Easter seems to have been kept as a season of fifty days in the first centuries of the Christian Era. The numeration of a fifty days is taken from Jewish tradition. The mystery of resurrection, ascension and the gift of the Spirit seems to have been celebrated as one event for fifty days. But by the end of the fourth century a feast for Ascension is common. Although John's Gospel recounts the gift of the Spirit to the disciples on the first Easter Day, a reading about the gift of the Spirit from Acts becomes associated with the end of the season, Pentecost.
More complications follow.
Longtime members of the congregation will remember when there were changes in the color of vestments in the middle of services ' reflecting the complication of traditions being conjoined over the centuries. There was a serious attempt among the liturgical reformers of the twentieth century to bring some intelligent order to the liturgical calendar ' which had taken on a life of its own. Pentecost was restored as the fiftieth day of the Easter Season ' its original meaning. The Paschal candle was no longer put out during the Mass on Ascension Day ' because the Easter Season is in fact not over. Although the Church celebrates historical events on particular days, the nature of Christian worship is that the greatest feasts are beginnings, not endings.