Ascension Day: History, Significance, Why and How to Celebrate Feast of the Ascension

Christians will celebrate Ascension Day, also called the Feast of the Ascension, on May 29, 2025. It is observed on the sixth Thursday following Easter or on the 40th day of Easter. This was the final day that Christ’s disciples saw him before he ascended into heaven. The Feast of the Ascension of Jesus Christ, also known as the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord, Ascension Day, Ascension Thursday, or Holy Thursday, commemorates Christians’ belief in Jesus Christ’s bodily ascension into heaven.

The 40th day of Easter is Ascension Day. It takes place 39 days following Easter Sunday. According to the Christian holiday, it is a celebration that honors the ascension of Jesus Christ into heaven.

Ascension Day, sometimes called the Feast of the Ascension, is a Christian celebration commemorating the moment that Jesus ascended into heaven. Along with the Passion, Easter, and Pentecost festivals, this feast day is one of the ecumenical feasts observed by Christian churches. Typically, Ascension Day falls on a Thursday, the fortieth day after Easter.

Jesus’ earthly mission and ascension to heaven in front of his disciples are not the only events commemorated on this day. It’s an important event that marks Jesus’ victory over death and his assurance that he will return.

Ascension Day, which concludes the Easter season, is one of the earliest Christian festivals. Catholics and Anglican Christians are the main celebrants of this event; the majority of Protestant churches no longer observe it. Additionally, the date varies depending on the region. While many Eastern Orthodox churches determine this day using the Julian calendar, Western churches prefer to use the Gregorian calendar. Consequently, their celebrations take place after the Western event.

Why Ascension Day Is Celebrated

For Christians, the ascension also signifies a turning point in history because it was at Pentecost that Jesus gave us the responsibility of sharing his teachings, assisted by the Holy Spirit.

Ascension Day is significant because it affirms Jesus’ permanent humanity and divinity, demonstrating his continued presence in Christians’ spiritual life. Echoing Jesus’ ascension, it gives Christians hope for their own resurrection and eternal life.

The idea that Jesus did not leave humanity behind when he ascended but rather made it possible for everyone to follow him into the eternal kingdom of heaven is strengthened by this celebration.

Ascension Day History

Since the early days of the Church, Ascension Day has been a major event in Christian liturgical history. Along with other significant feasts like Easter and Pentecost, Ascension Day is a significant event in the Christian calendar, having been observed since the 4th century.

The Ascension was once celebrated as part of Pentecost, but by the fourth century, it had evolved into a separate event that took place 40 days after Easter. The 40-day period reflects the time Jesus spent instructing his followers following his resurrection before ascending into heaven.

Ascension Day was celebrated in the Middle Ages with ornate liturgical processions that changed throughout time.

The Latin Church adopted these processions as a universal rite by the 8th and 9th centuries. Priests would bless the land since the people would frequently walk through fields and pastures in the processions, which represented a journey towards heavenly elevation.

During the High Middle Ages, dramatic representations of Jesus’ ascension and non-liturgical pageants started to replace liturgical observances.

The change reflected a trend toward religious events being expressed more theatrically and communally. Although these dramatic pageants were not formally approved by the Church, they became common folk traditions, especially in regions of Central and Western Europe.

The date of observance for Ascension Day has likewise changed. A custom that began to gain traction in the late 20th century, several churches have shifted the celebration from its traditional Thursday date to the following Sunday in order to accommodate more worshippers to participate.

As a result, the significance of Ascension Day as a commemoration of Jesus’ ascension and his promise of the Holy Spirit is reflected in its history. In many traditions and customs that have developed over centuries, it is a highly anticipated theme.

What Do People Do?

The official date of Ascension Day is Thursday, the 40th day of Easter, which is 39 days after Easter Sunday. For many workers, Ascension Day is a free day in nations where it is a public holiday. Since the day falls on a Thursday, many individuals take a long weekend off. The Friday in between is typically calm, especially in shops and offices. Despite the fact that Christianity is a minority religion in Indonesia, churches all around the country hold special services on Ascension Day, which is an official holiday.

Because many Protestant men have herrenpartien “outings” on Ascension Day, it is frequently referred to as Father’s Day in Germany. To listen to the birds at sunrise, a lot of people in Sweden head to the woods at three or four in the morning. Hearing a cuckoo from the east or west is auspicious. The term “early cuckoo morning,” or gökotta, refers to these jaunts.

Ascension Day in England is marked by several water festivals, from the Planting of the “Penny Hedge” in Whitby, a small Yorkshire town, to Well Dressing in Derbyshire. “Beating the bounds” is one of the other customs. Traditionally, it involved driving boys along parish boundaries while beating them with willow branches to teach them the boundaries of their parish and to rid them of evil.

Nowadays, it entails locals walking around their farm, manorial, church, or civil bounds, stopping as they approach specific trees, walls, and hedges that define the boundaries’ boundaries, to exclaim, pray, and ritually “beat” select landmarks with sticks.

Public Life

In the United States, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom, Ascension Day is not a federal official holiday. Some countries observe it as a public holiday, including:

• Austria
• Belgium
• Denmark
• Finland
• France
• Germany
• Indonesia
• Luxembourg
• The Netherlands
• Norway
• Sweden
• Vanuatu

In countries where Ascension Day is a public holiday, many businesses, including banks, schools, and government offices, are typically closed. In several nations where Ascension Day is a public holiday, public transportation may operate on a weekend schedule.

How to Celebrate Ascension Day

Host a Sky-Themed Gathering

Organizing an event that honors the sky is a fun way to commemorate Ascension Day. Consider using sky blue and cloud-patterned decorations.

You may even serve extremely flavorful meals; consider delicacies like cotton candy or meringues that have “heavenly” or “airy” themes.

Take a Hike

You can hike to the summit of a nearby hill or mountain to reenact Christ’s ascent. This provides both exercise and an opportunity to consider the spiritual journey. You might combine spiritual thought with exercise at the summit by reading Bible verses about the ascension.

Feathered Feast

Why do you include some delicacies with a bird theme in your celebration, because Ascension Day is historically associated with images of Jesus ascending, analogous to a bird taking flight? You might make recipes with poultry or create desserts in the shape of birds using cookie cutters.

Boundary Walks

Take part in the long-standing custom of “Beating the Bounds,” in which local communities go around the boundaries of their parishes. This might be an enjoyable approach to discover and engage with your local area​​.

Spiritual Reflections

Finally, on Ascension Day, think about launching a Pentecost Novena. In preparation for Pentecost, nine days of prayer are required. It prepares your heart for the upcoming celebrations and considers the gifts of the Holy Spirit.