|
The movable feast occurs from the end of March to mid-April and is celebrated in grand fashion throughout the country. The regions of Andalusia and Murcia have the most renowned celebrations. Part of their splendor is the floral and springtime connotations eminently and lavishly displayed for public viewing, as well as subtly hinted at in the scents from burning wax candles. Brotherhoods also plan year-round to make outstanding presentations in the coming season of Semana Santa.
|
"/font>font size="2">Essentially famous for its own living self - the greatest city of the Spanish south, of Carmen, Don Juan and Figaro, and the archetype of Andalucian promise. This reputation for gaiety and brilliance, for theatricality and intensity of life, does seem deserved. It's expressed on a phenomenally grand scale at the city's two great festivals - Semana Santa (in the week before Easter) and the Feria de Abril (which starts two weeks after Easter Sunday and lasts a week)."
|
Semana Santa in Seville Up to two thousand members of a brotherhood (cofradías) take part. Some carry candles, rods or banners depending on their level of seniority. The most senior is the president, who carries a golden rod. There is a fierce rivalry between the two cofradías from Seville and the suburb of Triana. The processions that begin at midnight draw huge crowds and are accompanied by a Flamenco lament. In total, 58 cofradias stage processions during Semana Santa in Seville, with over 50,000 penitents carrying 127 pasos. |
Alonso Chinchilla Cuenca |
Trujillo Valladolid |
In other towns in the province, Holy Week is also celebrated with intensity and fervour. The spectacle is noteworthy in Córdoba and Granada, and the towns of Estepona, Ronda, Arcos de la Frontera, Luque (Saturday), Baeza, Cabra, Jerez, Rio Gordo, Ubeda, Puente Genil and Huercal. In Antequera, the local people run through the steep streets of the town to shouts of "A la vega!" while they try to avoid having their throne captured. Velez-Malaga should not be forgotten, where the images of Christ praying in the garden, Jesus el Pobre and the Virgen de la Soledad set out in procession.
|
Elche Gandía ![]() (Badajoz): There are several celebrations for which this town is known, such as "El Sermon de los Pregones" (The Sermon of the Town Criers) and the "Llano de los Martires" (The Plain of the Martyrs), yet one of the most remarkable processions is the Paso of the Coronado (The Crowned One), or the Virgin of the Solitude. Jerez is a very dispersed town, as far as Spain is concerned, and family members unite on Holy Thursday around 2:00 pm, sharing a regional dish called Cocido Extremeño, prepared by a confraternity of the ECCE HOMO. |
Valverde de la Vera Villanueva de la Serena Zamora |
Cartagena
The Easter celebrations in Cartagena are renowned throughout Spain for their emotive processions and stunning embroidered costumes with hoods. The processions are organized by four principal cofradías (fraternities, "marrajos" and "californios") and numerous sub-groups, some dating back as early as the 16th century, each with its own history and traditions. Silence, all white costumes and narrow ancient streets assist the traditional statues and vestments in creating a unique passion which cannot be expressed by words alone. The longest week of the year is actually 10 days: from Dolores Friday (before Palm Sunday) to Easter Sunday. The light and grandeur of its processions has fascinated fellow Spaniards for years. Declared to have National Tourist Interest in 1968, the processions feature richly embroidered costumes, remarkable emotive religious images, spectacular thrones, special color arrangements and special regiments of Jews and grenadiers. Ilustre Cofradia de Santismo Cristo del Socorro, founding in 1691, presents its Way of the Cross float at dawn on Dolores Friday, with penance stages before the The Jesus Resurrected brotherhood members are called marrajos by the people of Cartagena, a reference to days gone by The high point for most locals is when the throne of the virgin enters the Santa Maria de Gracia church. Thousands join together in singing the popular religious song of Cartagena, Salve (save). This is also the church from where most of the processions begin. Like its Carnaval, Cartagena shares powerful Semana Santa processions within its small autonomous region of Muricia with the cities of Murcia and Lorca. |
Leon ![]() (Castille) The tradition of this festival dates back to the 16th century, and combines religious devotion with art in equal quantities. The art is obvious in the unique floats that take part in the processions. They are designed and constructed in the workshops of well-known designers such as Juan de Juni, Gregorio Fernández, Luis Salvador Carmona, Víctor de los Ríos and Francisco Díez de Tudanca, among others. The religious devotion is demonstrated by the members fo the sixteen fraternities and Brotherhoods, locally called "papone." Leon's Holy Week has been declared of international touristic interest Luarca Madrid: Medina of the Rioseco Orihuela |
Image Source: http://www.nd.edu/
Image Source: http://www.giraldacenter.
Image Source: http://www.idealspain.com/
Image Source: http://www.elalmanaque. "As a procession enters its church after the long symbolic journey, a hush falls over the crowd as a lone man on a balcony sings an emotional saeta. In a throng of thousands one can hear a coin drop as tired costaleros sometimes scoot on their knees to carry enormous floats through small doors and to their resting place until the next year." -- http://www.auburn.edu
|
Murcia
Because of this rhyme, or copla as it is called, the "capuchinos" (the hooded Nazarene men) carry under their colorful tunics sweets that they give away. "El Paso de la Cena" (the passing of the Communion) is a spectacular thing, which commemorates the Holy Communion of Christ by placing diverse dishes on fine handmade table clothes.
On the afternoon of Holy Wednesday, the coloraos (reds), in reference to the colour of their tunics, parade the streets in the colour of blood.
The procession of “Los Salzillos” is on the morning of Good Friday. Nazarenes wear purple tunics and many go barefoot, carrying crosses on their shoulders for more than eight hours while they walk the streets of Murcia. On the first Tuesday after Easter, the opening of the Spring Fiestas are celebrated with Bando de la Huerta. Here, Murcia will makes merry to celebrate the arrival of spring and the end of Lent. Besides the grand parade ,the spring fiesta is distinguished by groups or “peñas” of huerfanos, or people from the Huerat, who perform in the most important squares and parks.
The the Murcian Spring Parade is well known for its floats decorated with flowers. It is a Carnaval atmosphere seeking to engulf native and visitor alike into its atmosphere of joy. Saturday after Easter Sunday brings the burial of the Sardine, the familiar Spanish conclusion to Carnaval, referencing the fasting traditions of Lent. It is a night of magic and madness punctuated by Carnival groups, brass bands, fireworks and more.
Lorca |
Palencia Peñafiel Segovia |
||||||
![]() ![]() ![]() click to enlarge ![]() click to enlarge Photos courtesy of valenciavalencia.com |
From
valenciavalencia.com: |
Last Update: 20SEP05
Last Link Check: 07OCT05