Whit Monday in United States

Whit Monday follows Pentecost, which commemorates the descent of the Holy Ghost upon Jesus Christ's disciples according to Christian tradition. ©iStockphoto.com/tiburonstudios

What do people do?

Whit Monday is not a large public observance in the United States. However, some churches organize Whit Monday prayer rallies, which include prayers and street marches.  Many churches acknowledge Whit Monday as part of Whitsun Week, or Whitsuntide, which includes Whit Sunday, or Pentecost.

Public life

Whit Monday is not a federal holiday in the United States, so most aspects of public life do not differ to any other Monday.

Background

Christian Pentecost commemorates the Holy Spirit’s visit to the apostles who received the “gift of tongues” on the 50th day after Easter.  It also marks the birth of the Christian Church. Although it is not certain when Pentecost was first observed by Christians, it may have been early as the first century. Pentecost occurs roughly seven weeks after Easter Sunday, or 50 days after Easter, including Easter Day. Like Pentecost, Whit Monday is movable because it is determined by the Easter date.

Whit Monday used to be one of the major annual holidays in Pennsylvania Dutch country in the United States. From around 1835 to just after the Civil War, Whit Monday was referred to as the “Dutch Fourth of July” in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, where people came to eat, drink and be entertained.

In some Orthodox churches, Whit Monday is observed after the date set by the western churches. This is because some Orthodox churches still observe holidays according to the Julian calendar, which preceded the Gregorian calendar adopted by many western churches. 

Symbols

Whit Monday gets its English name from Whitsunday, or Whit Sunday, which referred to the white garments worn on Pentecost by the newly baptized. The symbols of Pentecost are those of the Holy Spirit and include flames, wind, the breath of God and a dove.

About Whit Monday in other countries

Whit Monday Observances

Related holidays

• Pentecost–Sunday, May 11, 2008
• Easter Sunday–Sunday, March 23, 2008

Other holidays in May 2008 in United States

• Ascension Day (Thursday, May 1, 2008)
• Law Day (Thursday, May 1, 2008)
• Loyalty Day (Thursday, May 1, 2008)
• National Day of Prayer (Thursday, May 1, 2008)
• Yom HaShoah (Friday, May 2, 2008)
• World Press Freedom Day (Saturday, May 3, 2008)
• Rhode Island Independence Day (Sunday, May 4, 2008)
• Cinco de Mayo (Monday, May 5, 2008)
• Truman Day (Thursday, May 8, 2008)
• Yom HaAtzmaut (Thursday, May 8, 2008)
• Confederate Memorial Day (Friday, May 9, 2008)
• Confederate Memorial Day (Saturday, May 10, 2008)
• Confederate Memorial Day (Saturday, May 10, 2008)
• Pentecost (Sunday, May 11, 2008)
• Mother's Day (Sunday, May 11, 2008)
• Peace Officers Memorial Day (Thursday, May 15, 2008)
• International Day of Families (Thursday, May 15, 2008)
• National Defense Transportation Day (Friday, May 16, 2008)
• World Information Society Day (Saturday, May 17, 2008)
• Trinity Sunday (Sunday, May 18, 2008)
• World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development (Wednesday, May 21, 2008)
• National Maritime Day (Thursday, May 22, 2008)
• International Day for Biological Diversity (Thursday, May 22, 2008)
• Corpus Christi (Thursday, May 22, 2008)
• Lag B'Omer (Friday, May 23, 2008)
• African Liberation Day (Sunday, May 25, 2008)
• Memorial Day (Monday, May 26, 2008)

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