so much for that idea

[aryanhwy]

The plan for today was to head out to the office, make some photocopies, run to the close library to return a few books and pick up some that are on hold, do a few more things, and then eventually head up to the Singel library to spend the day there finishing up my Anselm paper and immersing myself in the names of VOC ships from the early 17th century. Well, the fact that we didn't get the usual Monday morning email announcing tea and cookies at 11am should've tipped me off, but it wasn't until I got out to the office and found it completely closed that I had a vague recollection of hearing something about today...

Yup, we've got another religious holiday on our hands here. Happy Whitmonday, everyone! I thought celebration of this holiday had gone out with the Middle Ages. (I also thought of it as something peculiarly Catholic, but it's not one Joel was familiar with.)

So I guess I'll have to stick around at home and finish up my Anselm paper and immerse myself in the names of aliens in the 1593 return of strangers in London.

Comments

Whitsunday

[eliskimo.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure I ever thought of it as particularly Catholic; more of an English thing. I don't remember the first Monday in June ever being a holiday in Italy. I remember C.S. Lewis noting the day in some of his writings and yesterday, the Robin Hood group I associate with was having a Whitsunday gathering in Toronto (I couldn't make it).

I remember when we were in Italy and both St. Nicholas Day and the Feast of the Immaculate Conception were only two days apart (Dec 6th & 8th, IIRC) and they were both holidays. My Dad told me that in Holland, Dec 7th was a holiday, too, because the Dutch just love taking holidays (that it just wouldn't be efficient to open for one day between two holidays).

Re: Whitsunday

[jpgsawyer.livejournal.com]

For more information than you ever wanted to know about Whitsunday or Pentecost see

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pentecost

In the UK the second bank holiday in May is the vestigal remains of this. The Whitsunday name apparently comes from the white robes worn by those baptised the previous easter.

By the way the Italians call it Pascha rossa from the colour of the robes worn by the Priests on that Sunday but they don't take a holiday for it unlike most of Europe used to.

Hope this helps......

Re: Whitsunday

[eliskimo.livejournal.com]

I guess we had the same idea and were typing at the same time! (see my other comment below)