Holy Days: Evelyn Burdecki und das Rätsel Christi Himmelfahrt

Easter, Ascension Day, Pentecost, Christmas—these holidays are among the most significant traditions in Germany, Europe, and many parts of the world. For many people today, however, religious holidays mean one thing above all else: a day off—ideally combined with a long weekend. TV star Evelyn Burdecki feels the same way. Over the years, she has lost her personal connection to Ascension Day. For her, it’s just another day off in May.

A clear case for holiday expert Gabriel Engel. He has made it his mission to help people appreciate the beauty, traditions, and stories behind Christian holidays.

On Ascension Day, he takes Evelyn Burdecki on a magical road trip through Germany—always accompanied by the question: What is actually being celebrated on this day? On their journey, they encounter a special bell-ringing tradition in the Bergisches Land, a floating Jesus in Bavaria, and, of course, handcarts. But what do Father’s Day tours and church steeples have to do with Ascension Day?

The search for clues ultimately takes Evelyn Burdecki on an extraordinary journey through time—to biblical Jerusalem, to the origins of the holiday.

Not every holiday needs to be actively celebrated. But the values and stories behind these traditions can move and inspire us. Whether Evelyn Burdecki unravels the mystery of Ascension Day and rediscovers the holiday for herself remains open until the very end.

A production by Dokness on behalf of MDR, BR, SWR, HR, NDR, Radio Bremen, RBB, and WDR 2026.