Programme
Experience every element of Bruges’ finest day – from the morning procession to the closing ceremony. Find a wealth of background information and get to know the various scenes with the help of this digital programme guide.
Holy Blood Day: an intense day
10.25: Morning Procession (Burg)
Bruges will already be in a festive mood in the morning, even though the actual Blood Procession won’t be taking place until the afternoon. The relic of the Holy Blood will be placed in the shrine on the Burg at 10.25, whilst the victory bell is ringing in the belfry. Accompanied by a band and the emblems of the basilica, the Noble Brotherhood of the Holy Blood will take the shrine and a delegation from the city council to the Saint Saviour’s Cathedral for a solemn Eucharistic celebration.
11.00: Solemn celebration (Saint Saviours’s Cathedral)
As was the case in previous centuries, the Bishop of Bruges invites Bishops from neighbouring dioceses and Abbots from the surrounding abbeys to the Holy Blood Day. Nowadays the nuncio and representatives from the Bruges Anglican and Orthodox Church are present too. The bishop leads this international celebration. There is an opportunity to venerate the relic of the Holy Blood after Mass.
14.30: The actual Procession of the Holy Blood (inner city)
The actual Procession of the Holy Blood starts at 2.30 pm. The procession leaves from the Dijver. The passage of the procession will take about an hour and a half at any point along the route. Take a look at Practical for more details about the route.
17.30: Blessing with the relic (Burg)
There will be a closing ceremony on the Burg after the procession, which everyone is invited to.
Digital programme guide
Don’t miss a single moment and delve into the Procession of the Holy Blood with our digital programme guide! Discover the deep-rooted significance of the five parts and get to know our 54 participating groups through text, images and sound – and learn about the symbolism of the scenes.
Prefer a printed guide?
Our paper programme is richly illustrated and offers detailed information about the five parts of the procession and 54 participating groups – and it’s a lovely memento to look back on after the procession.
You can buy the printed programme in advance from ‘t Zand (Concertgebouw) or Markt (Historium) information offices.
Or you’ll also be able to get your hands on a copy on the day itself, just before the procession makes its way through the streets. It will be for sale along the route.
Do you have any questions?
Feel free to contact us.
We are happy to help you experience this special event.
