The Day of Pentecost is the feast that commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles and women followers of Jesus, fifty days (seven weeks) after Easter.   In the United Kingdom, it is called Whitsunday, named so for the white garments worn by the newly baptized.   This feast dates back to the first century, but whether it was observed early-on is up for debate.

From the beginning it has been closely related to the Jewish festival of Shavuot, also called the festival of weeks, which was observed at roughly the same time, about fifty days after the Jewish Passover.   Since the early believers were also Jews, it may even have been the reason they were all gathered together when they "heard a great wind and the Holy Spirit descended upon them."

The liturgical colour for the day of Pentecost is red, symbolic of the tongues of fire which rested above the heads of the believers (Acts 2:3).   The name "Pentecost" comes from the Greek word Pentekoste, meaning literally, fiftieth day.  Most Christians recognize the day of Pentecost as the birth of the Church.

The Season of Pentecost is also called "Ordinary Time."   The term "Ordinary" does not mean common or plain, but has its roots in the term "ordinal", which means "numbered."   They are numbered Sundays, also called Propers, which do not fall under the main seasons of Advent, Epiphany, Lent or Easter.   During the Season of Pentecost, which runs from the Feast of Pentecost through to Advent, excluding ember days and holy days, the liturgical colour is green.   Green is the colour of plants and trees and is symbolic of the hope for renewal and eternal life - it is the colour that is symbolic for the life of the Church guided by the Holy Spirit.

The Lord said: "It shall come to pass afterward that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams and your young men shall see visions."   Joel 2:28