It’s a symbolic day in different parts of the world

To start, it is an important celebration in the Catholic and Orthodox religion. The Catholic Church celebrates the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, meaning that Mary was transported into Heaven with her body and soul united. The Orthodox Church celebrates what is called the Dormition, very close from the Catholic celebration though there are some differences. The Catholic Church associates the Immaculate Conception to the dogma of the Assumption whereas the Orthodox Church believes in some sort of Assumption but rejects the dogma of Immaculate Conception. For Orthodox believers, Mary had a human nature and died naturally, her body was resurrected on the third day after her death and her son Jesus took her up into heaven. In both religions Mary died with the 12 apostles around her.

Other important celebrations in the world:

A thing to know is that August 15 used to be France’s National Day during Napoleon’s Empire. It is also the celebration of the Assumption in Belgium, Spain, Italy and Portugal. In India it is National Day, celebrating Independence Day in 1947. It is National day in Lichtenstein. It is the Army day in Greece. And the Liberation day in South Korea (1948). On the Chinese lunar calendar, August 15 celebrates the moon and the starting of autumn. It is represented by the assumption of a girl to the moon.

During the weekend it is also the occasion to assist at pyrotechnics shows organized in many places in France and also to look up in the sky and admire the shooting stars, which show up at that period of the year.

To get further information on the website of the French school Inflexyon and the forum of the French courses.

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