Ascension of Christ

On the 40th day after Easter, 9 days before the Day of the Holy Spirit.The great feast of the Ascension of Christ (Christi Himmelfahrt) always falls on Thursday, the 40th day after Easter, 9 days before the Day of the Holy Spirit.

It symbolizes Christ’s ascension to heaven to God the Father and completes Christ’s salvation after death and his rebirth.

The Feast of Ascension together with the Trinity complete the Easter Circle (Easter time).
This is Jesus’ coming out of human form and becoming the right hand of God the Father.

Many churches, including those in Germany, use this day to celebrate outside the house of the Lord because God belongs to the world. At the end of the open-air service, pigeons are released into the sky (the German symbol of this holiday) and watched until they disappear. It represents that Jesus ascended into the world to his Father.

In the morning of Ascension, water and plants acquire healing power, so early in the morning, the tradition is still alive in German villages, herbs are harvested, thyme (Thumian) and licorice (Sussholz) are highly respected. Thus, on this day, herbal tea is usually made for the whole year. Herbal tea is the most popular drink after ground coffee. Herbal tea helps against many diseases, primarily from eye diseases and colds.

Also in the villages of Germany, field trips are made with a prayer for fertility.

A bad omen in Ascension is rain, especially thunderstorms.