Today marks yet another public holiday in Belgium, with many businesses and services closing their doors for the four-day weekend. But what exactly is celebrated on 15 August?
Like many public holidays in Belgium and Europe, the holiday has its roots in the Christian religion and is celebrated on the same date every year. As its name indicates, 'the Assumption of Mary into Heaven' – usually shortened to 'Assumption' – marks the moment when the Virgin Mary left her earthly life and entered Heaven.
In Christian and Orthodox tradition, the holiday is regarded as the Virgin's 'heavenly birthday', and is celebrated as a promise that all Christian devotees will also be received in Heaven.
Colloquially, the day is often referred to as 'the Ascension of Mary' by Dutch speakers in Belgium, but this is incorrect according to the Catholic faith: Mary did not ascend to heaven herself, but was taken up into heaven by God. The Ascension is reserved only for her son, Jesus Christ.
Assumption Day is most commonly celebrated by devotees who attend mass, where the subject of the sermon commonly revolves around the figure of the Virgin.
The renovated north façade of the Sainte-Catherine church in Brussels in April 2023. Credit: Belga / Timon Ramboer
What's open today?
As many countries of religious tradition list the date as a public holiday, most offices, shops and services are closed for the day. In Belgium, public and administration services, such as postal services, will not operate, and neither will banks.
Belgium's national railway service, SNCB, as well as bus service De Lijn and Brussels public transport STIB, will continue to operate, but will follow the Sunday service schedule.
Some Carrefour Express shops will be open, as well as some of Delhaize's smaller Shop'n'Go markets, but only for reduced weekend hours. Aldi, Lidl and Colruyt will mostly remain closed.
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Most shopping malls and retail shops will be shut down as well, including the Woluwe Shopping Center and Docks Bruxsel. Most other stores in the city centre, such as on the Rue Neuve in Brussels, will also close their doors. Various independently-owned convenience stores may, however, remain open.
The majority of museums, such as the Museum of the City of Brussels, the Art & History Museum, the Royal Museum of Fine Arts, and the Africa Museum will receive visitors on 15 August.
