FESTIVALS & EVENTS

The Procession of the Holy Blood in Bruges is an annual event that attracts thousands of visitors and pilgrims from all around the world. This medieval procession takes place every year in May – on Ascension Day – when the holy relic believed to contain a drop of Jesus Christ’s blood is taken out in a public procession through the streets of Bruges.

The origins of this ancient custom are believed to date back to 1150, when Thierry de Alsace, Count of Flanders, brought back a phial containing some drops of Jesus Christ’s blood from Jerusalem as war booty. Ever since then, this relic has been kept and venerated at the Basilica Of The Holy Blood in Bruges, where it is paraded during this special procession every year.

The Procession of the Holy Blood is included in the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity (UNESCO World Heritage).