Ask Andy Anglican

Nick Newcomer asked, “I hear everyone talking about wearing red on Pentecost Sunday. What is the reason for that?”

Andy’s Answer:
So happy you asked!  The Book of Acts reports that tongues “as of fire” rested on each of the apostles at Pentecost.  Red is worn to remind us of that fire, which we associate with the power of the Holy Spirit to purify us, just as gold is purified in fire.  You might be interested to know that the miter (hat) worn by bishops is intended to represent a tongue of fire, connoting the bishop’s connection to the apostles.  Would you also like to know what “Pentecost” means?  The name comes from a Greek word meaning 50th, and Pentecost occurs 50 days after Easter.  It is also sometimes called Whitsunday, a contraction of White Sunday, referring to the white robes of candidates for baptism.  Baptisms are often celebrated on Pentecost.