What is Whitsun?
Whitsun, also known as Whitsunday or Whit Sunday, is the name used in Britain for Pentecost. Pentecost is a Christian holy day on the seventh Sunday after Easter. It marks an occasion in the Bible after Jesus was resurrected when the Holy Spirit descended upon his disciples and allowed them to “speak in other tongues”.
When is Whitsun 2026?
In 2026, Whitsun falls on Sunday 24 May.
How is Whitsun celebrated?
Traditionally, Whitsuntide, or the week following Whitsun, was a holiday. In the north-west of England, churches and chapels still hold traditional processions called whit walks on Whitsun, including one in Manchester. The walks are often led by a brass band and girls wear white. In the south of England, rural communities would celebrate Whitsun with a drinking festival called a Whitsun ale. There were also fairs and parades held to mark Whitsun, and in the 17th century, a Whit race was held on Kersal Moor near Manchester.
This video captures a Whitsun procession in Clitheroe, Lancashire in 1913: