Orthodox Whit Monday Date in the current year: June 24, 2024

In the Catholic Church, Whit Monday is not a religious holiday, whereas in the Eastern Orthodox Church it is celebrated as the afterfeast of Pentecost dedicated to God the Holy Spirit. It is usually referred to as Day of the Holy Spirit or Monday of the Holy Spirit.

The feast commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles on the fiftieth day after the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. As the date on which the feast is observed depends on Easter, it falls on different days in different years. It is celebrated either in May or in June. As far as liturgy is concerned, Whit Monday services are very similar to those held on Pentecost.

There are some folk traditions related to the holiday. For example, Ukrainian peasants used to consecrate wells on this day. They believed that mermaids left rivers and lakes to harass people and hid in the wells near villagers' dwellings. Consecration of wells was meant to get rid of mermaids and protect the household from evil spirits.