posted
I was looking into Shavuot trying to find out why I have a couple of days off coming up. One thing that struck me on Judaism 101 is that it mentions the book of Ruth is read at Shavuot and the reason is not clear why. It seems to me that it is a story about harvest. But since it is apparently a grain harvest... perhaps not so much. Shavuot is also a celebration of the giving of the Torah, 50 days after Passover (the Exodus from Egypt and Bondage). It is also sometimes called Pentecost.
So this brings us to Pentecost, when Christians believe the Holy Ghost was poured out on the primitive church. A google of this took me to Wikipedia which linked back to their article on Shavuot and also raised this issue of Whit Monday. Whit Monday is apparently a commmemoration of Pentecost in European Christianity that is celebrated on the last monday in May. This caused me to think of Memorial Day. Do American Christians observe this ever?
But when I went to the Wikipedia for Memorial day, the origin of this holiday is solely attributed to decoration day after the civil war. It talked about the expansion of memorial day to include all departed loved ones and not just war dead. And it mentions that in some churchs, the names of departed loved ones are read the Sunday before. I thought this was very interesting because it takes us back to the Jewish tradition of Yahrzeit- reading the names of the dead and lighting a candle. This occurs a few times during the year, and one of those times is Shavuot.
We don't commemorate Pentecost in the LDS Church, though it seems the veneration of Memorial day is alive and well here in Utah. I'm really curious about Whit Monday, though, and if that has any historical roots with Memorial Day.
Posts: 2010 | Registered: Apr 2003
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posted
Pentecost is celebrated in the Protestant churches (at least the two I've attended - Lutheran and Anglican).
Lots of the splashy color red, (people wear red), red flower decorations, red balloons, red vestements . . . special choir music and other presentations, appropriate readings from the Bible regarding the Holy Spirit and the apostles receiving the Holy Spirit.
Usually a special coffee hour with appropriately decorated cake and other goodies/family activities.
Memorial Day? This is the first year Nathan and I didn't decorate Grampa's grave with flowers and flag, or visit the memorials on the capitol campus grounds and talk about history, and how individual people affect the larger piture and vice versa. (Dang pnuemonia.)
As for "Pentecost," I would never refer to Shavuos by that name, so I can't help you with that. If I need an English term, I call it the Feast of Weeks.
Posts: 32919 | Registered: Mar 2003
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posted
I was surprised by that too, Rivka. It came from Judaism 101
quote: Shavu'ot is also sometimes known as Pentecost, because it falls on the 50th day. The counting reminds us of the important connection between Passover and Shavu'ot: Passover freed us physically from bondage, but the giving of the Torah on Shavu'ot redeemed us spiritually from our bondage to idolatry and immorality.
P.S. That mystery unraveled link is really amazing. I'll have to save the other one for later. Thanks for posting that.
Posts: 2010 | Registered: Apr 2003
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posted
Catholics also celebrate Pentecost. I'm surprised LDS don't.
I think there are things denominations need to import from each other.
From Baptists, evangelism. From Catholics, Anglicans, and Lutherans, Lent, and weekly Eucharist. From charismatics and Pentecostals, living with miracles. From charismatics, Pentecostals, and LDS, taking responsibility for the church (rather than expecting the clergy to do it all). From LDS, maturity in the young. (Maybe it comes from the mission trips.)
Less seriously:
WHAT CATHOLICS CAN LEARN FROM PROTESTANTS How to heat a church Music after 1970 Evangelism The joy of committees Cool fashions for the clergy The Bible
WHAT PROTESTANTS CAN LEARN FROM CATHOLICS Art History Culture How to pronounce "diocesan" Religious tourism Latin
Posts: 1877 | Registered: Apr 2005
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If I need an English term, I call it the Feast of Weeks.
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