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Whitsun

Historical Festival
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

Alternative name for Pentecost, especially in British tradition, celebrating the Holy Spirit’s descent with white garments

Detailed Definition
Whitsun, from “White Sunday,” refers to the white robes of the newly baptized. In poetry, especially English (e.g., Larkin’s “Whitsun Weddings”), it symbolizes new beginnings, communal journeys, and spiritual awakening. Poets use it to explore themes of renewal, the mingling of sacred and secular, and the hope of divine presence in ordinary life—making it a symbol of grace arriving in unexpected moments.
Example
Example in poetry:
George Herbert’s “Whitsunday” explores Pentecost’s fiery inspiration; Poets use Whitsun to explore divine breath, community, and new beginnings; In modern verse, Whitsun symbolizes unexpected grace and unity; The feast appears in late spring poetry as spiritual summer; Poets contrast white garments with fiery tongues; Liberation poets reference Whitsun as inclusive empowerment.
Additional Notes
Whitsun (Pentecost) is synonymous with Pentecost (ID 13693); see that entry for notes on the Holy Spirit’s descent, multilingual unity, and the birth of the Church as a poetic moment of divine inspiration and communal formation.
Other Meanings of “Whitsun”
Also Known As
Whitsuntide Pentecost
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