On August 15, the Feast of the Assumption (or simply, “The Assumption)” is widely celebrated all over Christendom. This holy day marks the occasion of the Virgin Mary’s bodily ascent to heaven at the end of her life. Assumption celebrations are accompanied by festivals, colorful street processions, fireworks, and pageantry. While a “feast” isn’t actually required, there is a longstanding tradition of blessing the summer harvest. There are even special “Assumption” recipes incorporated into family dinners. Sounds heavenly! The devoted light candles, attend masses, and say prayers for peace all over the world.
History of Feast of the Assumption
In the third and early fourth centuries AD, apocryphal (widely believed but not official) writings mused upon the Dormition/Assumption of Mary, none of them attaining the status of dogmatic belief. Then, in the fourth century, the bishop Epiphanius of Salamis wrote about the varying philosophies concerning the nature of the Virgin Mary’s passing on, identifying three factions of belief but remaining unable to establish a broad consensus. He concluded, “No one knows her end.” By the eighth century, an apocryphal text called the “Transitus Mariae” had become so generally accepted that John of Damascus was able to establish its storyline with the church as the official story from that point forward.
In the West, also in the eighth century, Pope Sergius I encouraged celebrations for the Feast of the Assumption, and Pope Leo IV confirmed the Feast as official.
The holiday has not only survived but also has thrived to this day, despite the church never having pointed to any concrete historical or explicit Biblical evidence (the Biblical citations being only metaphorical), nor fully admitting the story’s reliance on apocrypha.
Our advice? Whether you’re Catholic, or from another denomination, or not religious at all, go out to the street fairs and parades. God would certainly smile upon a loving, happy gathering of friends!