It should be celebrated today as traditionally it was observed on the 6th Thursday after Easter Sunday. (I know I must be missing or doing something wrong here, but when I count off 40 days after Easter Sunday, I’m landing on a Wednesday. But hey, what’s one day off among risen friends?)
In recent years the Catholic Church has loosened up and allowed dioceses to monkey with when they choose to observe the Ascension of Christ into heaven. Most Archdioceses in the U.S., including D.C. and Baltimore, have moved Ascension Thursday to Ascension Sunday. It all has something to do with making it easier for folks to go to Church on Sunday versus trying to keep up with when those pesky Holy Days of obligation pop up.
Wiki has the following depiction of the Ascension:
I know there is a joke to be made regarding the title “Christi Himmelfahrt” but I’m gonna let it pass for now. Oops. Sorry.
Some Sly for you and yes he is still around. I don’t know about him getting any higher, but he is still kicking (click here.)