Maundy Thursday in Uruguay
In Uruguay, Maundy Thursday falls within the five-day period officially called Semana de Turismo, which coincides with Christian Holy Week. The name reflects Uruguay’s secular public calendar, while churches continue to observe the day’s Christian meaning.[1][2]
A Christian observance in a secular calendar
For Catholics, Holy Thursday recalls the Last Supper and the institution of the Eucharist. Uruguay’s Episcopal Conference describes it as the opening of the Paschal Triduum, which commemorates Jesus’ passion, death and resurrection. The Gospel account of Jesus washing his disciples’ feet also gives the day its association with service and the commandment of love.[2]
Uruguay’s official name for the overlapping five-day period is Semana de Turismo, or Tourism Week. Canelones’ official tourism information traces that naming to the formal separation of the state and the Catholic Church, completed in 1919. The secular name does not replace church observances: Catholic communities mark Holy Thursday within the same week.[1][2]
Church services
The Episcopal Conference describes the central Holy Thursday service as the Mass of the Lord’s Supper. It may include the washing of feet, and the consecrated sacrament is reserved in a prepared place in the church for prayer and adoration. Some dioceses also hold a Chrism Mass, at which the bishop blesses or consecrates oils used in church rites.[2]
Celebrations take place across the country, but their schedules and local arrangements differ by diocese and parish. The Episcopal Conference has documented Holy Thursday services in dioceses around Uruguay, including the Mass of the Lord’s Supper and, in some places, a period of prayer afterward. Check a local church’s current schedule for service times.[2]
Legal status and work
Semana de Turismo is classified as a laborable holiday period in the official Canelones tourism calendar. Uruguay’s general holiday guidance says that this period is exempt from the usual rules that move certain holidays to a nearby Monday. Maundy Thursday therefore remains on its weekday; it is not shifted under those rules.[1][3]
A laborable holiday does not, by itself, mean that every worker has a paid day off. Uruguay’s Ministry of Labour explains that the effect of common holidays depends on whether a worker is paid by the day or by the month. For public administration, the civil-service law allows department heads to maintain staffing for essential duties during Semana de Turismo; public employees who work then are entitled to add compensatory time to annual leave.[3][4]
What visitors can expect
Public services may close or change their schedules during Semana de Turismo, but arrangements vary by institution. For example, the Social Security Bank has published guidance saying its administrative offices close for the week, with specified exceptions. That notice is a useful reminder to check the relevant office’s own current information before making a visit.[5]
Transport and other municipal services can also have altered hours. Montevideo’s municipal notice for Semana de Turismo describes special bus schedules alongside services that remain open, close or change their hours. As arrangements are service-specific and can vary, check current timetables and opening information before travelling.[6]
Frequently asked questions
Is Maundy Thursday a day off for everyone in Uruguay?
Does Maundy Thursday move to another weekday?
No. Uruguay’s general rules for shifting certain holidays to a Monday specifically exempt Semana de Turismo, so its days remain on the weekdays on which they fall.[3]
Are government offices open?
It depends on the institution. The Social Security Bank says its administrative offices close during Semana de Turismo, subject to stated exceptions. Check the particular office’s current notice before visiting.[5]
Will public transport run normally?
Schedules may change. Montevideo’s municipal information for Semana de Turismo has included special bus timetables, so check current information from the relevant transport provider before travelling.[6]
What do Catholic churches observe on this day?
The central service is the Mass of the Lord’s Supper, which recalls the Eucharist and may include the washing of feet. Some dioceses also hold a Chrism Mass. Service times and arrangements vary locally.[2]
Sources and references
Sources used for Maundy Thursday in Uruguay:
- Feriados- Canelones Tourism, Government of Canelones
- ¿Qué es la Semana Santa y qué se celebra cada día?- Conferencia Episcopal del Uruguay
- Feriados- Ministerio de Trabajo y Seguridad Social, Uruguay
- Ley N° 19121- Ministerio de Economía y Finanzas, Uruguay
- Funcionamiento de servicios en Semana de Turismo- Banco de Previsión Social, Uruguay
- Servicios de la IM durante la Semana de Turismo 2026- Intendencia de Montevideo