Why we need to stop celebrating Ascension

I don't mean to be rude, but I just wanted your attention. I was raised in a proper Christian manner, had my children baptized (at least the first two, the third still needs to be done, but she is already old enough to have a voice and a will and says she doesn't believe in God, which seems to me an extremely uncomfortable situation in church, so whether that will ever happen... I don't know) and I happen to know what is celebrated and commemorated with Ascension and Pentecost.

But do an average survey among the people around you and you'll hear this: “At Easter, we walked around school with crosses. And with palm branches. Didn't Jesus then... uh, die? Yes. Yes. That's it. He was crucified and then rose from the dead.” Ascension just barely makes it through with a lot of effort. But Pentecost? That's really a bridge too far. By the way, I refer all the ignorant to my second. Adeline Mans who is now typing a piece explaining these holidays. Tomorrow on the site. Then you can tell that know-it-all father-in-law of yours how it all works.

But my point is this. We have a day off in honor of moments that have sunk so far into our culture that almost no one knows what we are celebrating. Then the question arises whether that event deserves a day at all. I just came across it and found an interview with Gert-Jan Segers, director of the Scientific Institute of the ChristenUnie, in which he was asked if it wouldn't be a good idea to give the holiday of Pentecost to another faith. To be honest, I've often had that thought too. There are many people from other cultures and faiths living in the Netherlands. Shouldn't we collectively celebrate the Sugar Feast? Or Brazilian carnival? Chinese New Year?

Mr. Segers' answer was that we live in an ancient Christian tradition and that, as far as he is concerned, such a thing would only be an option if they also participated in our culture for a year or a hundred.

I would like to discuss two options. Either we attach the holiday of Pentecost and Ascension to another holiday, or we all go for extra lessons so that we at least know what is being celebrated.

Amen.