Ascension Friday around the world in 2024

Ascension Friday around the world in 2024
  How long until Ascension Friday?
Ascension Friday
  Dates of Ascension Friday around the world
2025 Various May 30
BelgiumFri, May 30Not A Public Holiday
DenmarkFri, May 30Not A Public Holiday
SwedenFri, May 30Not A Public Holiday
2024 Various May 10
BelgiumFri, May 10Not A Public Holiday
DenmarkFri, May 10Not A Public Holiday
SwedenFri, May 10Not A Public Holiday
2023 Various May 19
BelgiumFri, May 19Not A Public Holiday
DenmarkFri, May 19Not A Public Holiday
SwedenFri, May 19Not A Public Holiday
2022 Various May 27
BelgiumFri, May 27Not A Public Holiday
DenmarkFri, May 27Not A Public Holiday
SwedenFri, May 27Not A Public Holiday
2021 Various May 14
BelgiumFri, May 14Not A Public Holiday
DenmarkFri, May 14Not A Public Holiday
SwedenFri, May 14Not A Public Holiday
  Summary

The Friday after Ascension is often given or taken as a holiday to form a long weekend

  Which countries observe Ascension Friday in 2024?
National Holiday Regional Holiday Not a public holiday Govt Holiday
  BelgiumMay 10
  DenmarkMay 10
  SwedenMay 10

When is Ascension Friday?

Ascension Day is the 40th day of Easter and commemorates the ascension of Jesus into heaven 39 days after resurrection on Easter Sunday.

As Ascension Day always falls on a Thursday, in some countries, it is traditional to take the Friday after Ascension as a holiday to create a four-day weekend.

The date for Ascension Friday depends on the date of Easter which changes every year. The earliest possible date for Ascension Friday is May 1st, the latest possible date is June 4th.

What is Ascension Day?

You will find the Biblical accounts of the Ascension in Matthew 28:16-20, Mark 16:19-20, Luke 24:50-53 and Acts 1:6-11.

During the forty-day period before he ascended into heaven, it is believed that Jesus preached and intermingled with his apostles and disciples.

For some Protestants, Ascension Friday is the first day of a nine-day period between Ascension Day, and Pentecost, which is set aside as a time of fasting and prayer to honour the disciples' time of prayer and unity awaiting the Holy Spirit.

Ascension Day customs

An old English tradition is that if it is sunny on Ascension Day, it will be a warm summer; but if it rains, it will a poor harvest and livestock will suffer from disease.

In Sweden people go into the woods very early in the morning to hear the birds at sunrise. It is said to be good luck if a cuckoo is heard from the east or west.


Translate this page