ToolsCorpus Christi part of Trini cultureBridget Brereton in her article "Endless Holidays" (Express, June 21) discussed the status of Corpus Christi as a public holiday. According to Prof Brereton, since Portugal has eliminated Corpus Christi as a holiday and since few Catholic countries have Corpus Christi as a holiday, why not axe Corpus Christi here? It is true that Corpus Christi is not a public holiday in much of Europe. However, there are other Catholic holidays which we do not have, e.g. Ascension, Pentecost, Assumption, All Saints and sometimes the feast of the Immaculate Conception. It may simply be that the cold European weather, even in spring, makes the beautiful, elaborate outdoor procession which is part of Corpus Christi in Trini Catholic culture a bit difficult. Corpus Christi is, however, no longer a purely Catholic festival here, as Prof Brereton seems to think. It is kept by Anglicans, it is the day of the Methodist fair and it is the agrarian planting holiday. It is one of the few holidays which have crossed culture and religion to become peculiarly ours. May I add that, while sympathising with the British High Commissioner, I am unlikely to take his comment on holidays seriously – not with two days public holiday for the anniversary of the Queen's coronation and my memory of a public holiday to mark Queen Victoria's birthday. M O'Callaghan Via e-mail |
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