Pentecost

Pentecost (Gr. pentēkostē, 'fiftieth') was the name given to the Jewish feast held on the fiftieth day after the Passover, in celebration of the 'in-gathering,' and in thanksgiving for the harvest (see FESTIVALS). From the Jewish use it was introduced into the Christian, and with special solemnity, as being the day of the descent of the Holy Ghost on the apostles, and of the first solemn preaching of the Christian religion. From early times pentecost has been regarded as one of the great festivals of the Christian year, and it was chosen as one of the times for the solemn administration of baptism; and the English name of the festival, Whit-Sunday, is derived from the white robes in which the newly-baptised were clad. It is regarded as specially sacred to the Third Person of the Blessed Trinity. Many curious usages were anciently connected with the celebration. The figure of a dove (an emblem of the Holy Ghost) suspended by a cord from the ceiling was in some churches lowered so as to alight on the high altar during the service; in others figures of cloven tongues were similarly introduced. In some places in the East, and in the West too, the practice prevails of decorating the churches with evergreens and flowers, as is done in England at Christmas.