Why August 15 is a Holiday: Unpacking Assumption Day Celebrations!

The Assumption, celebrated every August 15, is an important date for Christians and Catholics as it honors the Virgin Mary. On this day, believers commemorate her bodily assumption into heaven. However, the day encompasses more than just this event for those of the faith…

What is the Assumption?

In religious terms, the Assumption refers to the belief that Jesus’ mother, Mary, was taken up body and soul into heavenly glory to live with God. Essentially, it marks the end of her earthly life. This event is described as Mary’s glorification with God. According to the Catholic Church in France, “for Mary, the Assumption is a continuation of her involvement in Jesus’ life.”

Why is the Assumption a public holiday?

The Assumption is a public holiday in France. This designation was made during the reign of Louis XIII. Around 1610, the French king longed for an heir to succeed him. After several unsuccessful attempts, his wife gave birth to the future King Louis XIV on September 5, 1638. This birth was perceived as a miraculous event. King Louis XIII credited the Virgin Mary for this miracle and established August 15 as a day of celebration in honor of Jesus’ mother and as a public holiday. Since then, the Assumption is one of the four legally recognized Christian holidays in France, along with Christmas, Ascension Day, and All Saints’ Day.

What is the origin of the Assumption?

On November 1, 1950, Pope Pius XII declared the Assumption as one of the dogmas of the Catholic Church with the following definition: “The Immaculate Virgin, preserved free from all stain of original sin, when the course of her earthly life was finished, was taken up body and soul into heavenly glory, and exalted by the Lord as Queen over all things, so that she might be the more fully conformed to her Son, the Lord of lords and conqueror of sin and death.” It is often questioned whether the Assumption of the Virgin Mary is mentioned in the Bible. The answer is that the Assumption is primarily a Christian belief, which is not explicitly detailed in the Bible.

What is the significance of the Assumption feast?

Etymologically, the term Assumption derives from the Latin word “assumptio”, which itself comes from assumere, meaning “to take up” or “to remove.”