Pentecost

Pentecost is the Christian festival that commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles, fifty days after the Resurrection of Jesus at Easter, and ten days after the Ascension.

Related Topics:
Christian - Festival - Holy Spirit - Apostle - Resurrection of Jesus - Easter - Ascension

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It is also known in English, especially in Britain, as Whitsun (Whitsunday), because of the white robes traditionally worn this day by those newly baptized on the previous Easter. The word was already familiar in Old English, as Hwita Sunnandæg. The week beginning on Whitsunday (especially the first three days) is called Whitsuntide (formerly also spelled Whitsontide) or Whit Week.

Related Topics:
English - Britain - Baptized - Old English

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The name "Pentecost" comes from the Greek word Pentékosté, meaning "fiftieth", and originally referred to Shavuot, celebrated after seven full weeks on the fiftieth day after Passover (the second day of Passover, on the 16th of Nisan, is the first day of counting the Omer). The Hebrew festival was originally connected with celebrating the first-fruits of the spring grain harvest, but the Christian festival lost those associations to the new association with the descent of the Holy Spirit.

Related Topics:
Greek - Shavuot - Passover - Counting the Omer - Harvest

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Pentecostal Christian churches, which are so named because they emphasise the Holy Spirit in each individual, celebrate Pentecost as the anniversary of the disciples' being filled with the Spirit, as described in the New Testament in Acts 2. Most Christians recognise this event as the birth of the Church.

Related Topics:
Pentecostal - New Testament - Acts 2

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Pentecost is also called:

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• the Feast of Weeks (Deuteronomy 16: 10)
• the Feast of Harvest (Exodus 23: 16)
• the day of first-fruits (Numbers 28:26)

In the Hellenistic period, the feast was for renewal of the covenant God made with Noah ()

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Pentecost: Traditions and holidays ►