Today, August 15th is Assumption Day. The day the Virgin Mary is taken up into Heaven. Mary is the patron saint of France.(since 1638) This is a very important holiday in France. (and throughout Europe and South America)
It is a national holiday and so, most shops are closed at least while people are in church celebrating the Ascent.
Some shops may open later in the day, Restaurants may be open, as this is in the middle of tourist season. In France, when a holiday falls on a Tuesday or a Thursday.....they "make the bridge"....or include the inner day to create a very long weekend. There will be fireworks tonight.
The Basilica bells were peeling this morning and so I knew something was up!! I'm not even Catholic, but I find this pageantry beautiful and full of cultural heritage.
It never ceases to fascinate me that France, a secular country, does still honor religious festivals on their national calendar. The US does honor Christmas as a national holiday....so it is in that way that France honors Assumpton day. (though certainly not commercially)
But France is quite strident in its observance of secular life and government stemming from the Revolution that even outlawed days of the week and the measure of days in a week/month. (now reformed)
But still we see the power of religious belief so compelling as to override government. And one cannot help but take notice of those religious peoples for whom the religion and the government are one and the same. A serious danger to be sure.
But for Christmas and Assumption Day and others like them, there is a traditional nicety, a cleanness of intent, a joyous occasion of giving and sharing that harms no one. May it always be so.
Till we meet again, Au revoir!
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