Whit Monday in Barbados: just another holiday?

It’s Whit Monday in Barbados and though Barbadians appear to be generally unaware of the significance of the day, many are just happy for the holiday to relax.

The island is still largely considered a Christian society, but when a Barbados TODAY team visited some of the popular hangout spots and chatted with some residents about what the Christian public holiday meant to them, many readily admitted they had no clue while indicating that it was simply “another public holiday” for them and an opportunity to relax, reflect and have fun with family and friends.

“It is just another public holiday for me. Right now, I [am] here with some friends and we having some food and we will take a swim. I don’t know what Whit Monday really means. It is a public holiday, that is what it is,” declared one man.

Sisters Cherise Arnold and Keisha Providence were relaxing on the popular Carlisle Bay Beach along the Bay Street area. They indicated that it was not a tradition for them to come on the beach or do a picnic on holidays, but this time around was special.

However, they too, indicated that they did not know what Whit Monday is all about.

“We don’t know what it means. At least I don’t know what it means,” declared Providence.

“I am here because I wanted to spend some time with my sister. We live in different homes and this month [I celebrate] my birthday, which was on Saturday, so I decided I would come and spend the day with her and enjoy the [atmosphere],” she said.

“I don’t know what it means either,” declared Arnold.

A stone’s throw away was popular broadcaster Alex Jordan with her niece, eight-year-old Zoë Jordan and her best friend eight-year-old Olivia Haynes.

“Today, I took my niece and her bestie out. We did a little treasure hunt with their school and now we’ve come to the beach. It is just stunning here,” she said.

Jordan told Barbados TODAY she did a quick research this morning to get an idea what Whit Monday is all about.

“To be honest, I had to Google Whit Monday. So I know it is a very holy day in the Christian calendar . . . but for me, public holidays are about spending time with family in community. I love this particular beach too, as you know we are unique in the world,” she said, while pointing to the location of the Prime Minister’s office opposite the location.

“I was just reflecting on the fact that the best childhoods are built on these days – spending two hours at the sea with your friend,” said Jordan, who said the intermittent showers for the morning were not a deterrent given the heat.

Whit Monday, which is observed by several countries as a public holiday, is historically considered the day that the Holy Ghost visited the disciples of Jesus and blessed them with the “gift of tongues”, which then became known as the Day of Pentecost.

This Christian holiday is celebrated the day after Pentecost Sunday, just about 50 days after Easter.

Christ Church resident Glendine Cox had a general idea of what Whit Monday meant.

Taking some time from preparing the picnic spot with the family on a section of the Carlisle Bay beach, she explained: “Basically, it is after the crucifixion of Christ, then we have Easter which is when he is risen, and then we have Whit Monday, which is like a celebration after [about] 40 days after he has risen from the dead”.

“This is how we celebrate Whit Monday. A lot of people just think of it as a holiday, but that is basically how I see it,” she added.

“When you study it, we are so blessed to be here. If not for the Lord dying on the cross we wouldn’t be here at all. That is just how I understand it to be,” she said.

Cox said she usually visits the beach with her family where they enjoy a meal, allow the children to take a dip in the ocean and “just basically reflex”.

Meanwhile, entrepreneur Simon Tyson told Barbados TODAY while he grew up hearing about Whit Monday being a holiday, he did not take the time to find out what  the holiday truly meant.

“From a little boy I hear about Whit Monday but I never really see the real significance of it. We just celebrate it,” he said.

“Like Errol Walton Barrow Day we know what is that . . . but Whit Monday I don’t really know about that. I think they need to educate the people and let them know what Whit Monday really stands for and then we will really get it,” he said. marlonmadden@barbadostoday.bb