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Assumption of Mary
August 15
Catholic churches in the U.S. celebrate the feast of the Assumption on August 15th each year to honor the belief that Jesus’ mother was taken to heaven.
Assumption Day is celebrated on or around August 15th in many countries, particularly in parts of Europe and South America.
Assumption Day commemorates the belief that when Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ, died, her body was “assumed” into heaven to be reunited with her soul, instead of going through the natural process of physical decay upon death.
Assumption Day is a public holiday in countries such as Austria, Belgium, Chile, Croatia, France, parts of Germany, Guatemala, Greece, Italy, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, and Switzerland. It is also celebrated in Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, the United States, and others, despite not being considered a public holiday. It is celebrated colorful processions, performances, pageants, and fireworks, but each region puts its own spin on celebrations.
Although the holiday goes by many different names — Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Dormition of the Most Holy Mother of God, and the Feast of the Assumption to name a few — it has been celebrated since the fourth century C.E.
In 1950, Pope Pius XII declared the Assumption of Mary official dogma of the Roman Catholic Church. The Catholic Church teaches that the Virgin Mary “having completed the course of her earthly life, was assumed body and soul into heavenly glory.”
