Pentecost comes from Shavuot, a Jewish harvest festival. The apostles were celebrating this festival when the Holy Spirit came down on them.
Peter speaks to the crowd
It was like a gust of wind but looked like fire.
The meaning of Pentecost
The apostles then realised they were now multilingual.
Symbols of Pentecost
People assumed they were drunk, but Peter told the crowd the apostles had experienced the Holy Spirit.
Christians celebrate the gift of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, 50 days after Easter (the Greek pentekoste meaning 50th). Ministers often wear red robes to symbolise the flames.
The symbols of Pentecost are those of the Holy Spirit, flames, wind, the breath of God and a dove.