The third biggest Christian feast remains a mystery to most people.

Pentecost is a time of long mornings sitting in bed and summer days in the sun. But it should actually be combined with puff pastry, fish and fellowship.

A long weekend marks the birthday of the church and the descent of the Holy Spirit.

That's what Professor of Modern Theology Niels Henrik Gregersen told us to explain what an extended weekend really means. We'll break down the basics here, and for more in-depth insights we recommend you visit fyens.dk.

Understand the stranger

It all started with a party. The disciples of Jesus gathered in Jerusalem after his death, and although they spoke very different languages, on this day they were suddenly able to understand each other.

According to the Bible, this was the work of the Holy Spirit, but something we can still strive for here thousands of years later, says Niels Henrik Gregersen.

- You could say that if anything is needed today, it is understanding between different cultures and languages," he says.

Served with puff pastry and bubbles

The sudden ability to speak together meant that many disciples came together to form the Christian church. This is why Pentecost is the birthday of the church and a good occasion to gather together as the disciples did.  

- Obviously, the feast should be celebrated with family and friends. Otherwise, it may not work out. It could be a nice Pentecost lunch, and then I'd personally suggest champagne," says Niels Henrik Gregersen. 

A dance for the larks

According to the professor, Pentecost in general suffers from not being surrounded by well-established traditions. 

- There is one with a very early rise and watching the Pentecostal sun dance. But then you have to get out of bed at 4 or 5 o'clock, and most people sleep longer," says Niels Henrik Gregersen.

Earlier, Bishop Jan Lindhardt of the Roskilde Diocese actually tried to make amends for the traditionally impoverished feast. In 1999 he teamed up with the fish industry in the hope that traditional dishes like lamb at Easter could be enjoyed on Trinity. 

- He made an advertisement for fish and said that we should eat fish on Pentecost, but there is no special tradition for it," says Niels Henrik Gregersen.

Overall, the professor thinks the problem is that people don't think about the reason for the extra weekend.

- It's also bad that people don't know much about Pentecost. This is the day when you realize that we are spiritual beings and live on the basis of the spirit and live as free people with the new opportunities that the power of the Holy Spirit provides," he says.

The Day of Pentecost always falls on the seventh Sunday after Easter. This means that it cannot fall earlier than 10 May and no later than 13 June. This year Pentecost falls on 20 May. Both Pentecost and the next day, Second Pentecost, are public holidays in Denmark.

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