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The long weekend of Ascension
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Ascension
The Ascension Window in Saint-Julien du Mans Cathedral. Dating back to the 12th century, it is the oldest window in the world remaining in situ. It depicts the apostles and Mary watching the ascent of Jesus to heaven. © Ville du Mans - Gilles Moussé
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Each year, Christians celebrate the festival of Ascension, which is a public holiday in France, on the Thursday of the 5th week after Easter, or forty days after Easter.
The "long weekend of Ascension" is one of the first long weekends of spring; a foretaste of holidays, of summer even, when the French countryside is celebrating the return of spring.
In the sequence of Easter events for Christians
Good Friday: Jesus is crucified.
Next Sunday, Easter Day: Jesus is resurrected.
Ascension Thursday, the 40th day after Easter: Jesus ascends to heaven.
In the Christian tradition, Ascension (from the Latin ascendere, "rise towards") represents the last time Jesus appears to his disciples, forty days after his Resurrection, and marks his departure from earthly life.
The long weekend of Ascension
The festival of Ascension, which is celebrated on Thursday by Christians with a solemn mass, during which the colour of the liturgical ornaments is white, the colour of light and joy, is often mentioned due to the long weekend that many people take.
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