The dance of sacred pictures in Kashubia, floral carpets in Spycimierz and colourful folk dress at a procession in Łowicz are among the sights and sounds to be admired during the holiday of Corpus Christi.
On the eighth Thursday after Easter, a public holiday, richly adorned altars appear around midday at the head of grand processions down the central streets of Poland’s cities and villages. The Solemn Holiday of the Body and Blood of Christ – Corpus Christi – has been celebrated by the Catholic Church in Poland since 1247, and the first mentions of a procession come from records in the Diocese of Kraków from 1320. Associated with the adoration of Christ in the form of the Host, in the 15th century it evolved into a folk holiday – prayers for good weather, abundant harvest and protection from natural disasters. It comes after the Celebration of the Descent of the Holy Spirit, known as Pentecost, during which, in times long past, wreaths of herbs were woven and then blessed in the church.
In Łowicz, the Corpus Christi procession starts in the cathedral at Old Market Square and then passes through the old town’s streets where it reaches four altars set up especially for this occasion. It then makes a U-turn and returns to the square in front of the cathedral. The four altars in the Corpus Christi procession symbolize the four gospels, four elements and four sides of the earth, and the processions wind around the altars in the shape of a circle or a square; these figures symbolize a perfect creation, in which nothing can be changed or improved,” the ethnologist adds. The tradition includes decorating the route of the procession with green branches and cut calamus shoots, filling the air with the beautiful aroma of freshness while also warding off evil spirits. The windows of houses display crosses, candles and sacred pictures.
A major highlight of the Corpus Christi procession are pasiaki, or traditional colourful costumes from Łowicz. A woman’s folk dress has several layers: underwear, a kiecka, a colourful skirt called zapaska, a bielunka shirt, and a bodice. The attire comes complete with red or amber beads, a silk headscarf and a flower wreath. Such an outfit can weigh up to twenty kilograms. Men put on striped trousers and waistcoats called lejbiki, and don felt hats.
Other interesting processions are held in Małopolska and Podlasie, where folk traditions are still practiced. The most splendorous of them in Kraków is the procession from the Wawel Cathedral to the Mariacki Church, with the participation of members of parishes from the city as well as surrounding villages and towns in folk costumes, carrying flags and feretories, authorities of Catholic universities and guild members. In times gone by, the procession hosted kings and their royal courts.
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