in the us of climate change. for. what's in store. for the future. comes from a good city to the mall to get insight. into. i've. lived.

highly constat literally the city of saints. and the people here do indeed celebrate a long tradition of christianity some of the rituals practiced here go back hundreds of years on palm sunday the sunday before easter catholics from the central german town gather in precession to bear witness to the sufferings of christ. then 50 men carry these larger than life wooden figures through the town. on the 4th bearer and are forever from you bring my great grandfather was the 1st then my grandfather and my father my father. does a highlight for us a highlight for the whole town. a. sense 1581 catholics have been staging this holy week procession and highly. it resembles a passion play each palm sunday they carry huge figures around the town center

portraying the sufferings of christ. jesuits introduced the tradition as part of their strategy to subvert the attraction of the protestant reformation in the region. deposited on the list the procession is really remarkable because it has survived told a vicissitudes of history you were stunned in like moment secularization and superiors that the pope described as godless dictatorships. it's a very strong christian. unwitnessed from a small region at the heart of germany in bushland. today the passion procession of highly is one of the largest in the country. this will represent the mount of olives where jesus prayed the night before his crucifixion here in central europe olive trees are a rare commodity. so the builders make do with the french as

a few trees. we traditionally use huge trees because there's lots of them growing around here they are also very decorative very nice and green. which will include. the more than. the huge tree branches that represent all of branches from the holy mountain are a popular keepsake. do you were insisting everyone wants to take one home and it's an old tradition to which the palm sunday branch is behind the crucifix in your sitting room there they stay there all year this sometimes leads to a regular free for all with people fighting over the last branches so we make sure to put lots of them on or display them day when we dismantle everything they'll be none left. the figures are stored in the attic of the old jesuit college the piano tab depicting the virgin mary holding the body of her dead son

was replaced 120 years ago. some of the other figures date back to the 16th century they are carefully preserved and have been spared the ravages of time. most of my macpro on the 1st time i took part in the early 1980 s. they had predicted rain that had rained so hard when we carrying the figures we can't really take a step to the side so we just marched straight through all the puddles on the arms and got so wet you could hear our shoes squelching what a mess that's. been there is retiring this year his sunday shot is said to take over his role in the procession that's the tradition here but 1st he needs a top hat. with. a do you happen to have a spare top hat for our son ben. also it will be our look through what we've got not found 3 because. all platform bearers wear their sunday best black suits and top hats those. are not it this is

a top pair of my grandfather used to wear. over par seen a few downpours because the majority is too big for me you keep slipping around on my head this is what it is too big line it with newspaper. and never help but if it doesn't fit richard we have to find another one. not on. the thought of believe it belonged to my wife's grandfather. you know it's too small for me but i think it should fit richard they're going to think it would help us will issue or in this case hat fit. this is where the procession is set to start on sunday get hard boda knows the way he will be in the front row carrying the 1st figure your game 1st we'll head up that way towards the 1st intersection. and then turn right towards bill him.

through. it's the same route the procession has followed for centuries one and a half kilometers through the streets of halligan stat. and here i think this is bill himself will be coming from up here in procession and head this way across getting us taza want to live in l.a. . and then back to our starting point where the closing service takes place. another palm sunday tradition and highly constat at the little boxes that held the shot of paints. this is so often that it's a very old custom here in that we always give each other little boxes after the palm sunday for session will be a pity if that custom disappeared from. the boxes our beloved souvenirs from highly constat next to the one she painted herself to also keeps many historical examples in her museum the stamford though and these were painted between 100-8910

. very simple. this autumn was covered with thinned paint and you know these symbolize palm fronds and each box was decorated with a bouquet of flowers and a little saying. paul 40 years ago she brought this half forgotten tradition back to life. the young boys young men would resent responses to their sweethearts only when the girls approval that way and parents would give them to their children in that case there were always sweet sayings on the box like god bless you wish them. though it's so lovely here they're sharing. the museum has visitors year round the motif of the easter lamb is a best seller held a shot of 1st painted the box like this for the late cardinal meisner archbishop of cologne. caught

a cardinal gave it to somebody else. it's a moment irish held at 1st i thought he didn't like it but then i realized he wouldn't make a present of something you didn't like yourself one time come it does. and then he told me he'd given it to his best friend cardinal ratzinger now you don't say. but yes and then cardinal minds now received a new one requirement since then i've often painted the pascal lamba them up there's no record of whether cardinal ratzinger took the box with him when he moved into the palace of the vatican as pope benedict the 16th either way held the shutter is quite pleased. cousteau's still remains does the good shepherd and the good shepherd looks after his change of people image. and the lamb is both the separate fish a lamb the victorious lamb. in recent years

a novelty has crept in among the boxes. how did the luther rose find its way to this very catholic town. right holes in cindy if english and consumed thousands of lutheran christians were formally invited to a palm sunday perception before that they don't really ever been spectators. since then they join in so i thought that much to be a special thanks for the lutheran history because that's why i had to sign this box this week of the wish that it. made while at the shrillness home we've gathered a few top hats let's see which of them fits you us 20 year old richard still in there wants to follow in his father's footsteps and assume the family's office as one of the ceremonial platform bearers not. the time to find out if one of the hats they borrowed actually fits. but this one's a bit too small isn't it. for some 32 years carried the

last figure in the perception the holy step of her formal dress has always been a military. finally the 4th that they try fits but it's his father's will have to share it is once the entire. just as they'll share the route father paul plans to take over for his son on the 2nd leg of the procession. but he did not i think you'll manage until getting us toss a. downhill hamster and i'll carry it the rest of the way you'll say you'll be flagging by that. country can you get in for the moment the youngster seems confident enough sports assume you're from someone some standing next the holy settled or leaving the house to join the procession i think it will feel a little special i imagine what it must be like to walk through town while people point instead of course they whisper to each other in reverence oh joke one of the

barriers of the disney air force the course you can tell when you're being stared at. you dressed in his finest sunray shard is ready to carry on the family legacy. and. me feel proud is a fine thing and i think it's wonderful that you're doing this. his father is brimming with pride. as we look at how you've grown up. the whole precession is organized by families and like the spinners but there's one exception to the rule since 1943 men from the neighboring village of best housing have been responsible for the 4 metre high cross. that 1000 lies just 5 kilometers east of haile constat. for decades your highness trialing and after him his son angle that have been crossed bearers. just imagine

help carry it across a mist affirmative to those who served for us it's an honor to be part of the procession. the involvement of best housing was a result of the 2nd world war. many residents of heineken start were at the front and there weren't enough strong men left to carry the figures. so the dean wrote a letter to the parish priest at best house and asking for support the men from vest house and volunteered to carry the cross years later when the men of highly can start wanted to take it back the volunteers were reluctant to hand it over. to new york. we had a meeting and discussed the situation and we decided we're not going to relinquish the honor we received. the letter and we were good enough during the war we were good enough afterwards. to do. that i thought my father often

told us that the men of best house and what dead against it and i'm glad they were . 12 men are not families we all agree we should carry on bearing the cross instead of giving it back. to. their determination paid off that trialing took over the cross from his father in 1906 my father said he'd been carrying the cross for 40 years he asked if i wanted to take it over of course i did you know. i stayed closer kept an eye on. that i was carrying it the right way it's not easy and fast you have to fall in line with the other bearers and take direction from the men who've been doing it for years. it's tricky when you're standing at the back trying to balance it out. growth across lanes to one side the people on that side have to push against it and

you push against them this is and sometimes it's not the weight of the cross that's the hard part it's the guy next year pushing the wrong direction award we never dropped it into. the procession was introduced by jesuits who were sent to the area over 4 centuries ago by the archbishop of mines ruler of the territory. these jesuits got creative as they went about spearheading the counter-reformation. media i will be your desire they took what we would call a multimedia approach they were the best instruments at the disposal of the catholic church and the passion perception was part of their program they turned it into a mess deck tickle me talking to mom. it was to be a spectacle on good friday the day christ was crucified. but the locals objected to the proposed to date. that was a good friday is

a holy day of obligation for catholics we eat one meal all day and we're not allowed mate so they couldn't sell sausages and the fasting rules for many other things of the day isn't suitable for a big public spectacle because it commemorates the sufferings of christ so the procession happens on palm sunday instead of the times and definitely since the date was changed to palm sunday and 734 the procession has been enormously popular and to keep it that way the local people were prepared to defend their profession by all means at their disposal. the nazis forbade school children to accompany the holy sepulcher but 8 young boys defied the order. and he. described this as the greatest disappointment of his life caused by the very people who were supposed to play a key role in constructing the 1000 year reich of. people to defy nazi ideology the boys were sent to

a hitler youth prison camp in baghdad where they suffered physical violence and were interrogated for coalition. for heat away you could view this as a form of resistance in the 3rd reich as the utah position. and attempts to suppress the parade didn't stop there after the end of the war this was soviet occupied territory former provost paul you. tells an anecdote about his predecessor in 1946 when he feared the procession would be banned he turned to the soviet commander. you know. the commander of been a theater director in russia. and so of course he was interested in drama. when the provost knew this when he played on the man simply describing the procession as a holy play. he said it was no demonstration it was a melodrama if you would many participants he was asked 6000.

commander was very impressed and how many acts yes if not accurate scenes was the answer. for. the day after the procession the man was summoned by the soviet commander. with his knowledge of the world the last thing the provost wanted before he left was a hearty breakfast they knew these appointments could take time and he wasn't sure whether he was going to be praised or reprimanded. he was praised. and the incident became part of highly constat history. afterwards the east german communists never dared to ban the procession. but they did punish those who collaborated. especially the bearers.

march keep between many other people who held important positions had to decide for themselves whether it was worth taking part in the procession or not especially in the final years when east germany was particularly weak and pressure in the factories and collectives increased the between christians couldn't even get a master's certificate anymore. in those communist years taking part in the procession was a bold declaration of one's face. to part for the 1st time in the mid 1980 s. despite the political repercussions he would face. demonstrated that i was committed to my faith that i hadn't bought into socialism. the. procession let me show that quite openly. but that meant that i wouldn't be allowed to study. or i'd wanted to become

a forest ranger but all of a sudden i was caught off. i was pushed out of the system or and. in spite of the discrimination they suffered this small region remained a bastion of faith. 80 percent of the population is catholic. doesn't work vice squad whether in the 3rd reich or later under communism what is the perception always was an expression of resistance just an invite this was their way of telling the regime that it hadn't succeeded in getting the whole region to accept the new ideology they didn't need anybody else's worldview they had their own given the choice between marx and god they chose gods for god. highly constat on the sunday before easter the day of the passion procession its 12 noon how the shutter is arranging the palm sunday boxes on her table. or to spend sunday as palm

sunday is an important day for this region and even people from far away know about it many will come through the weather is perfect the sun is shining so that means even more than joining the given the whole this not nearly as often very. 1230 had still not dresses for the procession today he will assume an honorary office in every sense of the word to march in the procession as one of the bearers of the holy several car is a high accolade and high like and start. a child will inherit the office from his father as custom dictates. today he will become part of a 400 year old tradition. it's an emotional occasion. for 50 men in formal dress will be the heroes of the day the super rich or do you want to begin fung affairs i'll carry from the start it's ok i so here's how i share the load richard of all carry the holy cephalic are down. then i'll take over

and go to guns taza and little knowledge and others that no. 1 o'clock thousands of pilgrims and tourists crowd into the town. by that that's all running according to plan no change is the same as a. every year. the bears from best 1000 take up their positions at the cross it's not the heaviest load but it's the hardest to carry. the holy step occurs decorated with flowers the spill ners father and son are starting to feel the tension. all of this is your 1st i hope i don't step on your feet by the way if you do after the 3rd time you have to polish my shoes afterwards . how this shot has painted boxes are attracting potential customers. a colorful memento of a very special occasion of course as all of the thought behind. on the stroke of 2

the procession starts with him and prayers the fateful march through highly constat . only after the 1st figures have covered a 3rd of the route is it time for ryszard to start. the holy step occur as the final scene. and weighing $320.00 kilos it's the heaviest. talking i saw of the man with saves all kinds and they stayed on main street removing all the guns i don't know coercing the old hymns the time to actually son in church anymore oh and if you look at the people who will seize and hold variant perhaps songs and this everybody is moving toward. when i say that procession pseudo hearts and as most impetus to want to fight back the tears with sister kate

and from. the vast 1000 men are proud to be carrying the cross. and albert drying has taken his father's place. with it's uplifting when you see that you're part of this whole community. 8000 people have joined the procession today. another 4000 lined the streets. for the unretouched on their shoulders and the shoulders of 11 other men. the holy sepulture a heavy burden. his father is waiting to take over but young restart isn't ready to quit yet. 8 tenths of a kilometer now he's not handing over this is just

a short pause. 1.2 kilometers hasn't he had enough. everything going to start finish now there won't be any handover the war god with all my vote i knew he wouldn't give up i knew it all along he told me he wanted to see israel's. fault. the passion procession is punishing for the bearers but it's a burden they carry with pride across 1500 meters whole budget and at some point i didn't want to hand over i told myself i had to finish i think he's even happier about it than i am oh well richard. it hurts like a sell out such as this for me i would you know take over you wouldn't exact this list of names when i wanted to finish 1st so you did this now you are worthy of the orders. richard wants to take over permanently it's not handed over to me.

all you're gonna. get up. to. the palm sunday procession is more than a spectacle or a custom. for the people of highly constat it's a declaration of their faith. it was a still involve your mother procession is always the same that's the spirit of tradition it expresses a certain continuity when you see that christianity is still alive here there is still catholics here. the church is a not empty there are people who want to demonstrate their faith that is by the airport we are or by the fact that we've been chosen. to carry the figures through the time. when i'm president of the people. it all they believe the procession will survive another 100 years so i'm certain of it just different george.

again.

before. they were mutated into a nameless mass of their bodies mere tools the history of the slave trade is africa's history to describe something beautiful color and profit from it into an entire continent into chaos and violence the 18th century and its rebellions the new frontiers of slavery the last part of our series slavery routes. in 50 odd juggling of.

the global corona crisis you can find more information online at the w dot com don t w social media channels. my 1st boss moses sewing machine. icon for all women are almost by this motion miss something as simple as learning how to write a bicep those isn't. since i was in the room but i wanted to have a bicycle off my home but it took me as the display there's. finally the game bob invention by me and i said that but returns because sewing machine sewing i suppose was more appropriate for goes than writing i'm biased as knowledge i want to meet

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this is d.w. news live from berlin using tech to tackle the coronavirus german developers are working on a new smartphone app that will warn people if they've been close to someone who's tested positive for covert 19 also on the show americans brace for a tough week ahead u.s. president. of the death toll from corona virus.