Happi Kadaver

Language Corner
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I’m surprised at the things I learn even after all these years here…

Today’s surprise, from someone in Innerschwyz, was ‘Happi Kadaver’ as another term for Fronleichnam (Corpus Christi).

So all you language boffins: Is ‘Happi Kadaver’ a play on words? (Leichnam or Corpus makes me think so… but how does one get from Fron/Christi to Happi?) Or is it just a Dialekt thing? Is the term used in other parts of German speaking Switzerland, or the wider German speaking world?

Many thanks!

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Its a play on words, Kadaver meaning corpse and the literal translation could be happy corpse.
But Fron is the old term for working for gods wage. A blessing.
But Fronleichnam is the high feast of Jesus’'s blood and body.
Bloody cannibal christians.

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Now how am I supposed to get that Ohrwurm out of my head?

Thanks, BB!

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I wanted someone else to suffer as I do!

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well, we have the ‘cadavr exquis’ (exquisite cadaver) which should also be a play of words…

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Amazing what one can do these days with AI

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I guess it’s a pun on “Froh” (happy).

Though, I do consider it a bit derogatory, TBH.

Started to read the wikipedia article:

but had to realize there’s a lot I didn’t know - and the article contains a lot of words I’ve got to look up in other wikipedia articles - I am not a catholic scholar after all.

Interestingly, I was raised Catholic (but I don’t really practice anymore) - but I don’t remember any school lesson going into such detail as the wikipedia article.

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