

On Thursday, the Assumption of the Assumption in Bavaria is a legal holiday, but not in all regions. Of a total of 2,056 municipalities in the Free State, 352 have to do without this holiday, which primarily concerns some Protestant districts. In Upper Franconia, only 46.3 percent and only 18.1 percent of the municipalities in Middle Franconia are Catholic dominant.

the city landscape and its differences

A split picture is also evident in the big cities: While the citizens enjoy the holiday in Munich, Augsburg, Würzburg, Regensburg and Ingolstadt on Thursday, it remains a normal working day in Nuremberg, Fürth and Erlangen. This shows how different the cultural customs and religious background shape the way of life of the population.

historical roots of the holiday

MARIÄ Himmelfahrt, officially also known as "Mariä admission to the sky", has its origins in a fourth century Marienfest, which was created in Syria. From there it spread over the east and developed into a festival that celebrates the head of the Jungfrau Maria. This long existes the deep cultural and religious traditions that are connected with it.

a mirror of society

The differences in public holidays raise questions about the social and religious dynamics. Especially in an increasingly multicultural society, it shows how important it is to take into account the variety of faiths. The holiday is not only a religious event, but also an indicator of the influence of faith communities on public life.

conclusion

The celebrations for the Assumption of Mary illustrate the cultural and religious division in Germany. Such holidays offer an opportunity to reflect on the ethnic and religious differences within society. It is to be hoped that these differences will also be seen as an opportunity to promote dialogue and interreligious understanding.