Going down memory lane - Whitsun traditions in Buckinghamshire

Pentecost

To understand the origin of Whitsun, we need to go to the story of Pentecost as told in the book of Acts in the Bible’s New Testament. Pentecost was actually the Greek term for the Jewish holiday of Shavuot, which is 50 days after Passover. The New Testament was written in Greek, and the Greek for 50th gives us the word Pentecost. At Pentecost the Holy Spirit descended upon Jesus’ disciples in Jerusalem. Saint Peter stood up and preached telling the story of Jesus to the crowds. The crowds were local Jews, and those of the Diaspora. Thousands were baptised and after the festival, they returned to their homelands throughout the Middle East with their new Christian faith. This was effectively the start of the Early Church. Thus Pentecost has been seen as the birthday of the Christian Church, and was one of the four great church festivals along with Christmas, Easter and Harvest Festival.

Passengers about to go on Whit-Monday excursions queue outside the London Transport bus garage at the bottom of Marlow Hill, High Wycombe, May 1955

Passengers about to go on Whit-Monday excursions queue outside the London Transport bus garage at the bottom of Marlow Hill, High Wycombe, May 1955

Whitsun

Historically people would wear white robes on this Sunday. So in England it become known as White Sunday, which inevitably became called Whitsun. The day before Whitsun was Whitsun Eve, and the day after was Whit Monday. The week following was Whit Week and the whole period was called Whitsuntide. Whitsuntide was a popular holiday, largely because of the likelihood of good weather. Good weather at Whitsun was supposed to promise a good harvest. It was at Whitsun that the great mediaeval chivalrous tournaments were held. In the legends of King Arthur it was at Whitsun when he held his most splendid court.

Whitsun ales and Morris dancing

In many parishes Whitsun ales were brewed, and a large barn might be used, and there would be dancing such as morris dancing. Whitsun morris dancing is mentioned by Shakespeare in his play Henry V. Even today many morris dancers wear white, because they are the white clothes of Whitsun. The merriments of Whitsun were not popular with the Puritan government under Oliver Cromwell, which suppressed them. With the restoration of the Monarchy under Charles II, many of them were allowed again.

These children are gathered round a “railway slide” at the Whit-Monday Chalfont Fair held in the grounds of Holy Cross Convent in Chalfont St Peter, May 1955

These children are gathered round a “railway slide” at the Whit-Monday Chalfont Fair held in the grounds of Holy Cross Convent in Chalfont St Peter, May 1955

Whitsun Farthings

In mediaeval times there was an annual farthing tax on households which had a chimney, which was paid towards the upkeep of the local cathedral. The word farthing comes from fourthling, and it was a quarter of a penny. On Whit Monday folk walked in a procession to the local cathedral, or if that was far away to the main church in the vicinity, and they paid what was known as the Whitsun Farthing. Amersham was one of the designated local churches for people to process to, but the folk from the Chesham area resented going all the way to Amersham. In 1454 they petitioned the Bishop of Lincoln to allow them to hold their procession to the parish church in Chesham instead. This was agreed provided they contributed 16 pence annually to the upkeep of the cathedral. After the Reformation the tradition was to collect farthing donations at a special Whitsun service for the upkeep of church buildings generally. This ancient tradition continued in Amersham and Chesham until 1960. In 1957 Christ Church, Waterside in Chesham, collected 14,640 farthings; and Amersham parish collected 15,092 farthings. From 1961 the farthing was no longer legal tender and the tradition died with it.

Whit Monday Bank Holiday

Bank Holidays were introduced into the United Kingdom by the Bank Holiday Act of 1871, Whit Monday was one of the first British Bank Holidays, forming what was known as Whit Weekend. For children though, Whit Week was a week off school, and is the origin of what is now the half-term holiday. With brighter weather coming people would buy a new frock, hat and shoes for Whitsun, and stores would have new Whitsun fashion ranges. Whit Monday became a day for fairs and events and outings. In Chesham, Berkhampstead and Aylesbury in the late 1800s, the local benefit societies, the Foresters and Oddfellows, would make a procession with their banners and bands to the parish church for a service, followed by a Whitsuntide fete with competitions and sports. Amersham held a Whitsun Fair each Whit Monday when cattle and sheep were sold. The local paper reported in 1910 that the fair “is becoming to be looked upon very much as a nuisance” and the tradition died out when the Great War came. Later annual Whit Monday fetes were held in many places such as Castlefield in High Wycombe, Loudwater, Booker, Chorleywood, Holmer Green, Hyde Heath and Chesham.

An advert for Whitsun Food, 1925

An advert for Whitsun Food, 1925

Whitsun Excursions

Railway companies, and later bus and coach companies, offered special Whitsun day excursions to London or places like Eastbourne. Trains from Bucks would be full of people on special one-day excursion tickets to London, and the trains would return with Londoners wanting to have a day out in the Chilterns, or visit their relations in the country.

Spring Bank Holiday Monday

Many churches still have special services on Pentecost Sunday. However in 1971, the British government reviewed the 1871 Bank Holiday Act on its 100th anniversary. It was then decided to fix Whit Monday Bank Holiday as the last Monday in May. Whit Monday became Late May or Spring Bank Holiday, which falls on Whit Monday some years, but not every year.