Corpus Christi is highly significant in Austria and is celebrated with great fervor, processions, and ceremonies throughout the country. This Christian holiday, also known as Fronleichnam in German, commemorates the Holy Eucharist, the sacrament of the last supper of Jesus Christ. It falls on the Thursday after Trinity Sunday, which is ten days after Pentecost, usually in late May or early June. The streets of smaller towns and large cities alike are adorned with flowers and processions, showcasing the strong Catholic heritage of Austria.
The celebration of Corpus Christi in Austria often includes large processions, with people carrying the Blessed Sacrament under a canopy, through the towns and cities. The processions are usually accompanied by music bands, people wearing traditional costumes and children dressed in white. Notably, the tradition of carpeting streets with flowers and herbs for the procession to march over has a long history in Austria and is known as 'Fronleichnamsteppich'. This serves as a vivid and fragrant indication of the community's strong faith.
Aside from the religious aspect, Corpus Christi is also a public holiday in Austria. Schools, businesses and government offices are closed to allow people to participate in the processions and festivities. It's a time for family gatherings and marked by communal meals, sometimes in the open fields after the procession. Despite the variations in celebrations from town to town, the consistent theme throughout is the solemn honouring and expressing of faith in the presence of Christ in the Eucharist.