Definition

1. Proper noun:
   • A Christian feast day: Ascension Day is a Christian holiday that commemorates the bodily Ascension of Jesus Christ into heaven, as described in the New Testament.
   • A movable feast: It is observed on the 40th day after Easter Sunday, always falling on a Thursday.

Usage Examples

• Proper noun:
  • The church service on Ascension Day was particularly beautiful.
  • In many countries, Ascension Day is a public holiday.
  • We celebrate Ascension Day forty days after Easter.

Advanced Usage

• "Ascension Day celebration": Refers to the specific events or services held to mark the feast.
  • The cathedral holds a special Ascension Day celebration with a procession.
• "Ascension Day Thursday": Emphasizes the day of the week on which the feast always occurs.
  • Ascension Day Thursday is an important date in the liturgical calendar.

Variants and Related Words

• The Ascension: The event being commemorated; the ascent of Christ into heaven.
  • The painting depicts the scene of the Ascension.
• Ascensiontide: The period in the Christian calendar lasting from Ascension Day until the eve of Pentecost.
  • The hymns during Ascensiontide reflect themes of glory and kingship.

Synonyms

• Holy Thursday (in this specific, ecclesiastical context; note that "Holy Thursday" more commonly refers to Maundy Thursday).
• The Feast of the Ascension.

Related Phrases

• Observe Ascension Day: To mark or celebrate the feast day.
  • Christians around the world observe Ascension Day.
• Ascension Day holiday: Referring to the day as a day off from work or school.
  • Do you have the Ascension Day holiday off?

Related Idioms

Noun

1. (Christianity) celebration of the Ascension of Christ into heaven; observed on the 40th day after Easter