General-Intro

The Assumption of Mary is a belief held by Christians of the Catholic Church as well
as some eastern orthodox, oriental orthodox and Anglicans, that the virgin Mary, at
the end of her life, was physically taken up into heaven. This is considered her
heavenly birthday. Her acceptance into the glory of Heaven is seen by many
Christians as the symbol of the promise made by Jesus to all enduring Christians that
they too will be received into heaven. The Assumption of Mary, in the churches that
observe it, is a major festival commonly celebrated on August 15. It is considered a
public holiday in many countries.

History
The assumed taking of Mary into Heaven became an established teaching across
Eastern, Western, Coptic and Oriental churches from at least the late 7th Century, the
festival date settling at August 15. Before the Roman Catholic Church came into
existence, however, the date of August 15 was celebrated in the Roman Empire to
honor the gods, in particular Diana, and the cycle of fertility and ripening. In fact, the
present Italian name of the holiday, “Ferragosto”, derives from its original Latin
name, Feriae Augusti (“Holidays of the Emperor Augustus”) and even the entire
month took its name from the emperor.

Catholic Teaching
On November 1, 1950, Pope Pius XII solemnly declared:
“By the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, of the Blessed Apostles Peter and Paul,
and by our own authority, we pronounce, declare, and define it to be a divinely
revealed dogma: that the Immaculate Mother of God, the ever Virgin Mary, having
completed the course of her earthly life, was assumed body and soul into heavenly
glory.”
This left open the question of whether Mary died before the Assumption.

Places it is Celebrated
The Feast of the Assumption on August 15 is a Public Holiday in many countries,
including Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African
Republic, Chile, Republic of Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Colombia, Cyprus, East
Timor, France, Gabon, Greece, Republic of Guinea, Haiti, Italy, Lebanon, Lithuania,
Luxembourg, Macedonia, Madagascar, Malta, Mauritius, Monaco, Paraguay, Poland,
Portugal, Romania, Rwanda, Senegal, Seychelles, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland,
Tahiti, Togo, and Vanuatu.[3] It is also a holiday in some predominantly Catholic
states of Germany, including Bavaria and Saarland. In Guatemala it is observed in
Guatemala City and in the town of Santa Maria Nebaj, both of which claim her as
their patron saint.