As we all have noticed, we have been having many national holidays lately, like Ascension Day. However, must of us might not know why this is considered a holiday and what the day actually celebrates. Therefore, this article will discover the origin and festivities of Ascension Day.
Ascension Day is one of the first Christian festivals, first celebrated in 68 after Christ. The day is known as the 40th day of Easter, meaning it always occurs 38 days after Easter Monday. It is the day that celebrates Jesus’ ascension to heaven, according to the Christian belief. The New Testament in the Bible states that Jesus Christ met a couple of times with his disciples between Easter and Ascension Day, where he was instructed on how to carry out his teachings. Jesus Christ took his disciples to the Mount of Olives, to allow them to watch his ascend to Heaven.
Ascension Day always occurs 10 days before Pentecost, and is usually celebrated on a Thursday, coinciding with the phases of the moon. The day celebrates Christ’s ascend to heaven, and in some countries, the chase of the devil. The devil was supposed to be captured on the streets and then dunked in a pond or burned in effigy. This is symbolic to Messiah’s triumph of the devil when the kingdom of heaven was opened to all believers.
There are many superstitions that are believed on Ascension Day, like in England, where it is said that eggs laid on this dat never go bad and will bring good luck if a household places it on the roof of their house. In Devon, it was believed that the clouds always form the shape of a lamb on this day.