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The Feast of the Assumption is a solemn yet joyous holy day observed every August 15 by Catholics and many Christians worldwide. It commemorates the Virgin Mary’s bodily ascent into heaven at the end of her earthly life. Attend mass, participate in local processions, or offer prayers to honor this significant event.
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Expected Feast of the Assumption Deals
For the Feast of the Assumption, commercial deals typically pivot towards religious goods, community events, and charitable giving rather than retail sales. Look for local Catholic churches and dioceses to host special masses, prayer vigils, and community gatherings. Religious bookstores like Catholic Company and Ignatius Press may offer discounts on Marian-themed books, statues, and devotionals. Many communities organize outdoor festivals and processions, often supported by local businesses. Consider donating to Catholic charities such as Catholic Charities USA or Aid to the Church in Need in Mary’s honor. We will update this page with confirmed local events and special offerings as August 15 approaches.
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Feast of the Assumption Hero
The Virgin Mary
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!
Feast of the Assumption timeline
References to the Dormition or Assumption of Mary first appear in two apocryphal texts, the “Liber Requiei Mariae” and the “Six Books Dormition Apocryphon.”
Epiphanius of Salamis writes of his search to find well-founded traditions concerning the fate of the Virgin Mary — he is essentially unable to find any.
Pope Leo IV confirms the Feast of the Assumption as official.
The Assumption of the Virgin Mary becomes a popular subject in art.
Across Christian faiths, there now exists a nearly universal agreement that whether her passing was an Assumption, a Dormition, or of some other nature, a yearly Feast in honor of Mary should be celebrated.
The Virgin Mary is declared the patron saint of France by King Louis XIII and he institutes April 15 as a national day of processions in her honor.
Acadian leaders at the National Convention in New Brunswick are mandated to set the date of National Acadian Day, and they choose August 15 in honor of Saint Mary.
Pope Pius XXII defines the Assumption of Mary to be a dogma of faith.
How Businesses Can Celebrate Feast of the Assumption
Local businesses can respectfully acknowledge the Feast of the Assumption by supporting community events and religious organizations. Restaurants might offer special family-style menus suitable for gatherings after Mass, while florists could feature arrangements in Marian colors (blue and white). Retailers of religious goods can highlight items related to the Virgin Mary. Businesses can also consider making a donation to local Catholic charities or sponsoring a community procession, demonstrating solidarity with those observing the holy day.
Traditions of the Day
Every country that celebrates the Feast of Assumption has its charming traditions. In many Eastern countries, ladies with the name ‘Mary,’ or having a name derived from ‘Mary’, welcome everyone to their homes in honor of the Blessed Mary.
Celebrations are marked grandly with colorful festivals, street processions, pageantry, and fireworks displays. Hosting a feast is not a requisite, but there are special recipes for the occasion that are incorporated into family dinners and the tradition of blessing the harvest is upheld.
The day is known as the Feast of Our Lady of Herbs in Poland, with bouquets made of blossoms and herbs that are taken to church. Children sing hymns at churches and grown-ups dance to the melody of the polonaise.
Parades with marching bands, funfairs, games, races, costume contests, dancing, and other family-friendly events take place throughout Spain on this day. In Sicily, in honor of Mother Mary, partial or complete abstinence from fruit is observed during the first two weeks of the month. On the feast day, all types of fruit are blessed at church and indulged in.
In France, the statue of Mary is carried in processions with great splendor through the towns and cities on August 15, with accompanying peals of church bells and hymns sung in her honor. Finally, a popular old custom on the Feast of Assumption is blessing the sources of harvest. Before the Reformation, in all Christian countries, the clergy would bless the farms, orchards, countryside, and gardens. This ritual is still performed today in the Western parts of Austria, as the ‘Blessing of the Alps.’
Feast of the Assumption FAQs
When is the Feast of the Assumption?
The Feast of the Assumption in 2026 falls on Saturday, August 15. This holy day commemorates the Virgin Mary’s bodily ascent into heaven, a central dogma of the Catholic faith.
Is the Feast of the Assumption a Holy Day of Obligation?
Yes, in 2026, the Feast of the Assumption on August 15 is a Holy Day of Obligation for Catholics, requiring attendance at Mass. This obligation is universal unless a specific local dispensation is granted.
How many countries celebrate the Feast of the Assumption?
The Feast of the Assumption is celebrated in numerous countries around the globe, particularly in nations with significant Catholic populations, such as Italy, Spain, France, and many Latin American countries. Millions observe the day with religious services and public festivities.
What is the difference between the Assumption and the Ascension?
The Feast of the Assumption, celebrated on August 15, commemorates Mary’s bodily ascent into heaven at the end of her earthly life, by God’s power. The Ascension, 40 days after Easter, marks Jesus’s own bodily ascent into heaven by his divine power.
HOW TO OBSERVE THE FEAST OF THE ASSUMPTION
Attend a mass
For Catholics it’s a “Day of Obligation,” but no matter what your feelings on God and religion, go and sit in the back, or ask a friend if you can go with them and their family. If it feels right, look into what your true feelings are.
Plant a Mary garden
It’s a tradition in Europe, but you don’t have to live there to acknowledge Mary as the first believer in the resurrection of Christ and “the first fruit” of a great future harvest. A small statue of her standing over your common herbs is customary.
Eat!
The day isn’t called a “Feast” for nothing. Make plans to go out for a nice dinner, cook something at home, volunteer at a soup kitchen, and have what’s on their menu while contemplating Mary’s life, passing, and legacy - the only limit is your imagination.
FIVE BIBLE VERSES ABOUT MARY, MOTHER OF JESUS
Song of Solomon 2:10-11
My beloved speaks and says to me: “Arise, my love, my beautiful one, and come away, for behold, the winter is past; the rain is over and gone.”
Revelation 12:1
And a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars.
Psalm 132:8-9
Arise, O Lord, and go to your resting place, you and the ark of your might. Let your priests be clothed with righteousness, and let your saints shout for joy.
John 19:26-27
When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.
Acts 1:14
All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.
WHY THE FEAST OF THE ASSUMPTION IS IMPORTANT
It’s a major part of the Catholic faith
Catholics believe that the decaying of the human body after death is a result of the decedent’s sins during life, therefore since Mary was without sin, it makes canonical sense for her to have ascended bodily.
It’s a large part of history in general
The New Advent Encyclopedia states that the Feast of the Assumption was first celebrated before the year 500 in Palestine, making the holiday over 1.5 millennia old!
A belief in miracles is not a bad thing
John of Damascus wrote that, although Mary had died with the apostles nearby, when her body was later requested by the Roman Emperor and the tomb was opened, the tomb was empty, leading the apostles to believe that Mary had miraculously been taken up to heaven. Quite a nice concept to think about, compared to imagining grave robbers, we think.
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