For other meanings see Ascension (disambiguation)

The Ascension is one of the great feasts in the Christian liturgical calendar, and commemorates the bodily Ascension of Jesus into Heaven forty days after his resurrection from the dead. The event is recorded in the New Testament in Acts Chapter 1. In the Eastern Orthodox Church the Ascension is one of twelve Great Feasts.

Ascension Day is always a Thursday; in some churches (especially in the United States) it is commemorated on the subsequent Sunday (the Sunday before Pentecost). The three days before Ascension Thursday are sometimes referred to as the Rogation days (and the previous Sunday as Rogation Sunday). In some countries (e.g. Scandinavia or Germany) it is a public holiday; Germany also holds its Father's Day on the same date.

The term is also used to refer to the disappearances into heaven of Enoch and Elijah.

Date

Dates of Ascension Day in various years:

• 2005: May 5
• 2006: May 25
• 2007: May 17
• 2008: May 1
• 2009: May 21
• 2010: May 13
• 2011: June 2

Superstitions

According to Welsh superstition, it is unlucky to do any work on Ascension Day.

In Devon, it was an ancient belief that the clouds always formed into the familiar Christian image of a lamb.

If the weather is sunny, the summer will be long and hot; but if it rains, crops will do badly and livestock, especially cattle, will suffer from disease.

Eggs laid on this day will never go bad and will guarantee good luck for a household if placed in the roof.

Rain collected on Ascension Day is said to be good for inflamed or diseased eyes.

Those suffering from goitre should bite into the bark of a peach tree at midnight on Ascension Day, so that the disease passes to the tree and the sufferer is cured.

Gifts to the blind or lame made on this day are sure to be rewarded with great wealth within the following twelve months.

External link

• Dictionary of the History of Ideas: Cosmic Voyages