Many Christians in the United Kingdom, especially those of Roman Catholic faith, observe Corpus Christi in honor of the Holy Eucharist. It is also known as the Feast of the Most Holy Body of Christ, as well as the Day of Wreaths.
Is Corpus Christi a Public Holiday?
Corpus Christi is not a public holiday. Businesses have normal opening hours.
Communion wafers are usually offered at a church service during Corpus Christi.
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What Do People Do?
Corpus Christi is mainly celebrated in the Roman Catholic Church, but it is also observed in a few Anglican churches in the United Kingdom. Many Christians, particularly those who belong to the Catholic denomination, receive Communion on this day.
Some people, particularly children, receive their first Communion during Corpus Christi. This practice, also known as the Eucharist, involves people accepting consecrated bread and wine [or grape juice], which according to Christian faith are Jesus Christ’s body and blood. Corpus Christi usually falls on the Thursday after Trinity Sunday although some churches may celebrate it on the Sunday after Trinity Sunday.
The town of Arundel, in south-east England, has celebrated the feast of Corpus Christi for more than a century. Celebrations include a festival of flowers, which features a carpet of flowers in the Cathedral’s central aisle. The flowers are usually open to the public. The festival also includes a mass and a Blessed Sacrament procession from the cathedral to the town’s castle.
Public Life
Corpus Christi is not a bank holiday in the United Kingdom.
Background
Corpus Christi is a festival that has been celebrated by many Christians, particularly the Catholic Church, in honor of the Eucharist since 1246. The name “Corpus Christi” is a Latin phrase that refers to the body of Christ. This event commemorates the Last Supper on the day before Jesus’ crucifixion, as described in the Bible. Corpus Christi is primarily celebrated by the Roman Catholic Church but it is also included in the calendar of some Anglican churches.
According to some sources, Corpus Christi was celebrated in England from 1318 onwards, while others say that it was introduced in England from Belgium between 1320 and 1325. Special Corpus Christi plays and pageants were customary in England prior to 1547. Corpus Christi guilds often staged these events. Such traditions have been revived in Oxford.
Symbols
Symbols that portray the event may include: an image of a host [consecrated bread] and chalice to depict the Holy Eucharist; an altar; and a ciborium, which is a chalice-like container used to store consecrated hosts of the sacrament of Eucharist, or the Holy Communion.
About Corpus Christi in Other Countries
Read more about Corpus Christi.Corpus Christi Observances
Showing:While we diligently research and update our holiday dates, some of the information in the table above may be preliminary. If you find an error, please let us know.
2024 Various May 30, Jun 3
AustriaThu, May 30National Holiday
BoliviaThu, May 30National Holiday
BrazilThu, May 30National Holiday
ColombiaMon, Jun 3National Holiday [in lieu]
CroatiaThu, May 30National Holiday
Dominican RepublicThu, May 30National Holiday
East TimorThu, May 30National Holiday
Equatorial GuineaThu, May 30National Holiday
Germany May 30
Baden-WürttembergThu, May 30Regional Holiday
BavariaThu, May 30Regional Holiday
HesseThu, May 30Regional Holiday
North Rhine-WestphaliaThu, May 30Regional Holiday
Rhineland-PalatinateThu, May 30Regional Holiday
SaarlandThu, May 30Regional Holiday
GrenadaThu, May 30National Holiday
HaitiThu, May 30National Holiday
LiechtensteinThu, May 30National Holiday
MonacoThu, May 30National Holiday
PolandThu, May 30National Holiday
PortugalThu, May 30National Holiday
Saint LuciaThu, May 30National Holiday
San MarinoThu, May 30National Holiday
SeychellesThu, May 30National Holiday
SpainThu, May 30Regional Holiday
Switzerland May 30
AargauThu, May 30Regional Holiday
Appenzell InnerrhodenThu, May 30Regional Holiday
FribourgThu, May 30Regional Holiday
JuraThu, May 30Regional Holiday
LucerneThu, May 30Regional Holiday
NidwaldenThu, May 30Regional Holiday
ObwaldenThu, May 30Regional Holiday
TicinoThu, May 30Regional Holiday
UriThu, May 30Regional Holiday
ValaisThu, May 30Regional Holiday
ZugThu, May 30Regional Holiday
Trinidad and TobagoThu, May 30National Holiday
VenezuelaThu, May 30Not A Public Holiday
2023 Various Jun 8, Jun 12
AustriaThu, Jun 8National Holiday
BoliviaThu, Jun 8National Holiday
BrazilThu, Jun 8National Holiday
ColombiaMon, Jun 12National Holiday [in lieu]
CroatiaThu, Jun 8National Holiday
Dominican RepublicThu, Jun 8National Holiday
East TimorThu, Jun 8National Holiday
Equatorial GuineaThu, Jun 8National Holiday
Germany Jun 8
Baden-WürttembergThu, Jun 8Regional Holiday
BavariaThu, Jun 8Regional Holiday
HesseThu, Jun 8Regional Holiday
North Rhine-WestphaliaThu, Jun 8Regional Holiday
Rhineland-PalatinateThu, Jun 8Regional Holiday
SaarlandThu, Jun 8Regional Holiday
GrenadaThu, Jun 8National Holiday
HaitiThu, Jun 8National Holiday
LiechtensteinThu, Jun 8National Holiday
MonacoThu, Jun 8National Holiday
PolandThu, Jun 8National Holiday
PortugalThu, Jun 8National Holiday
Saint LuciaThu, Jun 8National Holiday
San MarinoThu, Jun 8National Holiday
SeychellesThu, Jun 8National Holiday
SpainThu, Jun 8Regional Holiday
Switzerland Jun 8
AargauThu, Jun 8Regional Holiday
Appenzell InnerrhodenThu, Jun 8Regional Holiday
FribourgThu, Jun 8Regional Holiday
JuraThu, Jun 8Regional Holiday
LucerneThu, Jun 8Regional Holiday
NidwaldenThu, Jun 8Regional Holiday
ObwaldenThu, Jun 8Regional Holiday
TicinoThu, Jun 8Regional Holiday
UriThu, Jun 8Regional Holiday
ValaisThu, Jun 8Regional Holiday
ZugThu, Jun 8Regional Holiday
Trinidad and TobagoThu, Jun 8National Holiday
VenezuelaThu, Jun 8Not A Public Holiday
2022 Various Jun 16, Jun 20
AustriaThu, Jun 16National Holiday
BoliviaThu, Jun 16National Holiday
BrazilThu, Jun 16National Holiday
ColombiaMon, Jun 20National Holiday [in lieu]
CroatiaThu, Jun 16National Holiday
Dominican RepublicThu, Jun 16National Holiday
East TimorThu, Jun 16National Holiday
Equatorial GuineaThu, Jun 16National Holiday
Germany Jun 16
Baden-WürttembergThu, Jun 16Regional Holiday
BavariaThu, Jun 16Regional Holiday
HesseThu, Jun 16Regional Holiday
North Rhine-WestphaliaThu, Jun 16Regional Holiday
Rhineland-PalatinateThu, Jun 16Regional Holiday
SaarlandThu, Jun 16Regional Holiday
GrenadaThu, Jun 16National Holiday
HaitiThu, Jun 16National Holiday
LiechtensteinThu, Jun 16National Holiday
MonacoThu, Jun 16National Holiday
PolandThu, Jun 16National Holiday
PortugalThu, Jun 16National Holiday
Saint LuciaThu, Jun 16National Holiday
San MarinoThu, Jun 16National Holiday
SeychellesThu, Jun 16National Holiday
SpainThu, Jun 16Regional Holiday
Switzerland Jun 16
AargauThu, Jun 16Regional Holiday
Appenzell InnerrhodenThu, Jun 16Regional Holiday
FribourgThu, Jun 16Regional Holiday
JuraThu, Jun 16Regional Holiday
LucerneThu, Jun 16Regional Holiday
NidwaldenThu, Jun 16Regional Holiday
ObwaldenThu, Jun 16Regional Holiday
TicinoThu, Jun 16Regional Holiday
UriThu, Jun 16Regional Holiday
ValaisThu, Jun 16Regional Holiday
ZugThu, Jun 16Regional Holiday
Trinidad and TobagoThu, Jun 16National Holiday
VenezuelaMon, Jun 20Not A Public Holiday
2021 Various Jun 3, Jun 7
AustriaThu, Jun 3National Holiday
BoliviaThu, Jun 3National Holiday
BrazilThu, Jun 3National Holiday
ColombiaMon, Jun 7National Holiday
CroatiaThu, Jun 3National Holiday
Dominican RepublicThu, Jun 3National Holiday
East TimorThu, Jun 3National Holiday
Equatorial GuineaThu, Jun 3National Holiday
Germany Jun 3
Baden-WürttembergThu, Jun 3Regional Holiday
BavariaThu, Jun 3Regional Holiday
HesseThu, Jun 3Regional Holiday
North Rhine-WestphaliaThu, Jun 3Regional Holiday
Rhineland-PalatinateThu, Jun 3Regional Holiday
SaarlandThu, Jun 3Regional Holiday
GrenadaThu, Jun 3National Holiday
HaitiThu, Jun 3National Holiday
LiechtensteinThu, Jun 3National Holiday
MonacoThu, Jun 3National Holiday
PolandThu, Jun 3National Holiday
PortugalThu, Jun 3National Holiday
Saint LuciaThu, Jun 3National Holiday
San MarinoThu, Jun 3National Holiday
SeychellesThu, Jun 3National Holiday
SpainThu, Jun 3Regional Holiday
Switzerland Jun 3
AargauThu, Jun 3Regional Holiday
Appenzell InnerrhodenThu, Jun 3Regional Holiday
FribourgThu, Jun 3Regional Holiday
JuraThu, Jun 3Regional Holiday
LucerneThu, Jun 3Regional Holiday
NidwaldenThu, Jun 3Regional Holiday
ObwaldenThu, Jun 3Regional Holiday
TicinoThu, Jun 3Regional Holiday
UriThu, Jun 3Regional Holiday
ValaisThu, Jun 3Regional Holiday
ZugThu, Jun 3Regional Holiday
Trinidad and TobagoThu, Jun 3National Holiday
VenezuelaThu, Jun 3Not A Public Holiday
2020 Various Jun 11, Jun 15
AustriaThu, Jun 11National Holiday
BoliviaThu, Jun 11National Holiday
BrazilThu, Jun 11National Holiday
ColombiaMon, Jun 15National Holiday
CroatiaThu, Jun 11National Holiday
Dominican RepublicThu, Jun 11National Holiday
East TimorThu, Jun 11National Holiday
Equatorial GuineaThu, Jun 11National Holiday
Germany Jun 11
Baden-WürttembergThu, Jun 11Regional Holiday
BavariaThu, Jun 11Regional Holiday
HesseThu, Jun 11Regional Holiday
North Rhine-WestphaliaThu, Jun 11Regional Holiday
Rhineland-PalatinateThu, Jun 11Regional Holiday
SaarlandThu, Jun 11Regional Holiday
GrenadaThu, Jun 11National Holiday
HaitiThu, Jun 11National Holiday
LiechtensteinThu, Jun 11National Holiday
MonacoThu, Jun 11National Holiday
PolandThu, Jun 11National Holiday
PortugalThu, Jun 11National Holiday
Saint LuciaThu, Jun 11National Holiday
San MarinoThu, Jun 11National Holiday
SeychellesThu, Jun 11National Holiday
SpainThu, Jun 11Regional Holiday
Switzerland Jun 11
AargauThu, Jun 11Regional Holiday
Appenzell InnerrhodenThu, Jun 11Regional Holiday
FribourgThu, Jun 11Regional Holiday
JuraThu, Jun 11Regional Holiday
LucerneThu, Jun 11Regional Holiday
NidwaldenThu, Jun 11Regional Holiday
ObwaldenThu, Jun 11Regional Holiday
TicinoThu, Jun 11Regional Holiday
UriThu, Jun 11Regional Holiday
ValaisThu, Jun 11Regional Holiday
ZugThu, Jun 11Regional Holiday
Trinidad and TobagoThu, Jun 11National Holiday
VenezuelaMon, Jun 15Not A Public Holiday