Day 36 Eibelstadt - rest day

The rain from yesterday and last night cleared and we've had a sunny day here in Eibelstadt. 

Today is Christi Himmelfahrt, Ascension Day, a public holiday in Germany which is celebrated in two ways as it's also Father's Day. 

We went to Mass in Katholische Pfarrkirche St Nikolaus. It was a very formal Mass with about twenty altar servers, great organ music and much singing.   

Katholische Pfarrkirche St Nikolaus.

Mass ended with a procession through town, complete with a brass band. Most of the congregation were in the procession, as we were too, but I couldn't walk the whole route.

At one stage the procession stopped for prayers and singing ...and a little girl scattered rose petals.

As I couldn't keep up with the procession we wandered off towards our accommodation and the procession passed us. 

The Father's Day aspect of the public holiday involves men, fathers or not, getting out and enjoying the outdoors, often complete with decorated carts full of beer.

A German website questions the two different ways this public holiday is celebrated:

Some random photos of Eibelstadt:

The Rathaus. 

Some Eibelstadt ladies.