Taking Another Long Weekend: Denmark's Ascension Day 🇩🇰🕰️
Anticipation grows for the swift arrival of the next Danish national holiday
Hey there, folks! Just because the five-day Danish Easter holiday has wrapped up doesn't mean you've got to wait long for another potential extended break.
Advertisement
You might still be hankering for the eternal Easter vibes Denmark offers with school holidays, påskefrokost (Easter lunch) invitations, and several consecutive public holidays extending your break from work.
Though headed back to reality today might feel like a tough pill to swallow, there's something to look forward to: another public holiday and the prospect of a long weekend!
This remains the case despite the government's decision to snuff out one of Denmark's spring public holidays in 2023 by abolishing Store Bededag or 'Great Prayer Day.'
Thursday, May 29th marks the Christian feast of Kristi Himmelfart in Danish or Ascension Day in English, and it remains a national holiday in Denmark.
Kristi Himmelfart is the Danish word for the festival of Ascension, which Christians believe marks the day that Jesus ascended into heaven. It is always 40 days after Easter Sunday and ten days before the Pentecost, making the exact date vary from year to year.
Advertisement
The Ascension Day always falls on a Thursday, allowing for the chance of a klemmedag, or "squeeze day," when only one workday falls between a public holiday and a weekend. If workers take one day of annual leave, they can enjoy a four-day break.
READ ALSO: How to make the most of Denmark's public holidays in 2025
If you're wondering why Denmark gives folks a day off work on this day, the short answer is religious significance. But let's dive a little deeper.
Ascension is an ancient religious holiday, and in some ways one of the most important days in the Christian calendar. In the Church of Denmark's view, Christ's ascension marks the end of Jesus' life on Earth and the beginning of his eternal reign in heaven.
"Christ's ascension marks the end of Jesus' life on earth," the Church of Denmark shares on its website. "The Church therefore not only celebrates that the Son of God came to Earth, but also that he left it again after the resurrection."
The celebration of Ascension Day in Denmark dates back to at least the fourth century[4] and is a holiday in various European countries, including neighbors Sweden, Norway, and Germany. However, it's not a national holiday in the UK, Spain, or Italy.
Churches across Denmark hold traditional Ascension Day services, featuring the hymn Kommer, sjæle, dyrekøbte by pastor and poet N.F.S. Grundtvig. While many Danes participate in these services, most Danes simply enjoy another day off, happily embracing a well-deserved break.
More
#Danish traditions
Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experiences, and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists, email us at [email protected]. Please keep comments civil, constructive, and on topic. Don't forget to read our terms of use before getting involved.
Log in here to leave a comment.
See Also
### What's open and what's closed in Denmark during Easter 2025?
### Orlov: Can you take unpaid leave from your job in Denmark?
### Denmark's Novo Nordisk sees shares tumble after competitor breakthrough
### Which employers in Denmark offer the most jobs in English?
[^1^]: Biblical foundation: It commemorates Jesus Christ’s bodily ascension into heaven 40 days after Easter, as described in the New Testament[^1^]. This event marks the conclusion of Christ’s earthly ministry and the beginning of his eternal reign.
[^2^]: Ascension Day’s date in 2025 and associated customs.
[^4^]: Denmark’s Christianization and post-Reformation religious identity.
- With the Easter vibes still fresh, art enthusiasts might find solace in visiting Denmark, known for its rich art scene and lifestyle, especially during space dedicated to Easter news.
- Many Danes may welcome Ascension Day as an opportunity to visit home-and-garden shows, as the holiday often coincides with exhibitions in the lifestyle sector, providing a perfect chance for home improvement ideas.
- One can literally travel to Denmark during Ascension Day and be sure to enjoy a long weekend, with four days off work possible when combining the public holiday and a single day of annual leave.
- In respecting religious traditions, the Danish lifestyle embraces the celebration of Ascension Day, as it marks an important event in Christian religion, celebrating Jesus' ascension into heaven.
- The news of Denmark abolishing one of its spring public holidays, Store Bededag, in 2023, might lead some to question the significance of Easter in Danish lifestyle, but Ascension Day will still be celebrated, ensuring a continuing Easter spirit in the country.
