August 15 - Feast of the Assumption of the Virgin

This is a holy day of obligation when Catholics are obligated to attend Mass and abstain from work.  This particular feast day celebrates the death of the Virgin Mary and the assumption of her body into heaven before it could decay or be buried.  Mary died in either Jerusalem or Ephesus according to church tradition.  No one actually knows when Mary did die and this feast may have its origin in the dedication of a church in her honor.  It has been celebrated for at least 1500 years at various times during the year.