Today is the Second Day of Whitsun, or Pentecost, a Christian holiday and a bank holiday in Iceland. Although Whitsun is a religious holiday, many people skip mass and use the opportunity to engage in outdoor activities with their friends and families.
Whitsun is celebrated ten days after Ascension Thursday and 50 days after Easter Sunday and commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles and the followers of Jesus on that day.
According to kirkjan.is, Whitsun is the third largest celebration on the Christian calendar after Christmas and Easter. It marks the founding of the church because on Whitsun, the Apostles were told to travel around the world and preach.
