Closed for Spiritual Uh Stuff next Sunday!

So in Christian nations all around the world, Pentecost Sunday is a national Holiday. But how many of you can clearly remember what it is we all celebrate on this day? 

Pentecost (Ancient Greek: Πεντηκοστή [ἡμέρα], Pentēkostē [hēmera], "the fiftieth [day]") is the Greek name for the “Feast of Weeks”, a prominent Holy event in the calendar of ancient Israel celebrating the giving of the Law on Sinai. This is still celebrated in Judaism as Shavuot. 

Later, in the Christian liturgical year, it became a feast commemorating the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles and other followers of Jesus Christ (120 in all), as described in the Acts of the Apostles 2:1–31. For this reason, next Sunday is sometimes described by overly literal Christians today as the "Birthday of the Church".

In the Eastern Church, Pentecost can also refer to the whole fifty days between Easter and the day itself; hence the book containing the liturgical texts for Paschaltide is called the Pentecostarion. The feast is also called White Sunday, or Whitsun, especially in England, where the following Monday was traditionally a public holiday. Pentecost is celebrated seven weeks (50 days) after Easter Sunday, hence its name. It also falls on the tenth day after Ascension Thursday.

The Pentecostal movement of Christianity derives its name from the New Testament event.

For some Protestants, the nine days between Ascension Day, and Pentecost are set aside as a time of fasting, and world-wide prayer in honour of the disciples' time of prayer and unity awaiting the Holy Spirit. Similarly among Roman Catholics, special Novenas are held. The Pentecost Novena is considered the first among them, all other Novenas offered in preparation of various festivals and Saints days deriving their practice from those original nine days of prayer observed by the Disciples of Christ.

While the Eve of Pentecost was traditionally a day of fasting for Catholics, today's canon law no longer requires it. Both Catholics and Protestants may hold spiritual retreats, prayer vigils and litanies in the days leading up to it. In some cases vigils on the Eve before may last all night. The day is also one of the occasions specially appointed for the Lutheran Litany to be sung. 

From the early days of Western Christianity, Pentecost became one of the days set aside to celebrate Baptism. In Northern Europe it was preferred even over Easter for this rite, as the temperatures in late spring might be supposed to be more conducive to outdoor immersion as was then the practice. It is proposed that the term Whit Sunday derives from the custom of the newly baptised wearing white clothing, and from the white vestments worn by the clergy in English liturgical uses. The holiday was also one of the three days each year (along with Christmas and Easter) Roman Catholics were required to confess and receive the sacrament of Holy Communion in order to remain in good church standing.

Holy Communion is likewise often a feature of the Protestant observance of Pentecost as well. It is one of the relatively few Sundays some Reformed denominations may offer the communion meal. 

Above all, this religious day is a day for Confirmation celebrations of young people. Flowers, the wearing of white robes, or white dresses recalling Baptism, rites such as the laying on of hands, and vibrant singing play prominent roles on these joyous occasions, the blossoming of spring forming an equal analogy with the blossoming of youth.

Since Pentecost itself is on a Sunday, it is automatically a public holiday in Christian countries. Pentecost Monday is also one in many European countries, including Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, France, 

Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Romania (since 2008), (most parts of) Switzerland, Ukraine and also in the African nations Senegal, Benin and Togo.

In Sweden it was also a public holiday, but then it (Annandag Pingst) was replaced by Swedish National Day on June 6, by a government decision in 2004. In Italy and Malta, it is no longer a public holiday. In Ireland it was until 1973, when it was replaced by Early Summer Holiday on the first Monday in June. In the United Kingdom the day is known as Whit Monday, and was a bank holiday until 1967 when it was replaced by the Spring Bank Holiday on the last Monday in May.

SO on the slim chance you cared: now you know! 

Have a good Holiday, pervs ;-) — at Toys4Boys Antwerp