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Day 3 at the Hessentag in Fulda: A highlight of the day was the large ecumenical service on the cathedral square. We'll keep you up to date in our ticker.
+++ 1:53 p.m.: The traditional community breakfast of the student veterans' associations took place in front of the orangery. Colorful hats and ribbons dominated the picture. The orchestra of the Dirlos volunteer fire department provided the right sounds. At the start, around 120 visitors joined in with the student song “Here we are gathered for praiseworthy deeds”.
+++ 12:58 p.m.: Many thousands of people stroll through the city. Because of the state festival there is a Sunday open for shopping today from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Around 40 clubs want to make music on the city's stages and squares. “On Saturday evening there was a lively but peaceful celebration,” reports city spokeswoman Monika Kowoll-Ferger.
Church service, talks and public viewing characterize the Hessentag
“We are expecting another full, successful day on Sunday.” Anyone coming to Fulda by car for Hessentag should definitely follow the signs to one of the five large parking spaces, said the city spokeswoman. Free shuttle buses run from there. The day ticket costs ten euros.
+++ 12.33 p.m.: After the second day of the event, the East Hesse police headquarters in Fulda drew a positive conclusion. From the police perspective, Saturday was mostly quiet. The operations remained within the limits of what is considered normal for an event of this size. The officials report three incidents at the Hessentag in Fulda.
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+++ 11.50 a.m.: With the ceremonial moment of swearing in, everyone present at the swearing-in ceremony in the Esperanto Hall rises. The police candidates raise their hands and take their oath together to the Basic Law and the Hessian Constitution. Thunderous applause throughout the hall.
+++ 11.20 a.m.: In the Esperanto Hall, Prime Minister Boris Rhein (CDU) praised the Hessentag in Fulda as a successful state festival in his speech at the swearing-in ceremony of the police commissioner candidates. He had been on the road around the clock in the past few days.
Everywhere he felt the special atmosphere that the people in Fulda had created. Boris Rhein thanked him for organizing the Hessentag and expressly thanked Mayor Heiko Wingenfeld (CDU) and the Hessentag couple.
+++ 11.08 a.m.: The Hessentag service on the cathedral square in Fulda ended after a good hour, after the Hessentag song was played again at the end. The final sound was the ringing of the cathedral bells.
+++ 11.06 a.m.: Festive atmosphere in the Esperanto Hall: under the gaze of relatives, guests and guests of honor, the police candidates march into the hall in formation. The swearing-in ceremony at the Hessentag begins with their joint entry.
+++ 11 a.m.: The swearing-in of the commissioner candidates begins in the Esperanto Hall – traditionally one of the highlights of every Hesse Day. Interior Minister Roman Poseck (CDU) thanked the police officers in advance for their work at the state festival. The Esperanto hall is filled to capacity.
+++ 10:56 a.m.: Ethan Freeman sings the song “Salt of the Earth” from the musical Bonifatius. He is accompanied by Dennis Martin on piano and Peter Scholz on guitar. Bishop Gerber had previously appreciated the song: “In this way, cultural workers show us as churches what our core is.” Freeman's performance is a goosebumps moment.
+++ 10.35 a.m.: The press office of the diocese of Fulda estimates the number of participants in the ecumenical service on the cathedral square in Fulda to be more than 5,000 people. At the Boniface Festival there were 6,000 believers on the cathedral square. Bishop Hofmann emphasizes: “What connects us is more important than what sets us apart.”
She receives spontaneous applause for this. Gerber adds: “Division and hatred do not have the last word.” Gerber also received applause for admitting that it was a mistake not to appear together at LGS 2023. The churches learned from the realization that community could be expanded at that time.
Update from June 14th, 10:26 a.m.: The ecumenical Hessentag service on the cathedral square is underway. The motto song “In the Heart of One” was heard shortly after 10 a.m. Unity in diversity – Bishop Beate Hofmann and Bishop Michael Gerber called for a new form of community on Sunday morning.
Fulda – First report from June 14th, 9:02 a.m.: Today (June 14th) we are starting our news ticker with an editorial tip away from the big stages. Our editor Marcel Blumöhr recommends following this Hesse day approach in a playful way: during a cozy afternoon of games. In the middle of the meadow, in the open air and in a relaxed atmosphere.
The afternoon of games is on the program at the youth meeting point on St.-Laurentius-Straße under the motto “Sun, park and board games”. From 1 p.m., UNO, The Settlers of Catan or another game from the club's selection will be played on the grounds of the youth meeting point.
The games meeting offers a unique advantage: a game, on the other hand, brings everyone together at the same table. And experiencing community is the core of Hessentag.
The highlight of the official program is the ecumenical Hessentag service on the cathedral square at 10 a.m. Thousands of believers are expected. At 2 p.m., Bishop Beate Hofmann will also be a guest at the Parzeller media group stand. In the FZ Talk on the Blue Couch she answers questions from editor Andreas Ungermann.
Video: Hessentag in Fulda – this is what visitors can expect
And all football fans will also get their money's worth around the Germans' first World Cup game. The first of two World Cup evenings will take place on Sunday evening at the stand of the German Red Cross (DRK). Johannes Götze from Torgranate moderates short, relaxed discussion sessions.
Before the ball starts rolling at 7 p.m., there will be a cozy chat with Bundesliga player Paula Flach from 6:15 p.m. The 23-year-old was born in Pfordt and has already played more than 80 Bundesliga games for MSV Duisburg and currently SGS Essen.
In the immediate vicinity of the Parzeller pavilion at the rose garden, everything revolves around football on Sunday evening on the Hessischer Rundfunk (hr) stage. FZ sports director Steffen Kollmann will be at the microphone there from 5:30 p.m. until kick-off at 7 p.m. during the warm-up for the World Cup public viewing.
