Whit Monday

What is Whit Monday?

Whit Monday is the day after Whit Sunday, or Pentecost, and falls 50 days after Easter Sunday. In many European countries, including Germany, France, Belgium and the Netherlands, it is a public holiday. Its date moves with Easter, between mid-May and mid-June.

In 2027 it falls on Monday 17 May.

Together with Whit Sunday, Whit Monday forms the Pentecost weekend, the last of the great feasts of the Easter season. In countries where it is a day off, it is a popular weekend for short breaks, outdoor events and fairs.

Whit Monday in the UK

Whit Monday used to be a bank holiday in the UK. Because its date moved with Easter, it was replaced by a fixed spring bank holiday on the last Monday in May, which falls around the same time of year but is easier to plan for. Today Whit Monday is a normal working day, unless it happens to coincide with the spring bank holiday.

In the past, Whitsun week was a traditional holiday for mill and factory workers in the north of England, with fairs and outings to the seaside. Some of these traditions live on in the spring bank holiday weekend.