Exactly 39 days after Easter, this year on May 26, the church celebrates the Ascension Day festival every year. But what is really behind the holiday? RegionalMedien gives you an overview.
AUSTRIA. On the 40th day of the Feast of Easter, that is, 39 days after Easter Sunday and ten days before Pentecost, Catholics celebrate the Ascension of Christ. The feast day therefore always falls on a Thursday, but the date itself depends on that of Easter and is therefore variable. The earliest possible date is April 30th, the latest possible date is June 2nd. In most years, Ascension Day falls on dates in late May or early June.
return to God
The day dates back to the Acts of the Apostles and the Gospel of Luke. There it is reported that Christ appeared to the disciples forty days after his resurrection, after which he ascended into heaven and took his place at the right hand of God. Thus, on Ascension Day, the church celebrates the commemoration of Jesus Christ’s assumption into heaven, his victory over death, and his return to God.
Therefore, the number 40 is also considered sacred in Catholicism and is interpreted as an intermediate period before a new beginning: 40 days after Easter Jesus ascended to heaven, Lent also lasts 40 days before Easter.
since the 4th century
In church history, the holiday can be traced back to the 4th century – before that, it was probably celebrated with Pentecost, which took place nine days later. Around 370, Ascension Day finally asserted itself as an independent festival – the first written evidence exists for the year 383/384.
Ascension Day is celebrated today in the Roman Catholic Church, the Orthodox and Anglican Churches as a major festival and is therefore not just a holiday in Austria – including Switzerland, Germany, Belgium, Denmark, France and Liechtenstein, Luxembourg and Netherlands people are also free. The holiday has since been abolished in Italy, Poland and Hungary.
“Bitttage” and “Holy Spirit Hole”
Ascension Day is characterized in Austria by a less pronounced tradition than other holidays in the church calendar. There are also many regional differences. However, so-called “order days” are celebrated across the country. In these three days before Ascension Day, processions traditionally take place, asking for a good harvest.
In some rural areas, on Ascension Day, there is also a tradition of raising a statue of the risen Jesus through the so-called “Holy Spirit Hole” to the attic of the respective church. As far as food is concerned, “flying meat”, i.e. poultry, is often and happily eaten that day.
Church services on radio and TV
Anyone who wants to witness the holy knife on Ascension Day can also do so via radio or television. Here you will find an overview of upcoming services that will be broadcast live.
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