05/16/2026
This Sunday is Ascension Sunday and is the day we celebrate the Feast of the Ascension, commemorating Jesus Christ’s bodily ascent into heaven after His resurrection. While the biblical event occurred 40 days after Easter — traditionally falling on a Thursday — many churches now transfer the celebration to the following Sunday so more of the faithful may participate in the solemnity.
According to the Acts of the Apostles, Jesus remained on earth for 40 days after His resurrection, instructing His disciples before being taken up into heaven in a cloud.
Faith and Folklore
Over the centuries, the Feast of the Ascension has also inspired many folk traditions and superstitions in different cultures. While these customs are part of cultural folklore and not Christian doctrine, they reflect how deeply the observance shaped everyday life in past generations.
Many people once believed that because Christ ascended into heaven, the skies themselves were blessed on Ascension Day. Rain that fell on the feast was thought to carry special blessings, and in some regions people collected Ascension rainwater, believing it could heal the sick.
At the same time, many old traditions warned against work on Ascension Day. Laundry, sewing, or mending clothes were considered especially unlucky. Some even claimed that washing clothes on Ascension could bring tragedy to the family, while garments touched by a needle on that day were believed to attract lightning.
Interestingly, fishing was often considered an exception. In some places, Ascension marked the beginning of the fishing season. Yet old folklore also warned that rivers and lakes were unusually dangerous on the feast day, and that drowning was more likely than at other times of the year.
These customs belong to the realm of folklore rather than faith. Christians celebrate Ascension Sunday not because of superstitions or legends, but because it proclaims the risen Christ’s return to the Father and the promise of eternal life for all believers.
