As Semana Santa (Holy Week) is approaching, I’d like to tell you how we celebrate this holiday in Spain. I hope you enjoy it.

Holy Week in Spain is a traditional religious celebration, in which Christians commemorate the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. It begins on Palm Sunday and ends on Easter Sunday.

The highlights are the famous processions, which take place in many Spanish cities. They are religious demonstrations which take place in the streets each year, following a set route. Organised by religious brotherhoods or guilds (hermandades o cofradías), the processions usually begin with the guiding cross, flanked by lantern bearers (faroles), and it continues with lines of penitents (penitentes) or nazarenes (nazarenos) and women wearing mantillas, who accompany the pasos, or sacred images. The penitents often wear pointed hats called capirotes, with a full-length tunic that covers their face.

The pasos are religious images, some of which are authentic works of art (many by famous 17th century Spanish sculptors) which illustrate scenes of the Passion of Christ and the Virgin Mary. Their thrones are covered in gold, silver, and fine cloth, and decorated with fresh flowers.

Each throne is carried by between forty and fifty people, called costaleros, who bear the weight of the throne throughout the entire procession, which can last between four and six hours! They have to make exact and precise movements, and follow the instructions of a foreman (capataz), who guides them through the long and sometimes complicated street route, in time with the music accompanying them. The procession stops occasionally to listen to saetas, which are prayers in the form of flamenco devoted to Christ or the Virgin Mary.

Each brotherhood prepares all year round to make sure that this day is perfect. The costaleros have to be well trained, as it isn’t unusual to see a throne that weighs over 2000 kilos!. For them, it’s a matter of pride to be able to carry the pasos and take part in the procession.

The celebration has different characteristics in each corner of the country. Andalucia is without question one of the best places to celebrate this holiday, so much so in some cities, like Granada, that the holiday is classed as being of international tourist interest, and attracts millions of visitors every year.

The scent of wax and incense, and the sound of tambourines and trumpets which fill the streets during this week, create a very special ambience in the city. Traffic stops and hundreds of people line the streets to watch the processions.

It doesn’t matter if you’re a believer or not. Watching a Holy Week procession in person is something which is worth your time. The passion and devotion which this celebration embodies has turned it into a very special tradition which won’t fail to make an impression. So, if you want to experience it, get to Spain and do it in person!

ESTRELLA RUIZ