Go Dutch! Hemelsvaartsdag

The Dutch national holiday Hemelsvaartsdag, or known to Christians worldwide as Ascension Day, is traditionally celebrated by waking at the crack of dawn to tramp across the grass or cycle in nature before the morning's dew evaporates from the warmth of the sun. This folk custom called Dauwtrappen, or `Dew Treading,' reflects the old superstition that the May rain and dew possesses supernatural power, making the body healthy and beautiful. In the region on May 12, most shops will be closed. The holiday is the reason the UT Nieuws will be published one day earlier. Later on this day, in the city's Oude Market, join the 14-musician Jigger Bigger band, which will be performing with a repertoire varying from classic to modern.