📅 holiday

Corpus Christi *

Thursday, June 4, 2026

— days to go

The feast of Corpus Christi is a public holiday in Brazil, where more Roman Catholics live than in any other country on Earth. The holiday occurs on the Thursday after Trinity Sunday, which falls anywhere from late May to early June. In 2026, Corpus Christi falls on Thursday 4 June. The holiday will be on Thursday 27 May in 2027. Note: Corpus Christi is an optional holiday, known as Ponto facultativos. Most Brazilians are off work for both Corpus Christi and the following Friday, which creates a four-day weekend. Corpus Christi Day was established by Pope Urban IV in A.D. 1264 to celebrate the institution of the Eucharist and the Roman Catholic belief in transubstantiation, to protest against those who deny the presence of Christ’s physical body in the bread of communion, and to ask forgiveness from Jesus for the suffering inflicted on Him. There are special masses followed by colourful street processions in many towns and cities of Brazil on Corpus Christi. Candle-lit processions create “trails of light” in Brasilia, embroidered items are laid on public streets in Ibitinga, the embroidery capital of Brazil, and there are many other famous processions such as those in Minas Gerais, where the first such procession in Brazil was held centuries ago.

History

Corpus Christi Day was established by Pope Urban IV in A. 1264 to celebrate the institution of the Eucharist and the Roman Catholic belief in transubstantiation, to protest against those who deny the presence of Christ’s physical body in the bread of communion, and to ask forgiveness from Jesus for the suffering inflicted on Him. Candle-lit processions create “trails of light” in Brasilia, embroidered items are laid on public streets in Ibitinga, the embroidery capital of Brazil, and there are m

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📅 holiday Feb 10

Feast of St Paul's Shipwreck

The Feast of Saint Paul’s Shipwreck is a holiday unique to Malta because it was on Malta that the Apostle Paul was shipwrecked around the year A.D. 60. In 2027, Feast of St Paul's Shipwreck falls on Wednesday 10 February. The holiday will be on Thursday 10 February in 2028. The feast is kept on February 10th each year, and as Paul is the patron saint of Malta, it is a much-anticipated event. Out of dozens of “saint days” on the church calendar in Malta, the Feast of Saint Paul is one of only a handful that have the status of a national holiday. The account of Paul’s shipwreck and three-month, wintertime stay on Malta is found in the Bible’s Acts 27:27 through 28:11. He was being taken to Rome as a prisoner to eventually stand trial before Caesar. God let him know in advance he would be shipwrecked but would spare the lives of all on board, which promise was later kept and in answer to Paul’s prayers for their lives. The Bible says the storm was in the Adriatic Sea, though Malta borders the Ionian Sea, because in ancient times, the Adriatic’s boundaries were considered to extend much farther south. The ship broke up on the rocks near the shores of Malta, and all swam ashore. The local population greeted them, but thought he might be a murderer whom the “goddess of justice” had finally caught up with after he was bitten by a poisonous snake. After he lived, however, they supposed him to be, perhaps, a god. Paul, however, soon showed them it was God’s power at work in a mere man by healing the governor of the island, Publius, and many others who were sick or disabled among the island’s population. No doubt, Paul preached the Gospel to them as well, and when he left Malta, the inhabitants gave him all necessary supplies out of gratitude. The Feast of Saint Paul’s Shipwreck is kept at the “Parish Church of Saint Paul Shipwrecked” in Malta’s capital city of Valletta. It is also a day of processions and family get-togethers. Three things to do should you visit Malta, though hopefully not be shipwrecked there, on February 10th are:

🎉 festival Feb 13

Brazil Carnival

Brazilian Carnival is the world's largest and most famous Carnival celebration, attracting millions of participants and spectators annually. The festival takes place in the days leading up to Ash Wednesday, with the most spectacular celebrations in Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Salvador, and Recife. Rio's Carnival features the iconic samba school parades at the Sambódromo, while Salvador is known for its trio elétrico trucks and Afro-Brazilian rhythms.

🎉 festival Feb 13

Brazilian Carnival

📅 holiday Feb 23

Defender of the Fatherland Day

Defender of the Fatherland Day is a public holiday in RU.