The famous Catholic holiday "Corpus Christi" is celebrated all over the world, but you'll never forget what you'll see in Villa de Mazo. People from all the surrounding villages create real masterpieces made entirely of flowers. They collect the materials and work on them weeks in advance.

Corpus Christi Dates

Corpus Christi, translating to "Body of Christ" in Latin, is primarily observed by Catholics. This movable feast's timing depends on the date of Easter and takes place between May 21 and June 24 (on Thursday after Trinity Sunday).

Corpus Christi Traditions

Each village is supposed to make an archway, a carpet, and a little altar. These marvelous pieces of art are usually decorated with petals, leaves, and seeds. The main feast day is ten weeks after Maundy Thursday. At this time, the archways are prepared during the night from Wednesday to Thursday and stay up until Sunday. On Sunday, a special church procession goes around the archways. Holding the blessed water in the monstrance, the priest walks on the carpets while everyone else walks on the sides. When he reaches each archway, he puts the monstrance on the little altar, kneels, and wafts incense around.

Thousands of people observe this procession. Mazo in La Palma is one of the best places to become a part of this traditional fiesta. Also, the northern Tenerife town of La Orotava has celebrated this holiday since 1846 and is renowned for its carpets. A religious parade passes over the carpets, followed by a great fiesta of music and dance. Arucas in Gran Canaria has famous carpets as well. You'll be fascinated by the color and fragrances of this holiday as they saturate different towns.