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Corpus Christi in United States

Quick Facts

Corpus Christi is observed in honor of the Holy Eucharist.

Local names

NameLanguage
Corpus ChristiEnglish
Corpus ChristiSpanish

Corpus Christi 2013

Thursday, May 30, 2013

Corpus Christi 2014

Thursday, June 19, 2014
List of dates for other years

Many Christians in the United States, particularly those of the 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.

Communion wafers are usually offered at a church service during Corpus Christi.

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What do people do?

In commemoration of the Last Supper on the day before Jesus’ crucifixion many people, especially those who belong to the Catholic denomination, receive Communion on this day. It is celebrated on the Sunday after Trinity Sunday in some parts of the United States, although the day falls on the Thursday after Trinity Sunday in other places.

Some people, particularly children, may celebrate their first Communion on this day. This practice, also known as Eucharist, is observed throughout the life of a Christian and is a time of worship when people believe they come together as one body to remember and celebrate the life and works of Jesus Christ. It involves the acceptance of bread and wine in memory of the body and blood of Christ.

Public life

Corpus Christi is not a federal holiday in the United States.

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.

The city of Corpus Christi, in Texas, was named after the day. In 1519, on the day of Corpus Christi, Spanish explorer Alonzo Alvarez de Pineda discovered a lush semi-tropical bay on what is now the southern coast of Texas. The bay, and the city that later grew in that area, took the name of the feast day.

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

WeekdayDateYearNameHoliday typeWhere it is observed
ThuJun 141990Corpus ChristiChristian 
ThuMay 301991Corpus ChristiChristian 
ThuJun 181992Corpus ChristiChristian 
ThuJun 101993Corpus ChristiChristian 
ThuJun 21994Corpus ChristiChristian 
ThuJun 151995Corpus ChristiChristian 
ThuJun 61996Corpus ChristiChristian 
ThuMay 291997Corpus ChristiChristian 
ThuJun 111998Corpus ChristiChristian 
ThuJun 31999Corpus ChristiChristian 
ThuJun 222000Corpus ChristiChristian 
ThuJun 142001Corpus ChristiChristian 
ThuMay 302002Corpus ChristiChristian 
ThuJun 192003Corpus ChristiChristian 
ThuJun 102004Corpus ChristiChristian 
ThuMay 262005Corpus ChristiChristian 
ThuJun 152006Corpus ChristiChristian 
ThuJun 72007Corpus ChristiChristian 
ThuMay 222008Corpus ChristiChristian 
ThuJun 112009Corpus ChristiChristian 
ThuJun 32010Corpus ChristiChristian 
ThuJun 232011Corpus ChristiChristian 
ThuJun 72012Corpus ChristiChristian 
ThuMay 302013Corpus ChristiChristian 
ThuJun 192014Corpus ChristiChristian 
ThuJun 42015Corpus ChristiChristian 
ThuMay 262016Corpus ChristiChristian 
ThuJun 152017Corpus ChristiChristian 
ThuMay 312018Corpus ChristiChristian 
ThuJun 202019Corpus ChristiChristian 
ThuJun 112020Corpus ChristiChristian 

Other holidays in May 2013 in United States

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