Villagers in tiny Catholic corner of Germany celebrate Ascension Day with full …

By
Steve Robson

PUBLISHED:

15:36 GMT, 9 May 2013

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UPDATED:

17:10 GMT, 9 May 2013

Hundreds of villagers have gathered in traditional Bavarian costume to celebrate one of the most important dates in the Catholic calendar.

With religious flagpoles hoisted above their heads and dressed in their best lederhosen, men and women of all ages parade through their picturesque mountain villages to commemorate Ascension Day.

In contrast to the rest of Germany, Bavaria is heavily Catholic and the religious calendar plays a strong role in its deeply-ingrained folk traditions.

A rainbow appears over the fields and mountains adding further beauty to the Ascension Day celebrations

Ascension Day is an ecumenical feast that commemorates the ascension of Jesus Christ to heaven

Folklore costumes play a huge role in Bavarian life, more so than in any other state of Germany

Women wear a dirndl - a type of traditional dress worn based on the historical costume of Alpine peasants

Women wear a dirndl – a type of traditional dress worn based on the historical costume of Alpine peasants

Three young boys dressed in Bavarian folk costume carry a religious symbol in the Chiemsee region to commemorate Ascension Day

Men and women take part in the annual Ascension Day procession near Unterwoessen, Germany

Unlike the rest of Europe, much of Bavaria is heavily Catholic and the religious calender plays an important part in society

Folklore costumes play a huge role in Bavarian life, more so than in any other state of Germany.

The saying goes that: ‘Clothed in a dirndl or lederhosen you are always dressed to perfection.’

Worn by locals to traditional Bavarian festivities such as the hoisting of a maypole, the Oktoberfest or on church high days and holidays, Bavarian folklore costume is also popular at weddings, birthdays and anniversaries.

Tracht is the high-german word for costume, derived from ‘tragen’ (to wear) and originally denoting the costume of a certain class in a certain region at the then current time

Roman Catholicism was the sole established religion in Germany in the 15th century, but the Reformation changed this drastically.

In 1517 Martin Luther challenged the Catholic Church as he saw it as a corruption of Christian faith. The religious battles which followed defined European history and established modern Protestantism.

But Bavaria has remained one of the Catholic strongholds of the country. In fact, the recently resigned, Pope Benedict XVI, who served as head of the Catholic church from 2005 until February this year, was born in a Bavarian market town .

Pope Benedict XVI, who recently resigned, was born in Bavaria

Styles of Bavarian folk costume vary according to the celebration, the age of wearer and their social class

Germany became a largely protestant country following the Reformation movement in the 16th Century

Three boys wearing Bavarian folk costumes specific to the Chiemsee region of southern Bavaria carry a cross during the annual Ascension Day procession

Bavarian folk costumes specific to the Chiemsee region of southern Bavaria carry a cross during the annual Ascension Day procession

Roman Catholicism was the sole religion in Germany before it was challenged by Martin Luther who founded modern Protestantism

Ascension day is the 40th day of
Easter and commemorates the ascension of Jesus into heaven 39 days after
resurrection on Easter Sunday.

It is referenced in the Bible in Matthew 28:16-20, Mark 16:19-20, Luke 24:50-53 and Acts 1:6-11.

During
the forty-day period before he ascended into heaven, it is believed
that Jesus preached and intermingled with his apostles and disciples.

Today, Ascension Day is celebrated primarily by Catholics and Anglicans and celebrations include putting out the Easter candle, follwoed by processions with torches and banners and fruit and fruits and vegetables may be blessed in church.

Ten
days after Ascension Day is Pentecost (Whitsuntide) which commemorates
the coming of the Holy Spirit to the disciples and ends the cycle of
Easter related events in the Christian Calendar.

The costume includes extravagant colours and decorations specific to different villages of Bavaria

The saying goes that: 'Clothed in a dirndl or lederhosen you are always dressed to perfection'

The saying goes that: ‘Clothed in a dirndl or lederhosen you are always dressed to perfection’

Tracht is the high-german word for costume, derived from 'tragen' (to wear) and originally denoting the costume of a certain class in a certain region at the then current time

Tracht is the high-german word for costume, derived from ‘tragen’ (to wear) and originally denoting the costume of a certain class in a certain region at the then current time

Villagers gather in their costume for a religious ceremony as part of the Ascension Day parade