Spring Bank Holiday & Whitsun

It is a day of rest for most people, but why do we have a bank holiday on the last Monday in May?  East Molesey Branch provide some of the answers:

Pentecost or Whitsunday is a major festival in the Christian church. It is celebrated on the Sunday which falls on the 50th day after the Easter festival.

What is Pentecost?
Pentecost celebrates the coming of the Holy Spitit in the form of flames to the followers of Jesus, as recorded in the New Testament. Jesus had told them to wait until the Spirit came to them. Ten days after ascension, 50 days after the resurrection, the Spirit came.(Ascension Day marks the last appearance of Jesus to the disciples after his resurrection at Easter.)

What does Pentecost mean?
The name Pentecost comes from a Greek word which means ‘fiftieth’

Whit Sunday

Whit Sunday is a favourite day for baptism. It is thought that because people are often baptised dressed in white, Whit Sunday was probably originally known as ‘White Sunday’.
Whitsuntide is the week following Whitsunday, which is always the seventh Sunday after Easter Sunday.

Customs and traditional include Whit Walks and Cheese Rolling!