Totensonntag
Encyclopedia
Totensonntag also called Ewigkeitssonntag (Eternity Sunday) is a German
religious holiday
observed mainly in Lutheran churches.
made his cabinet pass a decree that stated all Lutheran churches in the areas under Prussian rule had to observe the last Sunday before Advent
as a "general celebration in memorial of the deceased". Other churches outside of Prussia followed, eventually, as well.
, have special provisions, classifying Totensonntag either as a memorial day or a "silent day" which implies special restrictions. Depending on the state, music may not be played in public venues or only at certain hours.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
religious holiday
Holiday
A Holiday is a day designated as having special significance for which individuals, a government, or a religious group have deemed that observance is warranted. It is generally an official or unofficial observance of religious, national, or cultural significance, often accompanied by celebrations...
observed mainly in Lutheran churches.
History
In 1816, King Frederick William III of PrussiaFrederick William III of Prussia
Frederick William III was king of Prussia from 1797 to 1840. He was in personal union the sovereign prince of the Principality of Neuchâtel .-Early life:...
made his cabinet pass a decree that stated all Lutheran churches in the areas under Prussian rule had to observe the last Sunday before Advent
Advent
Advent is a season observed in many Western Christian churches, a time of expectant waiting and preparation for the celebration of the Nativity of Jesus at Christmas. It is the beginning of the Western liturgical year and commences on Advent Sunday, called Levavi...
as a "general celebration in memorial of the deceased". Other churches outside of Prussia followed, eventually, as well.
Special protection
Totensonntag is a protected holiday in all German states. The holiday laws of all federal states, with the exception of HamburgHamburg
-History:The first historic name for the city was, according to Claudius Ptolemy's reports, Treva.But the city takes its modern name, Hamburg, from the first permanent building on the site, a castle whose construction was ordered by the Emperor Charlemagne in AD 808...
, have special provisions, classifying Totensonntag either as a memorial day or a "silent day" which implies special restrictions. Depending on the state, music may not be played in public venues or only at certain hours.
Further reading
- Karl-Heinrich Bieritz: Das Kirchenjahr. Feste, Gedenk- und Feiertage in Geschichte und Gegenwart; Beck’sche Reihe, 447; München: Beck, 20054; ISBN 3-406-47585-X