Whitsun

Whit Sunday / Monday commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit upon Christ’s disciples. In the Eastern Orthodox Church the day is dedicated to the honour of the Holy Spirit with services held on both the Whit Sunday and Whit Monday.

Who celebrates?

It is celebrated by Christian, Catholic and Orthodox churches around the world with different traditions and emphasis locally.

How do people celebrate?

• Church services are held across the UK
• The service focusses the descent of the Holy Spirit and serves as a reminder to Christians of the unifying spirit that gives them common ground
• In some areas older English traditions such as Morris dancing are still held on this day.

What should I know?

• In the 2011 census 33.2 million people identified as Christian in the UK
• Also known as Pentecost, Whitsun is celebrated on the 7th Sunday after Easter
• Whitsun was previously a public holiday in the UK before it was moved to the Spring Bank holiday.

How can I support others?

• Recognise that people from different sects of Christianity may celebrate in different ways
• Ask people about their faith and whether they’d be willing to share what it means to them
• Familiarise yourself with the diversity of religion in your area and how representative your organisation is of the community you serve.

BBC: Whitsun history: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00jtjf0

Whitsunday playlist: https://spreadworship.com/blog/pentecost-worship-songs/