On August 15th we celebrate the Assumption of the virgin Mary into heaven after she has completed the course of her earthly life.
In Latin: Assumptio Beatae Mariae Virginis
In German: Mariä Himmelfahrt or Vollendung Mariens
In Italy the Roman Catholic High Holiday is celebrated as Ferragosto.
A special tradition of this day is the collection and benediction of herbs and plants. Mariennüsse, the first ripe walnuts or hazelnuts are given to children. People go out in the fields and collect popular herbs to affix them on the alter and on walls and also for medicinal and culinary purposes. Herbs like:
Agrimony, Chamomile, Clover, Mugwort, Mullein, St John’s wort, Tansy, Thyme, Valerian, Verbena, Wormwood, Yarrow.
Pope Pius defined to dogma of the assumption, read the original text.
Tizian’s famous painting known as The Assunta that he painted from 1516 to 1528 and that can be seen today in a church in Venice, Italy called Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari.
