Pentecostal Boom

Did you know that the Christian Pentecost was originally a harvest festival? In the Jewish tradition, the festival 50 days after Passover (the beginning of barley harvest) at the end of the wheat harvest in cheerful mood with singing and dancing celebration.
The Dutch word Pentecost comes from the Greek Pentecost, the fiftieth day (after Easter). As a Christian festival from the year 130 they held themselves to the variable date of Easter and the 50-day rule, so Pentecost between May 10 and June 13 falls.
According to Christian tradition, Pentecost to do with an event in which the Holy Spirit on the disciples of Jesus with tongues of fire came down and allowed them to speak many languages. Independently of this was in pre-Christian times as a spring - or celebrating Beltane. Many pagan festivals were converted to Christianity after a Christian twist.
Celebrating the spring of growth and fertility is still in use around the nation to find Pentecost. Often the tree, tree or Pentecostal tree, centerpiece of the festivities. He symbolizes the awakened nature.
In the Netherlands during the Middle Ages was celebrated Pentecost. A girl was chosen to Pentecostal bride crowned. Put men in the village square a Pentecostal tree down. Lithe young men climbed to the top. Everyone danced around while enjoying the Pentecostal beer.
It was believed that a wet Whitsun predicted it would remain forty days rain, the lightning would hit the house, a plague of mice and fruit would rot would ravage the land. But when the house decorated with green branches, it would house, livestock and crops from storms, disease and pest protection.
Sulz and places in the Swiss Gansingen runs on Whit Sunday the "Pfeistprützlig 'around. Here you can find traces of tree worship of the past: a young man between 17 and 20 years in the forest during ritual lasting several hours in a tree because it turned him from head to toe with young beech branches holds. Accompanied by two assistants, he returned to the village, runs through all of village wells, and sprays the crowd with water to fertility and thus ensure a good harvest.
In Romania, the George Green about the same function. In Austria, the Hans im Grünen, the Green Man in Britain, Germany and Scandinavia Maikönigin.
Another ritual is the Swiss' Eierleset. Here are the village entrances arcs drawn from pine branches. Large veiled and clad figures in masks compete with each other. On the side of the spring, "Tannenästler 'and' Stechpälmer" clothed with the relevant branches of the tree (spruce and holly). They are reinforced by a couple, the "Eiermann", which offers young chickens and the "Jassschärtler, playing cards lined with a figure. The latter refers to the newly awakened desire to play.
Tannenästler Stechpälmler


At the end of winter are "Straumuni" (covered with straw), "Schneckenhäusler" (covered with empty snail shells) and "Hobelspänler" (lined with plane chips), reinforced by a bunch of old people.
There is a fierce battle between spring and winter, the spring always wins. Losing winter then exhausted to the ground.
Schneckenhäusler Hobelspänler
In southern Germany is the branches of spruce-clad "Pfingsti 'around and asking for donations. This tradition refers to the words of Jesus: "He who asks will receive, he who seeks will find, who knocks will be admitted.
Pentecostal Pentecostal Tree Climbers Tree in Heerlen
In Germany and Switzerland are still at Pentecost "Brunnenfeste '(putfeesten) place. For this, the village wells already on Whit Saturday with flowers and birch branches decorated with colored ribbons and chains are attached.
Pentecostal tree has the same meaning as the Maypole. It's a bald strain on its top with a garland, bows and flags decorated. Green branches and wreaths are a symbol of fertility. In Thuringia (Ost, Germany) was called into the branches clad figures' Laubmann, Laubkönig, Grüner Mann and Grass Frog König König.