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Whitmonday

Whitmonday

9.9
A public holiday the day after Whitsunday in England, Wales, and Ireland
  • noun
  • Archaic
translation icon : Lunes de Pentecostés
  • The banks will be closed tomorrow for Whitmonday.

Examples

  • Many people used to enjoy picnics and fairs on Whitmonday in 19th-century Britain.

  • Is Whitmonday a public holiday in your area?

  • He always remembers family gatherings on Whitmonday when he was a child.

  • Many people take a break on Whitmonday.

  • On Whitmonday, families often gather to celebrate with outdoor activities and games.

  • In England, Whitmonday is a day when many people take a holiday to enjoy the spring weather.

  • The town hosts a fair every year on Whitmonday, attracting both locals and tourists.

Synonyms

Whitsun Monday
vsWhitmonday
  • Archaic
9.3

The day after Whitsunday that used to be a public holiday in England, Wales, and Ireland

is observed as a legal holiday in England Wales and Ireland

Surface Forms

Whitmonday singular
Whitmondays plural
Whitmondays plural
Whitmonday singular

Morphology

Whitmonday = Whit + Monday (semi-transparent) = whit + monday

The 'Monday' element is obvious but 'Whit' refers to Whitsunday/Pentecost which many learners will not know, making the full sense only partly guessable.

Etymology

The word Whitmonday comes from the old name Whitsun, which means 'white Sunday' because people used to wear white clothes after baptism at that festival. So Whitmonday is simply the Monday after that festival and became a day off when people would meet for family gatherings, picnics, or fairs.