Pentecost (Noun)
Meaning 1
Seventh Sunday after Easter; commemorates the emanation of the Holy Spirit to the Apostles; a quarter day in Scotland.
Classification
Nouns denoting time and temporal relations.
Examples
- In some Eastern European cultures, Pentecost is still widely celebrated as a festive occasion.
- According to the biblical account in the book of Acts, the descent of the Holy Spirit took place on Pentecost, transforming the disciples and launching the early Christian Church.
- Many rural parishes across England celebrate Whit Monday with Whit Fairs or processions that resemble some pre-Christian European rituals related to mid-summer.
- Though for Protestants this major Christian festival remains widely neglected, some have rediscovered its liturgical power and beauty in the latest hymns written for the Day of Pentecost.
- Historically, Pentecost was also used as one of the four Scottish Quarter Days, occasions when interest was paid, court judgments were made and rentals collected.
Synonyms
Related Words
Meaning 2
(Judaism) Jewish holy day celebrated on the sixth of Sivan to celebrate Moses receiving the Ten Commandments.
Classification
Nouns denoting time and temporal relations.
Examples
- Pentecost is also known as Shavuot in Hebrew, and is celebrated by Jews all over the world with feasts and readings from the Torah.
- The story of the giving of the Torah on Mount Sinai is read in synagogue on Pentecost morning, reliving the moment when the covenant was sealed between God and Israel.
- During Pentecost, many Jews traditionally decorate their homes with flowers and greenery, symbolizing the blossoming of the desert at the time of the giving of the Torah.
- In some Jewish communities, Pentecost is also a time for confirmation ceremonies, where young people confirm their commitment to the faith and the covenant.
- The evening before Pentecost, many Jews stay up all night studying Torah, known as a Tikkun Leil Shavuot, in preparation for the holiday.