Corpus Christi in Breña Baja (San Jose)

Salt carpet for Corpus Christi in San Jose de Breña Baja, La Palma
Salt carpet for corpus christi in San Jose

San Jose in Breña Baja always celebrates Corpus Christi on the Sunday after Mazo’s celebration. Since the whole thing takes out on a flat, tarmaced street, the tradition is to make carpets of coloured salt, with the altars being much more modest. In recent years, many of the carpets are made from seeds and petals, like the ones in Mazo.

Salt carpet for Corpus Christi in San Jose de Breña Baja, La Palma
Salt carpet for corpus christi in San Jose

Much as I love the petals, I think it’s a mistake for San Jose to become a second-rate Mazo. I prefer salt (which I suspect wouldn’t work on Mazo’s steep cobbles, anyway). You can have brighter colours and finer detail.

The carpets are made on the Saturday evening, and stay there until Sunday evening.

Salt carpet for Corpus Christi in San Jose de Breña Baja, La Palma
Salt carpet for corpus christi in San Jose

Posted by sheila

Sheila came to La Palma with a six month contract and has stayed 24 years so far. She used to work as a software engineer at the observatory, but now she's a writer and Starlight guide.

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