Assumpció

Assumpció is a Catalan noun with several related meanings centered on the idea of taking up or accepting something. It can refer to the act of assuming a responsibility, task, or debt, or to the act of accepting a proposition or idea as true. In everyday language it is used in phrases such as l’assumpció de responsabilitats or l’assumpció de deutes, and it can also denote adopting or embracing a belief or stance.

Etymology and distinction: the term derives from Latin assumptio, from assumere “to take up.” In Catalan, assumpció is distinct from ascensió, which denotes the Ascension of Jesus. This semantic separation is reflected in religious and secular usage to avoid confusion between taking on something and a celestial ascent.

Religious use: in Catholic tradition, L’Assumpció de Maria refers to the Assumption of Mary into heaven, body and soul. It is celebrated on 15 August and is observed as a major liturgical feast in many Catalan-speaking regions. Depending on the country, it may be a solemnity, a public holiday, or marked by religious rites, processions, and cultural festivities.

Secular and legal uses: beyond religious contexts, assumpció commonly appears in legal, financial, and organizational language to describe the taking on of obligations or roles, such as the assumpció de deutes or the assumpció de càrrecs, as well as the acceptance of information or premises in reasoning, though the latter usage is more specialized.

See also: Assumpció de Maria. The term appears in related Romance languages with similar meanings, such as Italian Assunzione and Portuguese Assunção.