Since about the seventh century Christians celebrate the Roman Church of the Assumption, the admission of Mary into heaven. In the Eastern Church, the festival was introduced in the fifth century. In the Bible, the bodily Ascension is not mentioned, but Pope Pius XII. proclaimed in 1950 the biblical doctrine (dogma) that the mother of Jesus Christ was "received with body and soul into the heavenly glory" at her death.
Actually, according to the Catholic faith, the soul of a human continues to live after death, while the body is resurrected until the last day. Maria's physical admission to heaven is thus a special feature and symbolizes the redeemed human being. For Catholic Christians, the Assumption is the prelude to the 30 following Marientage, which are considered particularly beneficial. This phase is then completed with the name festival of Mary in September.
Where is the Assumption a public holiday?
As the only federal state, the Saarland has made the Assumption a national public holiday. Otherwise, even in large parts of Bavaria is job-free, more precisely: in 1704 of 2056 municipalities. These are the communities with a majority Catholic population. Even in big cities such as Munich, Würzburg or Augsburg, people can sleep in, the Nuremberg on the other hand must set the alarm clock. The basis for determining whether or not a holiday is valid in a community is the census according to the Bavarian holiday law.
As a result, some communities and their residents may lose or win a holiday over the years, depending on whether the number of Catholics is significantly decreasing or increasing. In 2014, based on the 2011 census, three Bavarian municipalities lost their holiday, seven gained it. Here you can look up, where in Bavaria at the Assumption is free of work.
In Austria, Assumption is a nationwide holiday. In Switzerland in several cantons, partly there but also depending on the municipality.
How is the party celebrated?
Assumption is an expression of the intense veneration of Mary in the Roman Catholic Church. Especially in rural areas, the holiday is celebrated with numerous folk and religious customs, such as flower and herb consecration and light processions. Because Mary is there as "the flower of the field and the lily of the valleys". This is also reflected in the holiday names "Büschelfrauentag" or "Unser Frauen Würzweih".
Legend has it that the apostles did not find a corpse when they opened their grave, but instead found flowers and herbs. The consecrations have been handed down since the ninth century. In the traditional herbal blessing more than 70 different herbs are collected, bound and then consecrated. Herb bouquets are often hung at home. They should protect against misfortune.