DistractionsOffbeatPentecost, also known as 'Whitsun' or 'Whitsunday', commemorates the coming of the Holy Spirit to disciples following the death of Jesus
Sunday, 31st May 2020, 8:55 am
When is Whitsun?
The date of Pentecost changes each year because it falls exactly seven weeks after Easter Sunday, based on the biblical account of the apostles praying together and the Holy Spirit descending upon them 49 days after the resurrection of Christ.
The name of Pentecost comes from the Greek word "Pentekostos", meaning 50, reflecting its origins in the Jewish holiday of Shavuot, marked on the 50th day after Passover.
"Whitsun" is variously believed to be a shortening of "White Sunday" or to have its origins in the Anglo-Saxon word "wit", meaning "understanding".
It could therefore reflect the festival being a day for baptisms when worshippers traditionally wear white or the disciples being filled with the wisdom of the Holy Spirit.
Whats the history of Whitsun?
According to the Bible's New Testament the apostles were inspired to talk in tongues when the Holy Spirit descended on to them as they prayed together at the Shavuot festival.
Hearing them speaking in an unfamiliar language, the gathered onlookers in Jerusalem believed them to be drunk.
However, Saint Peter explained to them that the apostles were inspired by the spirit and delivered the first Christian sermon, leading to the conversion and baptism of 3,000 people.
Because of Peter's sermon, many consider Whitsun the birth of the Christian church as an official movement.
How is it celebrated?
Whitsun immediately precedes "Whit Monday", which was traditionally a holiday in the UK until being formally replaced in 1971 by a bank holiday on the final Monday in May.
However, Pentecost Monday is still a public holiday in carious European countries, including France, Germany and Belgium. In Poland, it is referred to as "the Green Holiday", a time for people to decorate their houses with green branches to bring blessings on the home and the people living in it.
True to its biblical origins, the day remains a popular time for baptisms, while some churches, particularly in Manchester and the north-west of England, hold traditional Whit Walks.
What is Ascension Day?
According to the Bible, Jesus travelled for 40 days with his apostles after his resurrection on Easter Sunday, preaching and prepared his followers for his departure.
Ascension Day, celebrated each year on the 40th day (or the sixth Thursday) after Easter, commemorates the final ascension of Christ into heaven, with this year's festival falling on Thursday 21 May.
Original post:
When is Pentecost 2020? The Whitsun date, meaning and what Ascension Day marks - iNews
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