Ascension Day is a significant holiday observed in Burundi, like many parts of the world, as it commemorates the Christian tradition of Jesus Christ's ascension to heaven forty days after his resurrection from the dead on Easter. The day falls on a Thursday, exactly 39 days after Easter Sunday. It is a public holiday in Burundi and is marked with various religious activities and observances around the predominantly Catholic nation.
In Burundi, celebrations of Ascension Day usually involve church services and prayer meetings. It's a day when families gather together for shared meals and tokens of goodwill. Religious processions and community gatherings are common, with believers attending mass to receive Holy Communion in large numbers. The holiday is also a deeply contemplative time entailing readings from the New Testament, hymns, and reflective prayer.
Despite the somber religious undertones, Ascension Day is also marked by feasting and joyous processions in Burundi. It is a time for believers to exhibit unity and celebrate the hope and salvation that the ascension signifies. Additionally, this day also marks the start of the countdown to Pentecost, which is celebrated ten days after Ascension Day. Although Ascension Day is a national holiday in Burundi, businesses and stores may be closed, and it does not disrupt daily life as much as other prominent holidays.