Whit Monday in United States

Many Christians in the United States will observe Whit Monday, or Pentecost Monday. It is the day after Pentecost, also known as Whit Sunday or Whitsunday, which commemorates the Holy Ghost's descent on Jesus Christ's disciples, according to the New Testament of the Bible.

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?

Some churches in the United States 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 public holiday in the United States.

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. The Easter date depends on the ecclesiastical approximation of the March equinox.

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, and a dove.

About Whit Monday in other countries

Whit Monday Observances

Related holidays

• Pentecost ―Sunday, May 27, 2012
• Easter Sunday ―Sunday, April 8, 2012

Other holidays in May 2012 in United States

• Loyalty Day ―Tuesday, May 1, 2012
• Law Day ―Tuesday, May 1, 2012
• World Press Freedom Day ―Thursday, May 3, 2012
• National Day of Prayer ―Thursday, May 3, 2012
• Rhode Island Independence Day ―Friday, May 4, 2012
• Cinco de Mayo ―Saturday, May 5, 2012
• National Nurses Day ―Sunday, May 6, 2012
• Primary Election Day West Virginia ―Tuesday, May 8, 2012
• Primary Election Day Indiana ―Tuesday, May 8, 2012
• Truman Day ―Tuesday, May 8, 2012
• Time of Remembrance and Reconciliation for Those Who Lost Their Lives during the Second World War ―Tuesday, May 8, 2012
• Lag B'Omer ―Thursday, May 10, 2012
• Confederate Memorial Day ―Thursday, May 10, 2012
• World Migratory Bird Day ―Saturday, May 12, 2012
• Mother's Day ―Sunday, May 13, 2012
• Peace Officers Memorial Day ―Tuesday, May 15, 2012
• International Day of Families ―Tuesday, May 15, 2012
• World Information Society Day ―Thursday, May 17, 2012
• Ascension Day ―Thursday, May 17, 2012
• National Defense Transportation Day ―Friday, May 18, 2012
• Armed Forces Day ―Saturday, May 19, 2012
• World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development ―Monday, May 21, 2012
• International Day for Biological Diversity ―Tuesday, May 22, 2012
• National Maritime Day ―Tuesday, May 22, 2012
• Towel Day ―Friday, May 25, 2012
• National Missing Children's Day ―Friday, May 25, 2012
• African Liberation Day ―Friday, May 25, 2012
• Shavuot ―Sunday, May 27, 2012
• Pentecost ―Sunday, May 27, 2012
• Memorial Day ―Monday, May 28, 2012
• Jefferson Davis Birthday ―Monday, May 28, 2012
• International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers ―Tuesday, May 29, 2012
• World No Tobacco Day ―Thursday, May 31, 2012