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Berlin (dpa / bb) - Because of the corona pandemic, youth consecration celebrations are again canceled in Berlin and Brandenburg.
The youth consecration association Berlin / Brandenburg has already canceled all celebrations in April.
"How things will continue from May onwards will be decided in the coming weeks," said managing director Felix Fischeder of the German press agency.
For the celebrations in April, the association is therefore offering alternative dates in spring 2022.
Another organizer, the Humanist Association Berlin-Brandenburg, initially stuck to planned celebrations on May 29 in the Berlin Academy of the Arts and in Brandenburg.
In Berlin alone, 4,100 young people want to celebrate the so-called youth celebration at the Humanist Association this year, said project manager Anett Frontzek. Because all celebrations were canceled last year due to corona, the demand this year is higher than usual. Usually there are between 2,500 and 2,700 inquiries per year.
In recent years, the association has also held its celebrations in Berlin's Friedrichstadt-Palast.
This is not possible this year due to renovation work.
According to their own statements, 2,800 young people in Berlin and 2,200 young people in Brandenburg wanted to celebrate at the youth consecration association.
A total of 100 events are planned in both countries.
Because of the corona pandemic, all 70 festivals were postponed last year.
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If the celebration cannot take place this year either, both organizers are offering digital youth consecrations.
Both have recorded shows that the youngsters can watch at home with their family and friends.
The youth consecration is regarded as a secular counterpart to the Protestant and Catholic confirmation and invokes humanistic values.
The first non-religious celebrations of coming of age took place as early as the first half of the 19th century.
Because of the political abuse of the festival in the GDR, the number of participants initially fell after the fall of the Wall.
In the meantime, however, the youth celebrations are enjoying wide popularity again.
As a rule, the festival is celebrated in eighth grade.
© dpa-infocom, dpa: 210317-99-853720 / 2
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Youth consecration association Berlin / Brandenburg
Youth celebration Berlin