Whitsunday, Trinity Sunday, and Pentecost

This year, Whitsunday falls on May 19. It is one of the seven principal feasts of the liturgical year and is considered especially appropriate for baptisms. The liturgical color is red, symbolizing fire and the Holy Spirit.

Pentecost comes from the Greek pentēkostē hēmera meaning “fiftieth day,” and it describes the time of the Jewish festival of Shavuot, celebrated fifty days after the harvest offering at Passover.  This is what the disciples were celebrating when the Holy Spirit descended upon them, baptizing them with fire as prophesied in Matthew 3:11 ("I baptize you with water for repentance, ... but one who is coming after me will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.”) On this day, the apostles were introduced to the triune God, and received their mission as the head of Christ’s church.

The origin of the name Whitsunday is a bit more obscure, but the most obvious explanation is that it comes from the Old English Hwīta Sunnandǣg and refers to the old tradition of the newly baptized being garbed in white.

On May 26, Episcopalians honor the Christian doctrine of the Trinity – the equal glory of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, made apparent to followers of Christ on the Day of Pentecost. Trinity Sunday is also one of the seven principal feasts of the Episcopal Church.

From now until the end of the liturgical year (the new year begins the first Sunday of Advent), the Sundays will be numbered “After Pentecost.” The season is often called Ordinary Time, and the altar and vestments will be green to symbolize God’s creation, life, and hope.