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The Feast of Corpus Christi |
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The Feast of Corpus Christi (Corpus Cristi) is a religious celebration celebrated on the eighth (8th) Thursday after Easter in Mexico to honor the body and blood of Jesus, which is symbolized by bread and wine offered at church services on the day. The Feast of Corpus Christi is a moveable feast, which means it depends on the date of Easter Sunday. Celebrated on the Thursday after Trinity Sunday, which falls one week after Pentecost Sunday, this Christian observance honors the Holy Eucharist and is also known as the Feast of the Most Holy Body of Christ, as well as the Day of Wreaths. Here in Mexico, Corpus Christi is a religious observance and not a federal public holiday in Mexico.
In Cozumel and across Mexico, Mexicans attending church services receive communion wafers and wine or grape juice in honor of Jesus' body and blood. Celebrated in Catholic and some Protestant churches worldwide, here in Mexico it is a mixed day for some Mexicans who also remember the infamous massacre of student demonstrators in Mexico City on the day of the Corpus Christi festival, on June 10, 1971. More than 100 people died that day, including a 14-year-old boy.
Corpus Christi is unique in several ways in that the feast was not instituted within the Church until the 14th century AD and its advocates for inclusion in the Church roster of holy days were two (2) women. 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. Smbols that portray Corpus Christi 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.
In Mexico, religious processions are common on this day, as is the reposiar, a small shrine or altar set up along the procession's path, covered with a lace trimmed altar cloth and decorated with candles, flowers and garlands. In some parts of Mexico, Corpus Christi is observed with symbolic battles between the Moors and the Christians, particularly in the Sierras of Puebla and Veracruz. Another spectacle that takes place is the Danza de los Voladores, or Flying Pole Dance. The dance involves five (5) men, each representing the five elements of the indigenous world, on a tall pole. One (1) of the men plays a musical instrument at the top of the pole while the remaining four descend the pole with a rope tied to their feet. The rope unwraps itself 13 times for each of the four (4) flyers, symbolizing the fifty-two (52) weeks of the year.
The Day of the Mules (Día de las Mulas), which falls on Corpus Christi, is associated with pre-Hispanic rituals in which people gave thanks to deities of Gods through offerings. It is also believed that a mule knelt in reverence of God on the day of Corpus Christi. If you find yourself in Mexico during the months of May or June, you will often see mules made out of dried corn leaves being sold everywhere. These are part of the celebration of Corpus Christi and Mule's Day with many of the decorations stuffed with candy.
Some attribute the association of mules with this festivity to the fact that in the 1500s, the faithful went to church carrying the best of their harvest on their mules to give thanks. This is a nod to pre-Hispanic rituals, in which gratefulness was shown to several deities through offerings. Even today, more than 500 years later, it is easy to see pre-Hispanic traditions seeping through modern-day celebrations. Curiously, the word "mule" is also used it to refer to someone who is advantageous. If someone wishes you 'Feliz Día de las Mulas' it could be either friendly ribbing or time to wonder?
If you are fortunate to be visiting us during Corpus Christi and Mule Day and would like additional information about the churches in Cozumel to experience our celebrations of these religious observances, please feel free to click on our link - Cozumel Churches and the under the "Select Facility Type", select Places of Worship!
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Copyright 2000 - 2024 Sherri Davis, All Rights Reserved. Contributors retain the copyright to their work. Please do not take art or written content without permission. Other graphics and reference materials are used and attributed as per the Fair Use Provision of The Copyright Act and individual terms of use.
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