Assumption of Mary in United States

Catholic churches in the United States celebrate the feast of the Assumption to honor the Virgin Mary’s death and her rise into heaven on August 15 each year.

The Catholic and Orthodox Christians view the Assumption as the Virgin Mary's heavenly birthday that is now observed as a Holy Day of Obligation – a day when some Christian denominations are obliged to attend mass.

Many Christians in the United States attend mass (church service) on Assumption Day.

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What Do People Do?

Many Christians in the United States attend mass (church service) and have big feasts to celebrate Mary’s rise into heaven on Assumption Day. Although it is not celebrated as extravagantly as other countries, there are many states that have festivals with music, dancing, food vendors, artwork, parades and firework shows to celebrate this event.

One of the largest Assumption Day celebrations is in Cleveland, Ohio, where there is a four-day festival that starts on August 12. The festival celebrates the Feast of Assumption in the city's Little Italy neighborhood.

Public Life

Assumption Day, which is on August 15, is not a public holiday in the United States so schools, government offices and businesses are open. Public transport providers run to their usual schedules. In New York City, the laws regarding which side of the street you can park on are suspended for Assumption Day.

Background

Assumption Day is considered a Holy Day of Obligation, but if it falls on a Saturday or on a Monday, it is not obligatory by the church to attend mass.  This was amended in the church calendar by US (United States) bishops in 1991.

About Assumption of Mary in other countries

Assumption of Mary Observances

Other holidays in August 2013 in United States

• Laylat al-Qadr ―Saturday, August 3, 2013
• Eid-al-Fitr ―Thursday, August 8, 2013
• International Day of the World's Indigenous People ―Friday, August 9, 2013
• International Youth Day ―Monday, August 12, 2013
• Victory Day ―Monday, August 12, 2013
• Statehood Day in Hawaii ―Friday, August 16, 2013
• Bennington Battle Day ―Friday, August 16, 2013
• World Humanitarian Day ―Monday, August 19, 2013
• National Aviation Day ―Monday, August 19, 2013
• Senior Citizens Day ―Wednesday, August 21, 2013
• International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition ―Friday, August 23, 2013
• Lyndon Baines Johnson Day ―Tuesday, August 27, 2013
• International Day against Nuclear Tests ―Thursday, August 29, 2013
• International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances ―Friday, August 30, 2013