Learn all about Ascension Day
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| Hello, and welcome to the Culture Class- Holidays in Kenya Series at SwahiliPod101.com. In this series, we’re exploring the traditions behind Kenyan holidays and observances. I’m Eric, and you're listening to Season 1, Lesson 17 Ascension Day. In Swahili, it’s called Sikukuu ya Yesu Kristo ya kupaa juu. |
| Ascension Day is celebrated on the 39th day after Easter Sunday, and thus, varies each year depending on when Easter is celebrated. Ascension Day is the day when Christians remember Jesus’ ascension to heaven or, as is said in Swahili, Yesu kupaa juu mbinguni. |
| In this lesson we’ll see how Christians celebrate this day. |
| Now, before we get into more detail, do you know the answer to this question- |
| Who are the people who saw the miracle of Jesus ascending to the sky? |
| If you don't already know, you’ll find out a bit later. Keep listening. |
| Some Christians, especially Catholics, choose to attend church on Ascension Day, which always falls on a Thursday, but others go on the following Sunday. Some don't go to church at all and choose to stay at home, instead lighting candles and praying to demonstrate their faith, then feasting together in celebration. |
| Shops and offices run and owned by Christians take a different approach. They keep quiet to reflect on the coming of Jesus Christ. This is when Christians believe that Jesus will carry them and ascend with them to heaven, where they will live a life full of praise and happiness together with God, or in Swahili, Mungu. |
| People usually go out to the forest to listen to birds singing at dawn, which in Swahili can be said as ndege wakiimba machweo. They believe that if they listen well and hear the birds singing from the east to the west, luck will come to them and their home. Christians take this time to pray, to confess, and to repent before night falls. |
| Now it's time to answer our quiz question- |
| Who are the people who saw the miracle of Jesus ascending to the sky? |
| According to the Christian belief, Jesus appeared to his disciples and gave them his teachings after his resurrection. On this day, he took them to Mount Olive and they saw him ascend to heaven, or in Swahili mbinguni. |
| So listeners, how was this lesson? Did you learn something interesting? |
| Do people in your country believe in life after death? |
| Leave us a comment at SwahiliPod101.com, and we'll see you in the next lesson! |
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