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hemelvaart

Hemelvaart, meaning “ascension to heaven” in Dutch, is the Christian feast day that commemorates Jesus Christ’s ascent into heaven forty days after his Resurrection (Easter). It is observed by many Western Christian churches, including Catholics, Lutherans, Anglicans, and Reformed denominations.

The term derives from the Dutch words hemel (heaven) and vaart (journey or going), referring to the

In the Netherlands, Hemelvaartdag is a public holiday with many closures and religious services, family gatherings,

Theologically, the feast commemorates Jesus’ ascension into heaven, his exaltation at the right hand of God,

Related topics include the Ascension of Jesus and Pentecost.

moment
Jesus
ascended
to
heaven.
The
feast
is
part
of
Eastertide;
in
Western
Christianity
it
occurs
on
the
40th
day
after
Easter,
typically
on
a
Thursday,
though
some
denominations
celebrate
the
occasion
on
the
following
Sunday.
and
outdoor
activities.
In
Belgium,
the
day
is
also
observed
as
a
public
holiday.
In
other
countries,
the
day
is
often
marked
liturgically
rather
than
as
a
day
off.
and
it
serves
as
a
transition
between
Easter
and
Pentecost,
which
celebrates
the
coming
of
the
Holy
Spirit.