Romanians on Thursday celebrated Assumption Day or St. Mary’s Day, the most important festival of the season, sometimes known as “the summer Easter.”
Although Assumption Day has long been an Orthodox Christian holiday, it only became an official public holiday a few years ago.
Public transport runs on a weekend schedule and some government offices, businesses and shops close.
Some 2.6 million people named Mary_or Maria_ or either male or female versions of the name celebrated their name day on Thursday, considered a second birthday in Romania.
The Assumption of Mary has been observed by Catholics and Orthodox countries since the end of the 4th century. Symbols for the day, are the color blue which stand for the heavens, and the lily, a flower that stands for purity.
Churches will usually not perform wedding blessings in the two weeks prior to to Assumption Day, but all do not abide by this tradition.
Since Mary is considered to be the “patron saint of the Navy,” Assumption Day is also Navy Day in Romania. Romanian President Klaus Iohannis is expected to travel to Constanta for a naval procession.
The day is celebrated based on the belief that Mary’s body did not decay but was miraculously transported, or “assumed,” into Heaven, where it was reunited with her soul.
