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Pentecost

What is Pentecost and How Did it Start? [ pen-ti-kawst, -kost ]SHOW IPA/ ˈpɛn tɪˌkɔst, -ˌkɒst /PHONETIC RESPELLING ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

noun a Christian festival celebrated on the seventh Sunday after Easter, commemorating the descent of the Holy Ghost upon the apostles; Whitsunday..QUIZZES QUIZ TIME: TEST YOUR MEMORY OF THE MAY 2020 WORDS OF THE DAY Let the aeolian gusts transport you back to these popular Words of the Day from the month of May. How many do you remember? Question 1 of 10Which of the following words means “to travel or journey, especially to walk on foot”?Origin of Pentecost before 1000; Middle English pentecoste, Old English pentecosten < Late Latin pentēcostē < Greek pentēkostḗ (hēmérā) fiftieth (day) Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020Example sentences from the Web for pentecost SEE MORE EXAMPLESSEE FEWER EXAMPLES British Dictionary definitions for pentecost Pentecost/ (ˈpɛntɪˌkɒst) / ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

noun a Christian festival occurring on Whit Sunday commemorating the descent of the Holy Ghost on the apostlesAlso called: Feast of Weeks, Shavuot Judaism the harvest festival celebrated fifty days after the second day of Passover on the sixth and seventh days of Sivan, and commemorating the giving the Torah on Mount SinaiWord Origin for Pentecost Old English, from Church Latin pentēcostē, from Greek pentēkostē fiftiethCollins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012Cultural definitions for pentecost Pentecost ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

In the , the day that the descended upon the of . Pentecost is the Greek name for Shavuot, the spring harvest festival of the , which was going on when the Holy Spirit came. The disciples were together in (see also ) after Jesus' and return to , fearful because he had left them. On that morning, however, “there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” Because of the festival, crowds of visitors were in Jerusalem, speaking many languages, but the disciples of Jesus moved among them and spoke to them all, and “every man heard them speak in his own language” about “the wonderful works of God.” then made a powerful speech to the crowds in the city, and many were baptized as new followers of Jesus.

The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved. Pentecost | Description, Observances, & History | Britannica Cookies on the BBC website We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. We also use cookies to ensure we show you advertising that is relevant to you. If you continue without changing your settings, we'll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies on the BBC website. However, if you would like to, you can at any time.







Last updated 2009-06-23

Pentecost is the festival when Christians celebrate the gift of the Holy Spirit. It is regarded as the birthday of the Christian church.

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What is Pentecost? Pentecost is regarded as the birthday of the Christian churchPentecost is the festival when Christians celebrate the gift of the Holy Spirit. It is celebrated on the Sunday 50 days after Easter (the name comes from the Greek pentekoste, "fiftieth").

It is also called Whitsun, but does not necessarily coincide with the Whitsun Bank Holiday in the UK.

Pentecost is regarded as the birthday of the Christian church, and the start of the church's mission to the world.

The Holy Spirit The Holy Spirit is the third part of the of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit that is the way Christians understand God.

Celebrating Pentecost Pentecost is a happy festival. Ministers in church often wear robes with red in the design as a symbol of the flames in which the Holy Spirit came to earth.

Hymns sung at Pentecost take the Holy Spirit as their theme, and include:

Pentecost Symbols The symbols of Pentecost are those of the Holy Spirit and include flames, wind, the breath of God and a dove.

The first Pentecost Pentecost comes from a Jewish harvest festival called .

The apostles were celebrating this festival when the Holy Spirit descended on them.

It sounded like a very strong wind, and it looked like tongues of fire.

The apostles then found themselves speaking in foreign languages, inspired by the Holy Spirit.

People passing by at first thought that they must be drunk, but the apostle Peter told the crowd that the apostles were full of the Holy Spirit.

Pentecostal Christianity Pentecost is a special day for any Christian, but it is emphasised particularly by . Pentecostal Christians believe in the direct experience of the Holy Spirit by believers during all of their services.

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This page is best viewed in an up-to-date web browser with style sheets (CSS) enabled. While you will be able to view the content of this page in your current browser, you will not be able to get the full visual experience. Please consider upgrading your browser software or enabling style sheets (CSS) if you are able to do so. Little-Known Pentecost Vigil Mass Is a Hidden Gem of the Catholic ... This article is about the Christian holiday. For other uses, see .Pentecost of the pentecostal dove (representing ) at the in , Also calledObserved by, , , , , , and other TypeChristianSignificanceCelebrates the descent of the upon the and other followers of Jesus; birth of the ChurchCelebrationsReligious (church) services, festive meals, processions, , , , folk customs, dancing, spring & woodland rites, festive clothingObservances, vigils, (pre-festival), , , , Date49 days after Easter2019 date2020 date2021 date Related toThe Christian holiday of Pentecost, which is celebrated the 49th day (the seventh sunday) after , commemorates the descent of the upon the and other followers of while they were in Jerusalem celebrating the , as described in the ().

The holiday is also called "White Sunday" or "" or "Whitsun", especially in the , where traditionally the next day, , was also a public holiday (since 1971 fixed by statute on the last Monday in May). In German, Pentecost is called Pfingsten, developed through contracting the Greek term pen[te]k[os]te, and often coincides with scholastic holidays and the beginning of many outdoor and springtime activities, such as festivals and organized outdoor activities by youth organizations. The Monday after Pentecost is a legal holiday in many European countries.

In , Pentecost can also refer to the entire fifty days of through Pentecost inclusive; hence the book containing the liturgical texts is called the "". Since its date depends on the , Pentecost is a "".

Pentecost is one of the of the Eastern Orthodox Church, a in the Roman Rite of the Catholic Church, a in the Lutheran Churches, and a in the Anglican Communion. Many Christian denominations provide a special liturgy for this holy celebration.

Contents Etymology[] The term Pentecost comes from the Greek Πεντηκοστή (Pentēkostē) meaning "fiftieth". It refers to the festival celebrated on the fiftieth day after , also known as the "Feast of Weeks" and the "Feast of 50 days" in .

The uses the term Pentēkostē to refer to the "Feast of Pentecost" only twice, in the and . The Septuagint writers also used the word in two other senses: to signify the year of (), an event which occurs every 50th year, and in several passages of chronology as an . The term has also been used in the literature of by and .

Background[] Main article: In the Festival of Weeks (: שבועות‎ Shavuot) is a that is celebrated seven weeks and one day after the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread in or seven weeks and one day after the referred to in . The Festival of Weeks is also called the feast of Harvest in and the day of first fruits in . In it is called the "firstfruits of the wheat harvest." The date for the "Feast of Weeks" originally came the day after seven full weeks following the first harvest of grain. In Jewish tradition the fiftieth day was known as the Festival of Weeks. The actual mention of fifty days comes from .

During the Hellenistic period, the ancient harvest festival also became a day of renewing the , described in , which is established between God and "all flesh that is upon the earth". By this time, some Jews were already living in . According to there were Jews from "every nation under heaven" in Jerusalem, possibly visiting the city as during Pentecost. In particular the hoi epidemountes (οἱ ἐπιδημοῦντες) are identified as "visitors" to Jerusalem from Rome. This group of visitors includes both Jews and "proselytes" (προσήλυτος, prosēlytos); sometimes translated as "converts to Judaism", proselyte referred to non-Jews who adhered fully to the , including . The list of nations represented in the biblical text includes , , , , , , , Asia, , , , , and those who were visiting from . Scholars have speculated about a possible earlier literary source for the list of nations including an astrological list by and various references to the Jewish diaspora by writers of the era (particularly ).

After the in 70 AD offerings could no longer be brought to the Temple and the focus of the festival shifted from to the . It became customary to gather at and read the and Chapters 19 and 20. The term Pentecost appears in the Septuagint as one of names for the Festival of Weeks.

New Testament[] The in is claimed to be the location of the and Pentecost.The biblical narrative of the Pentecost includes numerous references to earlier biblical narratives like the , and the and narratives from the Book of Genesis. It also includes references to certain , with certain emphasis on God's incarnate appearance on when the were presented to . Theologian Stephen Wilson has described the narrative as "exceptionally obscure" and various points of disagreement persist among bible scholars.

Some biblical commentators have sought to establish that the οἶκος (house) given as the location of the events of in Acts 2:2 was one of the thirty halls of the Temple (called οίκοι), but the text itself is lacking in specific details. and other scholars contend that the author of Acts could have chosen the word ἱερόν (sanctuary or temple) if this meaning were intended, rather than "house". Some semantic details suggest that the "house" could be the "upper room" (ὑπερῷον) mentioned in , but there is no literary evidence to confirm the location with certainty and it remains a subject of dispute amongst scholars.

Acts[] Pentecost by This 1472 notes the place of the pentecost, "Ubi apostoli acceperunt spiritum sanctum", at the location of the .The events of Acts Chapter 2 are set against the backdrop of the celebration of Pentecost in Jerusalem. There are several major features to the Pentecost narrative presented in the second chapter of the . The author begins the narrative by noting that the disciples of Jesus "were all together in one place" on the "day of Pentecost" (ημέρα της Πεντηκοστής). The verb used in to indicate the arrival of the day of Pentecost carries a connotation of fulfillment.

There is a "mighty rushing wind" (wind is a common symbol for the Holy Spirit) and "tongues as of fire" appear. The gathered disciples were "filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance". Some scholars have interpreted the passage as a reference to the multitude of languages spoken by the gathered disciples, while others have taken the reference to "tongues" (γλώσσαι) to signify speech. In Christian tradition, this event represents fulfillment of the promise that Christ will his followers with the Holy Spirit. (Out of the four New Testament gospels, the distinction between baptism by water and the baptism by Christ with "Holy Spirit and fire" is only found in and Luke.)

The narrative in Acts evokes the symbolism of Jesus' baptism in the , and the start of his ministry, by explicitly connecting the earlier prophecy of to the baptism of the disciples with the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost. The timing of the narrative during the law giving festival of Pentecost symbolizes both continuity with the giving of the law, but also the central role of the Holy Spirit (understood as an aspect of Jesus Christ) for the early Church. The central role of Christ in Christian faith signified a fundamental theological separation from the traditional Jewish faith, which was grounded in the Torah and Mosaic Law.

Peter's sermon in stresses the and . In his sermon, Peter quotes and to indicate that first Pentecost marks the start of the . About one hundred and twenty followers of Christ (Acts 1:15) were present, including the Twelve Apostles ( was ' replacement) (Acts 1:13, 26), Jesus' mother Mary, other female disciples and his brothers (Acts 1:14). While those on whom the Spirit had descended were speaking in many languages, the stood up with the and proclaimed to the crowd that this event was the fulfillment of the prophecy. In , it reads: "'And in the last days,' God says, 'I will pour out my spirit upon every sort of flesh, and your sons and your daughters will prophesy and your young men will see visions and your old men will dream dreams." He also mentions () that it was the third hour of the day (about 9:00 am). then reports: "Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls." Critical scholars believe some features of the narrative are theological constructions. Scholars believe that even if the Pentecost narrative is not literally true, it does signify an important event in the history of the early Church which enabled the rapid spread of Christianity. Within a few decades important congregations had been established in all major cities of the Roman Empire.

Biblical commentator has noted that the use of the term "Pentecost" in Acts is a reference to the Jewish festival. He writes that a well-defined, distinct Christian celebration did not exist until later years, when Christians kept the name of "Pentecost" but began to calculate the date of the feast based on Easter rather than Passover.

Peter stated that this event was the beginning of a continual outpouring that would be available to all believers from that point on, Jews and Gentiles alike.

Leo's sermons[] Scholars believe that 's Sermons 75–77 were given on Pentecost Sunday. In these sermons, dating to the 5th century, Leo discusses Macedonianism, which the Catholic Church denounced as heresy because it considered the Holy Spirit inferior to the Father and Son, thereby undermining the . He also denounces doctrine on the Holy Spirit, which taught that the Holy Spirit was present in . Leo discusses other Catholic doctrine pertaining to the Holy Spirit, especially emphasizing the Spirit's relationship to the Father and Son of the Trinity and the Catholic Church. He draws an analogy between Jewish practices and the Christian feast day: "As once to the Hebrew people, freed from Egypt, the law was given on Mt. Sinai on the fiftieth day after the sacrifice of the lamb, so after the Passion of the Christ when the true Lamb of God was killed, on the fiftieth day from his Resurrection, the Holy Spirit came down on the apostles and the community of believers." Leo calls this the and says that it is "established by the same Spirit who has set up the first". He describes the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the disciples on Pentecost as the fulfillment of a "long-awaited promise".

Apocryphal/Deuterocanonical books[] In Pentēkostē is used as an alternate name for the Jewish holiday of Shavuot. The translation of this passage reads: "on our festival of Pentecost, the holy feast of Weeks".

Liturgical celebration[] WesternEasternEast Syriac Rite Eastern churches[] In the , Pentecost is one of the Orthodox and is considered to be the highest ranking Great Feast of the Lord, second in rank only to . The service is celebrated with an on the of the , and the on the day of the feast itself. are often decorated with greenery and flowers on this feast day, and the celebration is intentionally similar to the Jewish holiday of , which celebrates the giving of the .

The feast itself lasts three days. The first day is known as ""; the second day is known as "" (or "Monday of the Holy Spirit"); and the third day, Tuesday, is called the "." The of Pentecost lasts for one week, during which is not permitted, even on Wednesday and Friday. In the Orthodox , the used at Pentecost is , and the clergy and faithful carry flowers and green branches in their hands during the services.

A popular tradition arose in both west and east of decorating the church with roses on Pentecost, leading to a popular designation of Pentecost as : Festa Rosalia or "Rose Feast"; in Greek this became ρουσάλια (rousália). This led to Rusalii becoming the term for the feast, as well as the popular designation Pasca rusata ("rosey Easter"). In modern times, the term in Greek refers to the eve of Pentecost, not Pentecost itself; or, in the case of in , to the Monday and Tuesday after Pascha, as roses are often used during the whole liturgical season of the , not just Pentecost. warned his flock not to allow this custom to replace spiritually adorning themselves with virtue in reception of the .

An extraordinary service called the "Kneeling Prayer" is observed on the night of Pentecost. This is a service to which are added three sets of long poetical prayers, the composition of Saint , during which everyone makes a full , touching their foreheads to the floor (prostrations in church having been forbidden from the day of (Easter) up to this point). Uniquely, these prayers include a petition for all of those in hell, that they may be granted relief and even ultimate release from their confinement, if God deems this possible.

All of the remaining days of the , until the preparation for the next , are named for the day after Pentecost on which they occur (for example, the 13th Tuesday After Pentecost).

The Second Monday after Pentecost is the beginning of the (which continues until the on June 29). Theologically, Orthodox do not consider Pentecost to be the "birthday" of the Church; they see the Church as having existed before the creation of the world (cf. )

The Orthodox of the feast depicts the Twelve Apostles seated in a semicircle (sometimes the (Virgin Mary) is shown sitting in the center of them). At the top of the icon, the Holy Spirit, in the form of tongues of fire, is descending upon them. At the bottom is an figure, called , which symbolizes the world. Although Kosmos is crowned with earthly glory he sits in the darkness caused by the ignorance of God. He is holding a towel on which have been placed 12 scrolls, representing the teaching of the Twelve Apostles.

In the ancient , Pentecost is one of the seven Major "Lord's Feasts". It is celebrated at the time of ninth hour (3:00 pm) on the Sunday of Pentecost by a special three-segment prayer known as the "Office of Genuflection (Kneeling Prayer)". This feast is followed with the "Apostles Fast" which has a fixed end date on the fifth of the Coptic month of Epip [which currently falls on July 12, which is equivalent to June 29, due to the current 13-day Julian-Gregorian calendar offset]. The fifth of Epip is the commemoration of the Martyrdom of St. Peter and Paul.

Western churches[] A Protestant church altar, decorated for Pentecost with red burning candles and red banners and altar cloth depicting the movement of the Holy SpiritThe liturgical celebrations of Pentecost in are as rich and varied as those in the East. The main sign of Pentecost in the West is the color red. It symbolizes joy and the fire of the Holy Spirit.

Priests or ministers, and choirs wear red , and in modern times, the custom has extended to the of the congregation wearing red clothing in celebration as well. Red banners are often hung from walls or ceilings to symbolize the blowing of the "mighty wind" and the free movement of the Spirit.

The celebrations may depict symbols of the Holy Spirit, such as the dove or flames, symbols of the church such as and the , or especially within Protestant churches of and traditions, words rather than images naming for example, the and . Red flowers at the altar/preaching area, and red flowering plants such as around the church are also typical decorations for Pentecost masses/services. These symbolize the renewal of life, the coming of the warmth of summer, and the growth of the church at and from the first Pentecost. In the southern hemisphere, for example, in southern Australia, Pentecost comes in the mellow autumntide, after the often great heat of summer, and the red leaves of the poinsettia have often been used to decorate churches then.

A Protestant church altar and font, decorated for Pentecost with red flowering plants and green birch branchesThese flowers often play an important role in the ancestral rites, and other rites, of the particular congregation. For example, in both Protestant and Catholic churches, the plants brought in to decorate for the holiday may be each "sponsored" by individuals in memory of a particular loved one, or in honor of a living person on a significant occasion, such as their day.

In and other countries, and also in overseas congregations originating from these countries through migration, green branches are also traditionally used to decorate churches for Pentecost. is the tree most typically associated with this practice in Europe, but other species are employed in different climates.

The singing of Pentecost hymns is also central to the celebration in the Western tradition. Hymns such as 's "" (Come, Holy Spirit, God and Lord), 's "Spirit of Faith Come Down" and "Come Holy Ghost Our Hearts Inspire" or 's "O Holy Spirit Root of Life" are popular. Some traditional hymns of Pentecost make reference not only to themes relating to the Holy Spirit or the church, but to folk customs connected to the holiday as well, such as the decorating with green branches. Other hymns include "Oh that I had a Thousand Voices" ("O daß ich tausend Zungen hätte") by German, Johann Mentzer Verse 2: "Ye forest leaves so green and tender, that dance for joy in summer air…" or "O Day Full of Grace" ("Den signede Dag") by , verse 3: "Yea were every tree endowed with speech and every leaflet singing…".

As Pentecost closes the Easter Season in the Roman Catholic Church, the dismissal with the double alleluia is sung at the end of Mass. The Paschal Candle is removed from the sanctuary at the end of the day. In the Roman Catholic Church, is the for the Day of Pentecost. This has been translated into many languages and is sung in many denominations today. As an invocation of the Holy Spirit, is sung during liturgical celebrations on the feast of Pentecost.

Trumpeters or are often specially contracted to accompany singing and provide special music at Pentecost services, recalling the Sound of the mighty wind. While this practice is common among a wide spectrum of Western denominations (Eastern Churches do not employ instrumental accompaniment in their worship) it is particularly typical, and distinctive to the heritage of the Church.

Holy Ghost hole, Saints Peter and Paul Church in Another custom is reading the appointed Scripture lessons in multiple foreign languages recounting the speaking in tongues recorded in .

In the , cathedrals and great churches throughout Western Europe were fitted with a peculiar architectural feature known as a Holy Ghost hole: a small circular opening in the roof that symbolized the entrance of the Holy Spirit into the midst of the congregation. At Pentecost, these Holy Ghost holes would be decorated with flowers, and sometimes a dove figure lowered through into the church while the narrative of Pentecost was read. Holy Ghost holes can still be seen today in European churches such as .

Similarly, a large two dimensional dove figure would be, and in some places still is, cut from wood, painted, and decorated with flowers, to be lowered over the congregation, particularly during the singing of the , or . In other places, particularly and the , were and are thrown from the galleries over the congregation, recalling the tongues of fire. In modern times, this practice has been revived, and adapted as well, to include the strewing of doves from above or suspending them, sometimes by the hundreds, from the ceiling.

In some cases, red fans, or red handkerchiefs, are distributed to the congregation to be waved during the procession, etc. Other congregations have incorporated the use of red balloons, signifying the "Birthday of the Church". These may be borne by the congregants, decorate the sanctuary, or released all at once.

Fasting, baptisms, and confirmations[] For some , the nine days between , and Pentecost are set aside as a time of and universal prayer in honor of the disciples' time of prayer and unity awaiting the Holy Spirit. Similarly among , special Pentecost are prayed. The Pentecost Novena is considered the first novena, all other novenas prayed in preparation of various feasts deriving their practice from those original nine days of prayer observed by the disciples of Christ.

While the Eve of Pentecost was traditionally a day of fasting for Catholics, contemporary no longer requires it. Both Catholics and Protestants may hold spiritual , prayer , and in the days leading up to Pentecost. In some cases vigils on the Eve of Pentecost may last all night. Pentecost is also one of the occasions specially appointed for the Lutheran Litany to be sung.

From the early days of Western Christianity, Pentecost became one of the days set aside to celebrate . In Northern Europe Pentecost was preferred even over Easter for this rite, as the temperatures in late spring might be supposed to be more conducive to outdoor as was then the practice. It is proposed that the term derives from the custom of the newly baptized wearing white clothing, and from the white vestments worn by the clergy in . The holiday was also one of the three days each year (along with and ) Roman Catholics were required to and receive in order to remain in good ecclesiastical standing.

Holy Communion is likewise often a feature of the Protestant observance of Pentecost as well. It is one of the relatively few Sundays some denominations may offer the communion meal, and is one of the days of the year specially appointed among for the celebration of their Love Feasts. are celebrated across a wide array of Western denominations at Pentecost, or near to it. In some denominations, for example the Church, even if an ordination or consecration of a is not celebrated on Pentecost, the will invariably be red, and the theme of the service will be the Holy Spirit.

Above all, Pentecost is a day to hold celebrations for youth. Flowers, the wearing of white robes or white dresses recalling Baptism, rites such as the , and vibrant singing play prominent roles on these joyous occasions, the blossoming of Spring forming an equal analogy with the blossoming of youth.

The typical image of Pentecost in the West is that of the seated centrally and prominently among the disciples with flames resting on the crowns of their heads. Occasionally, parting clouds suggesting the action of the "mighty wind", rays of light and the Dove are also depicted. Of course, the Western iconographic style is less static and stylized than that of the East, and other very different representations have been produced, and, in some cases, have achieved great fame such as the Pentecosts by , , and .

already in the 1st century notes the importance of this festival to the communities. (See: & ) Since the lifetime of some who may have been eyewitnesses, annual celebrations of the descent of the Holy Spirit have been observed. Before the as well was a during which the Catholic Church addressed the newly baptized and confirmed. After the Council, Pentecost Monday is no longer solemnized.

Nevertheless, Pentecost Monday remains an official festival in many Protestant churches, such as the (Lutheran) , the , and others. In the Pentecost Monday is no longer a , but rather a simple . In the Extraordinary Form of the liturgy of the Roman Catholic Church, as at Easter, the of Monday and Tuesday of Pentecost week is a Double of the First Class and across many Western denominations, Pentecost is celebrated with an culminating on . However, in the modern Roman Rite (Ordinary Form), Pentecost ends after Evening Prayer on the feast day itself, with resuming the next day.

A typical Western image of the Pentecost. (1308) The Pentecost depicted in a 14th-century Marking the festival's importance, in several denominations, such as the Lutheran, Episcopal, and churches, and formerly in the Roman Catholic Church, all the Sundays from the holiday itself until in late November or December are designated the 2nd, 3rd, Nth, Sunday after Pentecost, etc. Throughout the year, in Roman Catholic piety, Pentecost is the third of the of the , as well as being one of the or Via Lucis.

In some and churches, where there is less emphasis on the , Pentecost may still be one of the greatest celebrations in the year, such as in or . In other cases, Pentecost may be ignored as a holy day in these churches. In many evangelical churches in the United States, the secular holiday, , may be more celebrated than the ancient and biblical feast of Pentecost. Some evangelicals and Pentecostals are observing the liturgical calendar and observe Pentecost as a day to teach the .

Across denominational lines Pentecost has been an opportunity for Christians to honor the role of the Holy Spirit in their lives, and celebrate the birth of the Church in an context.

Music[] , notably (Come, Creator Spirit), attributed to the 9th-century , and translated throughout the centuries in different languages. This one and some more are suitable also for other occasions imploring the Holy Spirit, such as and coronations.

Classical compositions[] The church of the observed three days of Pentecost. Some composers wrote sacred to be performed in the church services of these days. composed several for , including , in 1714 and , in 1725. wrote cantatas such as Werdet voll Geistes (Get full of spirit) in 1737. Mozart composed an antiphon in 1768.

composed an organ mass in 1949/50. In 1964 wrote an for Pentecost Veni, sancte spiritus (Come, Holy Spirit) on the sequence , and wrote Tongues of Fire, a Pentecost oratorio. wrote a Motet for the Day of Pentecost for choir, vibraphone, and prepared electronic tape in 1969. composed Pfingstoratorium, an oratorio for Pentecost for five soloists, mixed chorus and small orchestra in 1993. Daniel Elder's 21st century piece, "Factus est Repente", for a cappella choir, was premiered in 2013.

Customs and traditions[] In it was customary to scatter petals from the ceiling of the churches to recall the miracle of the fiery tongues; hence in and elsewhere in Italy Whitsunday is called Pasqua rosatum. The name Pasqua rossa comes from the red colours of the vestments used on Whitsunday.

In it was customary to blow during Divine service, to recall the sound of the mighty wind which accompanied the Descent of the Holy Spirit.

In the north west of , church and chapel parades called Whit Walks take place at Whitsun (sometimes on Whit Friday, the Friday after Whitsun). Typically, the parades contain brass bands and choirs; girls attending are dressed in white. Traditionally, Whit Fairs (sometimes called Whitsun Ales) took place. Other customs such as and are also associated with Whitsun. "Whitsunday" has been the name of the day in the Church of England. (The Book of Common Prayer only once uses the word "Pentecost" for the festival. Though some think that name derives from white clothes worn by newly baptised in Eastertide, it may well be seen as derived from "wit", hence "wisdom", the reference being to Holy Wisdom (Sancta Sophia, Hagia Sophia), referred to in Proverbs and the Book of Wisdom, with which the Holy Spirit has often been identified.

In there is a saying known virtually by everyone which translates as "if one has no sweetheart until Pentecost, he/she will not have it during the whole summer."

In , the capital of , people originating from usually celebrate their island's name-day with a special church service followed by cultural events such as dancing.

In the springtime feast day of Zeleni Sviata became associated with the Pentecost. (The exact origin of the relationship is not known). The customs for the festival were performed in the following order: first, home and would be cleaned; second, foods were prepared for the festival; finally, homes and churches were decorated with wildflowers and various types of green and plants. A seven course meal may have been served as the Pentecost feast which may have included traditional dishes such as with (kolyvo), or grains with , soup (kapusniak), chicken broth with handmade (iushka z zaterkoiu), cheese turnovers (pyrizhky syrom), roast pork, cakes served with and (blyntsi), and baked .

Date and public holiday[] The earliest possible date is May 10 (as in 1818 and 2285). The latest possible date is June 13 (as in 1943 and 2038). The day of Pentecost is seven weeks after Easter Sunday: that is to say, the fiftieth day after Easter inclusive of Easter Sunday. Pentecost may also refer to the 50 days from Easter to Pentecost Sunday inclusive of both. Because Easter itself has no fixed date, this makes Pentecost a moveable feast.

While Eastern Christianity treats Pentecost as the last day of Easter in its liturgies, in the it is usually a separate feast. The fifty days from Easter Sunday to Pentecost Sunday may also be called .

Since Pentecost itself is on a Sunday, it is automatically considered to be a public holiday in countries with large Christian denominations.

Pentecost Monday is a public holiday in many countries including , , , , , , , , , , , , , the , , (since 2008), , (most parts of) , and .

In it was also a public holiday, but Pentecost Monday (Annandag Pingst) was replaced by Swedish National Day on June 6, by a government decision on December 15, 2004. In and , it is no longer a public holiday. It was a public holiday in until 1973, when it was replaced by Early Summer Holiday on the first Monday in June. In the the day is known as , and was a until 1967 when it was replaced by the Spring Bank Holiday on the last Monday in May. In France, following reactions to the implementation of the , Pentecost Monday has been reestablished as a regular (not as a working) holiday on May 3, 2005.

Literary allusions[] According to legend, always gathered all his knights at the round table for a feast and a quest on Pentecost:

> So ever the king had a custom that at the feast of Pentecost in especial, afore other feasts in the year, he would not go that day to meat until he had heard or seen of a great marvel.

German poet declared Pentecost "das liebliche Fest" – the lovely Feast, in a selection by the same name in his .

Pfingsten, das liebliche Fest, war gekommen;es grünten und blühten Feld und Wald;auf Hügeln und Höhn, in Büschen und HeckenÜbten ein fröhliches Lied die neuermunterten Vögel;Jede Wiese sprosste von Blumen in duftenden Gründen,Festlich heiter glänzte der Himmel und farbig die Erde."Pfingsten, das liebliche Fest", speaks of Pentecost as a time of greening and blooming in fields, woods, hills, mountains, bushes and hedges, of birds singing new songs, meadows sprouting fragrant flowers, and of festive sunshine gleaming from the skies and coloring the earth – iconic lines idealizing the Pentecost holidays in the German-speaking lands.

Further, Goethe records an old peasant proverb relating to Pentecost in his "Sankt-Rochus-Fest zu Bingen"– Ripe strawberries at Pentecost mean a good wine crop.

mentions of Pentecost in (French: Vingt ans après), the sequel to . A meal is planned for the holiday, to which La Ramée, second in command of the prison, is invited, and by which contrivance, the Duke is able to escape. He speaks sarcastically of the festival to his jailor, foreshadowing his escape : "Now, what has Pentecost to do with me? Do you fear, say, that the Holy Ghost may come down in the form of fiery tongues and open the gates of my prison?"

mentions Pentecost in a line from Act 1, Scene V. At the ball at his home, Capulet speaks in refuting an overestimate of the time elapsed since he last danced: "What, man? 'Tis not so much, 'tis not so much! 'Tis since the nuptial of Lucentio, Come Pentecost as quickly as it will, Some five-and-twenty years, and then we mask'd." Note here the allusion to the tradition of , and wedding celebrations at Pentecost.

See also[] Notes[] References[] External links[] Wikimedia Commons has media related to .Church calendarEastern OrthodoxyTraditionsMusicNoted worksHymns of the of [//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:CentralAutoLogin/start?type=1x1] Retrieved from "": Hidden categories:

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