Ascension Day
Sunday, May 21, 2006
This Thursday is Ascension Day.
Signaling that Eastertide is coming to a close as we prepare for
Pentecost next Sunday, Ascension Day commemorates the bodily
Ascension of Christ into Heaven as witnessed by the Apostles forty
days after his resurrection from the dead. It is narrated in Mark
16:19, Luke 24:51, and in the first chapter of the Acts of the
Apostles. Although the place of the Ascension is not distinctly
stated, tradition holds that it was at Mount Olivet.
Always the Thursday between the Sixth and Seventh (final) Sunday of Easter; in some churches Ascension Day is commemorated on the subsequent Sunday.
In the Eastern Orthodox Church the Ascension is one of twelve Great Feasts and in Norway, Sweden, Germany and other countries, it’s a public holiday.
Like many events in Christianity, Ascension Day has it’s share of superstitions surrounding it. Here are but a few… According to Welsh traditions, it is unlucky to do any work on Ascension Day. An ancient belief held that the clouds always formed into the familiar Christian image of a lamb on Ascension Day. If the weather is sunny, the summer will be long and hot; but if it rains, crops will do badly and livestock will suffer. Eggs laid on this day will never go bad and will guarantee good luck for a household if placed in the roof (they’d better not go bad in that case). Rain collected on Ascension Day is said to be good for inflamed or diseased eyes. Those suffering from goiters should bite into the bark of a peach tree at midnight on Ascension Day.
Always the Thursday between the Sixth and Seventh (final) Sunday of Easter; in some churches Ascension Day is commemorated on the subsequent Sunday.
In the Eastern Orthodox Church the Ascension is one of twelve Great Feasts and in Norway, Sweden, Germany and other countries, it’s a public holiday.
Like many events in Christianity, Ascension Day has it’s share of superstitions surrounding it. Here are but a few… According to Welsh traditions, it is unlucky to do any work on Ascension Day. An ancient belief held that the clouds always formed into the familiar Christian image of a lamb on Ascension Day. If the weather is sunny, the summer will be long and hot; but if it rains, crops will do badly and livestock will suffer. Eggs laid on this day will never go bad and will guarantee good luck for a household if placed in the roof (they’d better not go bad in that case). Rain collected on Ascension Day is said to be good for inflamed or diseased eyes. Those suffering from goiters should bite into the bark of a peach tree at midnight on Ascension Day.