Corpus Christi 2019 and 2020
In Roman Catholic cantons and regions of Switzerland, the Feast of Corpus Christi is observed. This holiday is meant to celebrate the Catholic belief in the “real presence” of Christ’s body and blood in the bread and wine of holy communion.
| Year | Date | Day | Holiday | Cantons |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 20 Jun | Thu | Corpus Christi | National except AR, BL, BS, BE, GE, GL, NE, SH, SG, TG, VD & ZH |
| 2020 | 11 Jun | Thu | Corpus Christi | National except AR, BL, BS, BE, GE, GL, NE, SH, SG, TG, VD & ZH |
Corpus Christi falls on the Thursday after Trinity Sunday, about 60 days after Easter. Its date varies from year to year, but it is always somewhere between 21 May and 24 June.
In Switzerland, there will be various Corpus Christi Day special masses and religious processions. Since Protestants do not believe in the doctrine that Corpus Christi commemorates, they are not likely to actively participate in these events unless purely for the sake of enjoying the community aspects of these festivities.
Some of the more famous Corpus Christi Day processions in Switzerland are those that take place in Fribourg, Lotschental, and Erschmatt. But there are many more. People in the parade will often don colourful, traditional clothing, and there will be many colourful banners and much excitement.
