Procession of the Confraternities of Bonifacio

The Procession of the Brotherhoods of Bonifacio

The Procession of the Brotherhoods of Bonifacio is one of the most emblematic religious events of Holy Week in Corsica. Every year, on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday, the five brotherhoods of Bonifacio parade in procession through the old town to celebrate the Passion of Christ, perpetuating a tradition inherited from over eight centuries.

The Five Brotherhoods

The city of Bonifacio has five centuries-old brotherhoods, whose origins date back to the Middle Ages: Sainte-Croix, Saint-Jean-Baptiste, Saint-Barthélemy, Sainte-Marie-Madeleine, and Saint-Érasme. The brothers, dressed in their traditional attire and sometimes hooded, carry richly decorated wooden reliquaries, topped with the statue of their brotherhood's patron saint and illuminated by paper lanterns.

A Living Tradition

On Maundy Thursday, the brotherhoods gather in the Sainte-Marie-Majeure church for the Office of Tenebrae, marked by the custom of « matzuchi », long palms struck on the ground by the assembly to evoke the thunder and tremors of the Crucifixion. On Good Friday, starting in the morning, the circular processions of the five brotherhoods take place, led by the cross-bearer and accompanied by litanies and cartatorci (torch-bearers).

A Highlight of Bonifacian Life

Deeply rooted in Bonifacio's identity, this event brings together residents and visitors in an intimate and solemn atmosphere. It constitutes one of the highlights of the religious heritage and popular traditions of Southern Corsica.