Whit Sunday and Monday usually propels people to take advantage of a long weekend without really knowing why.

As a major religious celebration, Pentecost is a public holiday in several countries including Luxembourg, France, and Belgium – but how it is observed varies significantly.

Pentecost is one of those long weekends when people often exchange well-wishes without remembering the reason behind the holiday. “I forgot”, “Is it Ascension Day?”, “Does it have something to do with Lent?” – if you're not entirely sure, you're not alone. Yet, Pentecost remains one of Christianity’s most important festivals.

Celebrated 50 days after Easter, Pentecost commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles – a foundational moment for the Christian Church, symbolised by a divine flame. However, confusion often arises with Whit Monday, the day after Pentecost Sunday. Is it a public holiday? Do people work? Is it paid? That depends entirely on which country you're in.

Belgium: Holiday for everyone

In Belgium, Whit Monday is a statutory and paid public holiday. It is one of the country’s ten official holidays, alongside others such as Christmas Day and Labour Day. Schools and workplaces close, and there is no question of the day being subtracted from an employee’s general leave or made up at a later time. This clarity stands in contrast to Belgium’s neighbouring countries.

France: A Day of solidarity

Whit Monday underwent a transformation in France in 2004. Following the 2003 heatwave, which caused the deaths of thousands of elderly people, the Raffarin government introduced a "day of solidarity". Employees were asked to work at their usual wage on Whit Monday, with proceeds allocated to support services for elderly and disabled citizens.

However, since 2008, the day of solidarity can be scheduled on any day of the year – a decision left to the employer, and sometimes the employee, if mutually agreed. Currently, some businesses maintain Whit Monday as a non-working day, while others do not, requiring employees either to work or count it against their annual leave. In 2025, thousands of French workers will be at work on Whit Monday without additional pay – a situation that continues to generate confusion and frequent misunderstandings.

Luxembourg: Public holiday with bonus leave for civil servants

In Luxembourg, the rules are clear: Whit Monday is one of the Grand Duchy’s 11 statutory public holidays. Most employees do not work on the day. For those who do – in public interest roles or sectors such as hospitality – labour agreements stipulate compensation in the form of equivalent time off, double pay, or more, depending on collective agreements.

Uniquely, Luxembourgish civil servants also receive an additional half-day off on Whit Tuesday, known as recreational leave. This institutional tradition, which offers staff the chance to attend the UNESCO-listed Dancing Procession in Echternach, is a cultural privilege passed down through administrative heritage.