The solemnity of Corpus ChristiAlso known as Corpus Christi in the Catholic tradition, it is celebrated differently in countries with a Catholic majority such as Italy, Brazil, Spain and Portugal.
In Italy, although it has strong religious value, the date It is not considered a holiday national since 1977. The celebration takes place on the Sunday following the Holy Trinity, with masses and processions in several cities. Commerce, transport and public services operate normally.
In Brazil, Corpus Christi It has been a national holiday since 1961. The date always falls on a Thursday, 60 days after Easter, allowing for the so-called “long weekend”. Many cities hold processions and the traditional making of carpets with sawdust and flowers.
In Spain, Corpus Christi is a public holiday in some autonomous communities, such as Castile-La Mancha and Galicia. The celebration takes place on Thursday, with a large presence of the faithful and religious processions, especially in Toledo, where the festival is recognized as Cultural Heritage.
In Portugal, the date is also a national holiday and has great liturgical importance. The festival takes place on Thursday and, as in Brazil, is marked by processions and public events. Cities such as Braga and Lisbon maintain traditional celebrations.
In practice, while Brazil, Portugal and parts of Spain consider Corpus Christi a day of rest and reflection, in Italy the religious character remains, but without civil paralysis.
Events like the “infiorata” de spello and the procession of Orvieto still attract the faithful and tourists, demonstrating that the tradition endures even outside the official holiday calendar.
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