Ascension Day

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Lesson Transcript

Culture Class: Holidays in Denmark, Lesson 17 - Ascension Day

Hello and welcome to the Culture Class: Holidays in Denmark Series at DanishClass101.com.

In this series, we’re exploring the traditions behind Danish holidays and observances. I’m Michael, and you're listening to Season 1, Lesson 17, Ascension Day. In Danish, it’s called Kristi himmelfartsdag.

As the name Ascension Day suggests, this holiday celebrates the time when Jesus ascended to heaven.

It might not mean so much to most Danes today, but many are probably glad that this Christian holiday allows them time off both during the sixth Thursday after Maundy Thursday and the following day on Friday.

In this lesson, you'll learn how Ascension Day takes place in Denmark.

Now, before we go into more detail, do you know the answer to this question:

What term do Danes also use to refer to Ascension Day?

If you don't already know, you’ll find out a bit later. Keep listening.

Ascension Day is another holiday in which many children are confirmed. On this day, 13 and 14-year-old boys and girls profess "the Christian faith", or den kristne tro, in the church.

The boys usually have a fine shirt and suit to put on, and the girls are dressed in white. Historically, this also marked the transition from childhood to adulthood.

As on other holidays, most people are off from school and work, and many shops are closed. Because Ascension Day takes place on a Thursday, many workplaces and stores close the following Friday as well.

Just as most other Danish holidays have their own food traditions, so does Ascension Day. One such food is "meringues", or marengs, as they are light and airy just like white clouds.

Some priests may even shape meringues to look like feet to represent the "feet of Jesus", or Jesu fødder. They are called "Ascension feet", or himmelfartsfødder, and are mixed with white chocolate and licorice powder to make it look like there is dirt on the feet.

Ascension was once celebrated with plays in the church where figures of Christ were hoisted up through a hole in the church ceiling. Although this tradition is not as common today, if you take a look up, you may notice that those holes in the ceiling, created for the past tradition, still exist.

Now it's time to answer our quiz question:

What term do Danes also use to refer to Ascension Day?

Many Danes, especially children, use the term flyvedag meaning "fly day," because Jesus flew to heaven after he originally said goodbye to his disciples outside of Jerusalem.