Ascension Day
Historical Context
Ascension Day is an official public holiday that always falls on a Thursday, 39 days after Easter. Many employees take the following Friday off to create a long weekend.
Ascension Day commemorates the ascension of Jesus Christ into heaven, forty days after his resurrection at Easter. The celebration dates back to the early Christian church and has been observed for more than 1,600 years. The Belgian holiday calendar includes six Christian feast days, and Ascension is the only one guaranteed to fall on a weekday: always a Thursday. That makes it one of the most popular "bridge days" of the year.
In many parishes, special masses are held on Ascension Day. In some municipalities, processions still take place, though this is becoming increasingly rare. The real tradition these days is the "bridge": by taking one day of leave on Friday, employees create a four-day long weekend. Hotels on the Belgian coast and in the Ardennes are often fully booked weeks in advance for the Ascension weekend. A growing number of companies close collectively on the Friday after Ascension.
Regional Traditions
Bruges
The Procession of the Holy Blood winds through the streets of Bruges every Ascension Day. Over 1,700 participants enact biblical scenes, culminating in the carrying of the relic of the Holy Blood. UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage since 2009.
Mechelen
The Hanswijk Procession takes place on the Sunday before Ascension Day and is one of the oldest processions in the country. Giant figures, floats and hundreds of extras parade through the historic centre in honour of Our Lady of Hanswijk.
Flanders
The Friday after Ascension Day is the most popular bridge day of the year. By some estimates, more than half of all employees take the day off to create a four-day weekend.