THE ROMAN FESTIVAL OF CORPUS CHRISTI

By: Latrice McCaskill

WHAT IS THE FESTIVAL ABOUT?

On this day known as The Last Supper the day before Jesus crucifixion, many Christians around the world receive Communion on this day. The name Corpus Christi is a Latin phrase that refers to the body of Christ. The celebrate the celebration with wine and bread.

Where it is Celebrated Corpus Christi is a public holiday in countries such as Austria, Bolivia, Brazil, Croatia, Dominican Republic, Poland, Portugal, and Trinidad and Tobago. It is not a federal holiday in countries, such as Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States.

CELEBRATION

It is a moveable feast that is celebrated on the Thursday after Trinity Sunday or on the Sunday after Holy Trinity in some countries such as the United States. 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.
The feast was introduced from Belgium to England at some stage between 1318 and 1325, according to various sources. In England before the Reformation, there was a famous procession in London on the day. A group of clergymen would move down the street chanting the paternoster, or the Lords Prayer. Over the years, they perfected their timing so that just as they reached a certain corner, they sang Amen. Although the feast of Corpus Christi is no longer observed as a public holiday in England, there was a time when the city guilds were involved in processions on this day and often performed what was known as Corpus Christi plays.

WHY PEOPLE CELEBRATE CORPUS CHRISTI

Corpus Christi is a festival that has been celebrated by many Christians in honor of the Eucharist since 1246.

Others celebrate in honor of Jesus Christ, when he had the last supper right before he was crucified the next day.

SYMBOLS OF CORPUS CHRISTI

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.

DATE OF THE FESTIVAL

The Feast of Corpus Christi, which is a moveable feast, is celebrated on the Thursday after Trinity Sunday or, in countries where it is not a Holy Day of Obligation, on the Sunday after Holy Trinity.
The earliest possible Thursday celebration falls on 21 May (as in 1818 and 2285), the latest on 24 June (as in 1943 and 2038). The Sunday celebrations occur three days later.

Corpus Christi is primarily celebrated by the Catholic Church, but it is also included in the calendar of a few Anglican churches, most notably the Church of England.

SOURCES

http://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/common/corpus-christi