What Is Ascension Day In France: France, like many other countries, celebrates Ascension Day as a public holiday. This means that all government, school, and business offices are closed on this day.
Since Thursday is a holiday, many businesses and schools choose not to open again on Friday. This means that people have a longer weekend vacation. Because of this, students look forward to Ascension Day, especially since it comes after Easter and gives them four days off.
Since Ascension Day is always on a Thursday, a lot of French people choose to do what is called “faire le pont.” When it comes to French public holidays, this word means taking an extra day off, usually on a Friday or Monday, to make up for the time between the holiday and the weekend. This makes the weekend longer. People can take a longer break this way, which makes for a four-day weekend.
Use the year 2013 to show how this idea works. The academia, which is the group in charge of education in the Toulouse region, only lets students go back to school for two days: May 6 and May 7. The start of their weekend was on May 8, which is also known as Victory in Europe Day. That’s why a five-day weekend was nice for a lot of students in 2013.
Ascension Day: History and Christian Meaning in France
The Latin word ascendere means “to rise, to climb.” This is where the word “ascension” comes from. This word has a lot to do with how the New Testament talks about Jesus’ Ascension. Christians believe that Jesus and the eleven apostles went to heaven on this important day, which falls on the same day as Easter. This event took place exactly 40 days after the resurrection.
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The Ascension of Jesus marks the end of his work among people on earth, according to the Christian Church. He is still alive in our hearts, though, and Pentecost Sunday honors him by showing the Holy Spirit coming down on Jesus’ disciples.
In Christian art, the first pictures of the Ascension were made in the sixth century, which is also when the festival of the Ascension began. At this event, there was often a march through Jerusalem that ended at the Mount of Olives, which is where Jesus was first arrested.
There are many poetic descriptions of Jesus’ Ascension in the Gospel, but the best ones are in Acts of the Apostles and the Gospel of Luke.
Why is Ascension Day a public holiday in France?
This is one of the most important holy days for Christians. What do you know about its history? Where did it come from? Why is it a holiday in France? Give us a chance to teach you.
Along with Easter, the Ascension is another holiday called All Saints’ Day. We talk about where this religious holiday came from and how it has changed over time. It is a public holiday in France and is usually celebrated forty days after Easter Sunday. The exact date changes every year, but it always falls on a Thursday, which lets some French people visit the famous Ascension Day bridge.
For example, the Ascension is on August 15. The word “ascension” comes from the Latin word “ascension,” which means “to go up to.” Christians celebrate the Ascension feast to remember when Christ went to heaven and will live forever. The Bible says that forty days after Easter, after being killed and then rising from the dead, Jesus rose from the dead and disappeared in front of the apostles. People have known about this event since the fourth century, but Pope Leo I the Great was the first person to honor it.
Ascension Day In France. What Is It And What Do People Do?
In France, Ascension Day is a public holiday, so only plan to get a little done.
Businesses can decide to close or work fewer hours on certain days. In big cities like Lyon, Montpellier, and Paris, grocery stores and bakeries may still be open. At the same time, though, important services like hospitals and police continue to run normally.
Transit, like buses and some trains, may have to follow a different, less frequent schedule. Many places, like banks, post offices, and even some restaurants, are closed on this day.
While students are off for four days on Ascension Day, which is always a Thursday, this is called “le Pont,” or the bridge. It’s called the “Bridge of Ascension” or “Pont de L’Ascension.” A lot of workers also take advantage of the four-day weekend.
You can see all of France’s holidays, celebrations, and school breaks on this page, which has dates and a full timeline.
You can learn more about France’s other national holidays in May and why there might be better months to visit if you’re interested.
How is Ascension Day celebrated?
A lot of different traditions and holidays are held to honor Ascension Day:
When you put out the Easter (Pascha) candle:
On Ascension Day, the Easter candle, which is also called the Paschal candle, is put out.
Prayers and blessings:
At some celebrations, people may walk with torches and banners.
People can bless fruits and vegetables at church ceremonies.
The Holy Day of Needs:
The Catholic Church has to celebrate the Feast of the Ascension as a holy day. This means that everyone religious has to go to Mass on this day.
Easter’s relationship with
Ten days after Ascension is Pentecost, which is also called Whitsuntide. In the Christian calendar, this event marks the end of Easter celebrations and the coming of the Holy Spirit to the disciples.
That’s interesting information.
There is a day in Germany when both Ascension Day and Father’s Day happen at the same time. In this eighteenth-century tradition, which comes from Ascension Day parades in small towns, fathers are given prizes.
Things people do on Ascension Day:
An old English tradition connects things that are going to happen with the weather on Ascension Day. If it’s sunny, it means that summer will be warm; rain means that the harvest will be bad, and animals may get sick.
Traditions of Ascension in France
It has been celebrated in France since Napoleon Bonaparte made it a public holiday in 1801.
Before the French Revolution, Christian festivals were an important part of life in both cities and the countryside. During the revolution, people tried to replace these holidays with completely new, secular ones, but they failed. Napoleon Bonaparte and Pope Pius VII signed the Concordat in 1801. It brought back four Christian holidays to the French calendar: Christmas, the Ascension, the Assumption of Mary, and All Saints’ Day. France still takes these four days off from work, even though Church and State were split up in 1905.
This holiday happens once a year, from April to June. Many French people extend their weekend by starting it two days early, which is called the “Ascension Bridge.” The “Ascension Bridge” seems to be becoming a tradition, but other holidays can be celebrated when time permits. In France, a lot of government offices and town halls that provide a range of city services are closed on Fridays. All French students are affected by this practice, which is now part of the school calendar. It even affects students who go to schools that have classes on Saturday mornings. After Ascension Thursday in April 2015, the ministry said that all French schools would be closed for two days. This started in the spring of 2016.
What happens in Ascension Day?
The Feast of the Ascension of Jesus Christ (also called the Solemnity of the Ascension of Jesus Christ, Ascension Day, Ascension Thursday, or sometimes Holy Thursday) commemorates the Christian belief of the bodily Ascension of Jesus into Heaven.
Jesus showed up to his followers one last time on the 40th day after Easter. On Ascension Day, people remember when Jesus went to heaven. It always takes place on this day of the week, so it’s also called Holy Thursday or the Feast of the Ascension.
On his last visit, Jesus told his disciples that he would always be with them and that they would be given the Holy Spirit as a gift. This important event took place on the Mount of Olives, where the disciples are said to have seen Jesus go up to heaven. The act of rising to a higher level is called Ascension.
What happens on 18th May in France?
Thursday May 18th marks the Christian feast of Ascension – which means a day off work and a chance to ‘faire le pont’.
Thursday is always Ascent Day, a day to remember when Jesus went to heaven. People in France celebrate the event with a meal of chicken or lamb and fresh spring vegetables. It is a good idea to check out what’s going on in your area since some places have cultural or sporting events on the weekends.
On Ascension Day, most cafes and restaurants are open, but many of them close earlier than usual. A long weekend is made possible by taking the day off between the holiday and the weekend. This holiday is one of the first chances to “faire le pont” this year. Because of this, hotels and travel plans are likely to fill up quickly, and prices may go up during this time.
What is closed in Paris on Ascension Day?
Museums are not (the Louvre is open but if you intend on going to a smaller museum, check the website). Public transport may be on a holiday schedule (ie not as frequent). I think some of the real touristy places will be open (eg, along Champs-Elysees), but smaller shops and department stores will be closed.
and other businesses are closed. In places that only get a few tourists, cafes and restaurants might be closed. But bakeries and some shops are still open in Paris, at airports and train stations, and along major roads. Keep in mind that some small businesses might shut down in the days after Ascension Day. Most of the time, these places are open on Fridays and Saturdays.
At this point, public transportation schedules may be different depending on where you’re going and how long you plan to be there. Some small towns and villages might have cultural or athletic events on Ascension Day and the weekend after, which could make it harder for people to get around.
Is the Eiffel Tower open on Ascension Day?
Everything is open on Ascension Day (subject to availability): cruises on the Seinevisits to Paris by sightseeing bus, the must-see monuments as Eiffel Tower (attention, almost complete) or the view from the Arc de Triomphe or the view on Paris from the Montparnasse tower.
Sortiraparis has some great ideas for how to spend an extra day off if you want to make the most of the Ascension Day holiday in Paris on Thursday, May 18, 2023. There is something for everyone, including shopping, museum visits, and leisurely walks.
The Atelier des Lumières’s “Chagall, Paris-New York” is a unique and impressive show. The photos in the article make the recommendation more interesting to look at.
Ascension Day is an excellent opportunity to explore Paris’s thriving cultural scene; the article suggests visiting ten popular exhibitions over the long weekend. Whether you’re interested in art, history, or contemporary displays, you’ll find plenty of options.
The article’s goal is to direct readers to the most interesting exhibitions among the many options available, allowing them to make the most of their Ascension weekend in Paris, which runs from Thursday, May 18, to Sunday, May 21, 2023.
Are shops closed in Paris on Ascension Day?
As you probably know, Ascension day is a public holiday in France. This means that most (but not all) shops will be closed. Make sure you check out what’s open before you go out!
The Ascension is a weekly event that always occurs on Thursday, exactly forty days after Jesus’ resurrection.
This occurs after Jesus is crucified on Good Friday and resurrected three days later. The Ascension marks the end of Jesus’ earthly ministry, as well as His Ascension to Godhood.
The Ascension of Jesus occurred on the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem. Jesus blessed his apostles before ascending into the sky. He promised them that he would always be present, even if the Holy Spirit made him invisible. Pentecost is the day when the Holy Spirit is celebrated; it occurs exactly fifty days after Easter.
In France, Ascension Day is usually celebrated over a bank holiday weekend. Most public services are closed from Thursday to Sunday during this period. Furthermore, due to a smaller workforce, many shops and offices may close on Friday or operate with fewer employees.
Ascension Day is a significant religious holiday because it commemorates Jesus’ Ascension to heaven following his crucifixion and resurrection. Many countries commemorate and mark this pivotal day in Christian theology, demonstrating the event’s global significance.
The United States, Canada, Germany, and the Netherlands are among the countries commemorating Ascension Day. According to the New Testament, the celebration typically takes place forty days after Easter Sunday. Christians believe that Jesus was carried to heaven on this day, accompanied by his followers.
Ascension Day is observed through a variety of religious rituals and practices, including church services, processions, and special prayers. It is time to pause and reflect on the divine meaning of Jesus’ death and resurrection promise.
Ascension Day is celebrated all over the world, highlighting its importance in the Christian faith. It brings Christians from all over the world together to commemorate and recall the event that altered the fundamental beliefs of Christianity.
