Pentecost is also called Whitsun, Whitsunday, or Whit Sunday in the United Kingdom and other English-speaking areas.

For most Christians, Pentecost represents the birthday of the Church, signified by the descent of the Holy Spirit.

The events took place on the day of the Pentecost, in Jerusalem, at 09:00 (“the third hour of the day,” according to Jewish timekeeping). The community of Christ’s disciples, approximately 120 people, was gathered “into an upper room” in a building that Tradition locates on Mount Zion. The Tradition also says that it was the same room where Jesus ate His Last Supper. The events are very well described in Acts 2:1-4:

“And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.

And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.

And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.

And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”

According to the Book of Acts, the experience of the Pentecost was noticed by all in the large crowd, causing confusion and inspiring awe:

“When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking in his own language…. Then how is it that each of us hears them in his own native language? …Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?”” Acts 2:6-12

Then the Apostle Peter, standing with the eleven other apostles, spoke to the crowd. He explained that these strange events had been predicted by the prophet Joel, and that Jesus’ resurrection from the dead and exaltation to heaven had been prophesied by David. Peter then exhorted his listeners to turn to Christ. When Peter was asked what people should do, he responded by saying “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” The Bible suggests that about three thousand responded to Peter’s sermon.

Customs for celebrating Pentecost

In Italy, it was customary to scatter rose petals from the ceiling of the churches to recall the miracle of the fiery tongues. The Italian name Pascha rossa comes from the red colors of the vestments used on Pentecost.

In France, it was customary to blow trumpets during Divine service, to recall the sound of the mighty wind that accompanied the Descent of the Holy Spirit.

In the United Kingdom, the gentry amused themselves with horse races. Whitsunday remains one of the Scottish term days, at which debts are paid and leases traditionally expire, but this Scottish Whitsunday is now always considered to fall on May 15.

In Poland, Pentecost is called “the Green Holiday,” when people decorate their houses with green branches, which—according to tradition—are said to bring God’s blessing upon the home and the people living in it. Another custom, which is slowly becoming rare, is making processions to the fields, where the crops are blessed.

In Ukraine, Pentecost is called “Green Sunday.” The inside of churches are covered with fresh branches of green deciduous trees. Green branches are also placed on the outside banisters and doors of churches and people also place a green branch on the door of their homes. Clergy and altar boys also wear green vestments as do many in the congregation. Green symbolizes new life and Pentecost is thought to be the birthday of the church.

The following Monday is a holiday in much of Europe. The day is known as Whit Monday in England, Wales, and Ireland, and is also celebrated in Iceland, Norway, Denmark, The Netherlands, Poland, Belgium, parts of Switzerland, Germany, Austria and Hungary.

Date of Pentecost

Pentecost does not fall on the same calendar date every year, yet according to Church tradition, Pentecost is always seven weeks after Easter Sunday; that is to say, 50 days after Easter (inclusive of Easter Day). Said otherwise, it falls on the eighth Sunday, counting Easter Day.

The earliest possible date is May 10, and latest possible date is June 13. 

Marina Bellai about her project:

“When last year I crocheted 100 small hearts and hid them in various places in Budapest, I decided t hat this year I would do that again, and I would make even more.

Got heart! This year I’ve dispatched 500 tiny crochet hearts with this message. On the one hand it is obvious that the one who finds a heart, gets a heart – so (s)he has got heart. On the other hand with this short message I also wanted to draw attention to the fact that good dwells in everyone. In you, too! I meant this sentence to plant a seed of an idea, which I hope will germinate in some people. 🙂

They are literally heartful teddies as I really put a crochet heart into their bodies when I make them.

I crocheted 40 hearts on average each day and used about 400 meters of yarn in total. Then I cut the cards, made a hole and tied the hearts to them. Meanwhile I took lots of photos which I used to create the video above. I think the result is pretty cool considering that I’m not a photographer or a film editor.

I started to crochet the hearts on the 1st of January so I finished everything in time but I had to ask my friends to help me to hide the hearts. I think, without them I would be running in the streets with the hearts until Christmas. Thanks to them there are hidden hearts in almost all the districts of Budapest so I am really happy. We’ve started to hide the hearts on the 2nd of February, and we can finish it sometime before Valentine’s Day.

Since I wrote my blog’s name on the cards, people started to send photos of the hearts found.”

Happy hunting and good luck in case you want to find a teddy!

source: welovebudapest.com, topysworld.com

Here are a few definitions. What’s the word?

1. to make clothes and other things using wool/yarn and a special needle with a hook

2. the small, hard part of a plant from which a new plant grows

3. a person who lives in a city, town, village etc.

4. a feeling of liking and caring for someone or something

5. being artistic or interested in the arts

Key

1. to crochet

2. seed

3. dweller

4. affection

5. artsy

In our dreams, we imagine cosy family meals with the kids on their best behaviour and everyone being careful to steer clear of (avoid) those topics they know will cause Great-Uncle Henry to go off on one (UK )/go off on someone (US). We want our parties to go (UK) / go off (US) with a bang  (be very successful) so that everyone has a whale of a time (enjoys themselves very much) and Great-Uncle Henry forgets his usual complaints and turns into the life and soul of the party (becomes happy and sociable).

Unfortunately, life isn’t always like that! Just because someone is your own flesh and blood (part of your family) doesn’t mean they won’t drive you around the bend (annoy you a lot). Most families have a sister-in-law who’s a complete wet blanket (miserable person who stops others enjoying themselves), a child who makes a scene (behaves badly) if they don’t get the exact presents they want, or an over-chatty grandma who won’t let anyone else get a word in edgeways (UK)/edgewise (US).

Older relatives may not appreciate that the kids want to get up at the crack of dawn (extremely early), or that they’ll be climbing the walls (bored and needing exercise) after lunch, just when the adults want to snooze on the sofa. And anyone can go a bit stir-crazy (feel desperate to get away) after being in a room with their family for too long!

Decisions about who to invite or who to visit are a bone of contention (something that causes arguments) in many households. Finances are another worry. You want to be generous, but you don’t want to buy gifts that break the bank (cost too much), and things can be particularly tricky if you don’t see eye to eye (don’t agree) on the appropriate amount to spend.

The occasion is often toughest for the host or hostess. You want everything to run/go like clockwork (be successful), but looking after guests as well as cooking a big meal can be a difficult balancing act. You are rushed off your feet (extremely busy) trying to get everything done, but at the same time you may be walking on eggshells (being very careful what you say or do) in order to avoid conflict. All this stress can take its toll (affect you badly), and it can be very hard to keep your cool (remain calm).

Reading back over this post it seems English has more idioms for negative things than for positive ones. Nevertheless, for readers celebrating something, we wish every happiness, and hope your celebrations go like a dream (very successfully)!

source: dictionaryblog.cambridge.org

to picture[tə ˈpɪktʃər] – elképzelni
– clad [ˈklæd] – (valamibe) öltözött
leprechaun [ˈleprəˌkɑn] – ír mitológiában apró hímnemű tündér-féle
clover [ˈkloʊvər] – lóhere
shepherd’s pie [ˈʃepərd ˈes ˈpaɪ] – pásztorpite
to commemorate [tə kəˈmeməˌreɪt] – megemlékezni
raider [ˈreɪdər] – fosztogató, támadó
to convert [tə kənˈvərt] – megtéríteni
pagan [ˈpeɪgən] – pogány
threat [ˈθret] – fenyegetés, veszély
Holy Trinity [ˈhoʊliː ˈtrɪnətiː] – szentháromság
to prove to be [tə ˈpruːv tə ˈbiː] – bizonyulni valaminek
shamrock [ˈʃæmˌrɑk] – (fiatal) lóhere
petal [ˈpetəl] – szirom
stem [ˈstem] – szár
pigmy [ˈpɪg mi] – kis emberke
sprite [ˈspraɪt] – manó, tündér
wiry – [ˈwaɪriː] – drótszerű
to immortalize [tə ɪˈmɔrtəˌlaɪz] – halhatatlanná válni/tenni
to worship [tə ˈwərʃəp] – isteníteni, imádni