The Holy Week Processions in Mendrisio - Holy Thursday

Every spring, Christians around the world celebrate Easter, the most important feast of the liturgical year. The celebration is preceded by the Holy Week, during which Christians each day commemorate a different stage of Christ's Passion. Since the Middle Ages, these events have inspired sacred presentations and religious reenactments that have become an important part of Europe's cultural heritage. The Holy Week Processions of Mendrisio belong to this centuries-old tradition. Held on Holy Thursday and Good Friday, they commemorate the final hours of Jesus Christ's life through a unique combination of faith, art, and community participation.

Part 1 — this story: explores the preparations, offers an insight into the trasparenti, and introduces the Holy Thursday Procession.
Part 2: is entirely dedicated to the Good Friday Procession. Discover it in the story The Holy Week Processions in Mendrisio – Good Friday (Entierro).

In 2019, the Holy Week processions in Mendrisio were inscribed on UNESCO's List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage. The recognition celebrates a tradition that has been passed down through generations, fostering a strong sense of local identity while inspiring artistic creativity and expressing the community's shared spiritual heritage.

Preparations for the processions begin several months in advance. Around February, registration opens for those wishing to portray specific characters, followed by costume fittings and the necessary alterations.

Some roles are assigned according to specific criteria related to the character being portrayed. For example, the person chosen to play Jesus must be between 30 and 40 years of age and between 170 and 190 centimetres tall. His identity remains confidential until the conclusion of the processions and is known only to a small group of organizers.

An essential aspect of the Holy Week Processions in Mendrisio are the “trasparenti” and the processional lanterns. The "trasparenti" are translucent paintings mounted on wooden frames and illuminated from within, created using a distinctive painting technique developed in the late eighteenth century. Depicting biblical scenes and Christian symbols, they are produced especially for the Holy Week Processions in Mendrisio and line the streets of the historic centre during the celebrations. The lanterns, by contrast, are carried in the Good Friday procession (see the dedicated story). Together, they bathe the town in a warm glow, creating a unique atmosphere of solemnity and reflection.

Each “trasparente” is painted on canvas that has first been treated with a mixture of wax and turpentine, allowing it to become translucent when illuminated from behind. This technique enables the work to be appreciated in different lighting conditions: by natural light during the day and, after dark, through illumination from within. The artists, many of them from Mendrisio, use warm pigments to depict scenes from the Passion of Christ, combining theological precision with expressive colour and form.

On Holy Thursday evening, the Funziun di Giüdee (a dialect expression meaning “Function of the Jews”) transforms the streets of Mendrisio into Jerusalem. Through a vivid theatrical reenactment, it portrays Christ’s journey along the Way of the Cross as he makes his way to Mount Calvary to be crucified.

For centuries, the Confraternity of the Blessed Sacrament, a religious brotherhood based in Mendrisio, has organized the Funziun di Giüdee. Although its first centenary was celebrated in 1898, suggesting an origin in 1798, archival records indicate that the processions were already taking place by 1697. Originally, the event consisted of two parts: in the afternoon, villagers dressed as Jews moved through the streets “searching for Christ,” while in the evening a solemn procession silently reenacted the Passion of Christ. Today, only the evening procession survives.

The processions begin in St John’s Square (Piazza San Giovanni) and wind through the historic centre to the “Cappuccini” Church. From there, they retrace the same route to the Church of St John, where the procession comes to an end.

The Holy Thursday procession brings together around 20 groups of characters and approximately 270 costumed participants, including some forty horsemen. As they make their way through the streets of Mendrisio, they create a living tableau that retraces the story of Christ's Passion, transforming the town into an open-air stage.

At the heart of the procession is Jesus carrying the cross, accompanied by the figures who, according to the Gospels and Christian tradition, witnessed the events of the Passion. Together, these characters bring the biblical narrative to life, inviting spectators to reflect on Christ's suffering and preparing them for the solemn commemoration of his death on Good Friday.

The Three Marys accompanied Jesus on his journey to Calvary, embodying compassion, faith, and sorrow. Their presence reflects the steadfast devotion of those who remained at Christ's side during his Passion.

As Jesus makes his way to Calvary, he is accompanied by Simon of Cyrene, who helps him carry the cross; Veronica, who compassionately offers him a cloth to wipe his face; and a young boy carrying a cup of wine mixed with incense, traditionally believed to have a pain-relieving effect.

The Roman soldiers cast lots for Christ’s tunic, a valuable garment woven in a single piece, to decide who would receive it. Together, these figures bring depth and dramatic intensity to this centuries-old tradition, transforming the procession into both a living theatrical performance and a moment of reflection as spectators prepare to commemorate Christ’s death.

“The people stood watching, and the rulers even scoffed at him. They said, ‘He saved others; let him save himself if he is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.’ The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar and said, ‘If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.’ ”  (Gospel of Luke 23:35–37)

Following Christ’s crucifixion, the narrative turns to his death and burial. The Good Friday Procession centres on mourning, inviting participants and spectators to reflect on Christ’s sacrifice and the sorrow of those who remained beside him.

To learn more about the Good Friday Procession, explore the story The Holy Week Processions in Mendrisio – Good Friday (Entierro), the second chapter in this short two-part series.