Easter Week, or Semana Santa, is a much-anticipated time of year in Spain, for both religious and leisure reasons. Although the exact date changes each year based on the lunar calendar, it usually falls between late March and late April. This period of public holidays and religious events is a time when numerous processions take place across Spain, providing a unique cultural experience for those who participate.
Holy Week has been declared a Representative Manifestation of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Spain since 2017 due to the cultural richness of the celebrations that occur throughout the country.
UNESCO has also recognized the tamboradas, a traditional percussion performance that often accompanies Holy Week processions, as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
While there are countless processions in towns and cities throughout Spain, some of the most iconic and beautiful ones are in Andalusia. Murcia Dreams prepared the list of the best parades in Spain. We hope you will enjoy the reading!
Seville's Holy Week processions, which feature over 60 brotherhoods and sisterhoods, are particularly famous and spectacular. Each brotherhood has its own route and timetable, but the processions all follow a similar ritual. They start with a guiding cross, followed by a group of Nazarenes wearing tunics and capirotes (pointed hoods), and carrying candles, incense burners, and crosses. Behind them is the paso, a carved and gilded wooden structure depicting scenes from the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Christ, carried on the shoulders of costaleros. Music bands accompany the processions, playing funeral marches and religious pieces to create an atmosphere of solemnity and devotion. The streets through which the processions pass are adorned with flowers and wax, and thousands of people gather to watch them. The most famous Seville brotherhoods include Hermandad de La Macarena, Hermandad del Gran Poder, Hermandad de Los Gitanos, Hermandad del Cristo de la Expiración, Hermandad del Cristo de la Sangre, and Hermandad de la Esperanza de Triana.
Another Andalusian city with renowned Easter Week celebrations is Malaga, which features processions such as the Cristo de la Buena Muerte and the brotherhoods of the Sepulcro, Esperanza, and Cautivo. Malaga's Holy Week processions take place in the historic center, where the streets are specially decorated for the occasion, creating a lively and colorful atmosphere. Other Malaga Holy Week traditions include the meeting between the images of the Resurrected Christ and the Virgin of Joy in the Plaza de la Constitución and the burning of Judas on Easter Sunday.
Granada is another Andalusian city that holds impressive Holy Week processions, with more than 30 brotherhoods and confraternities that carry out processions with floats of great artistic and religious value. The Hermandad de los Gitanos and the Hermandad de la Esperanza are among the notable brotherhoods in Granada.
Cuenca is known for its spectacular Holy Week processions, with the procession of the Holy Burial and the procession of Silence being particularly famous. Other traditions in Cuenca during Holy Week include the "tamborada" on Maundy Thursday and the burning of Judas on Easter Sunday.
Valladolid's Holy Week is one of the oldest and most traditional celebrations in Spain, with more than 20 brotherhoods carrying out impressive processions. The General Procession of the Sacred Passion of the Redeemer, which takes place on Good Friday, is considered one of the most important and spectacular processions in Spain.
León's Holy Week is well-known for its processions, which wind through the historic centre of the city and the Gothic cathedral of Santa María de León. León's processions are accompanied by marching bands playing funeral marches and religious pieces.
Zamora's Holy Week is popular for its silent processions, with brotherhoods parading in silence, accompanied only by the sound of drums and bugles. The drums used in Holy Week in Zamora are considered some of the best in Spain.
The Holy Week is a time of great celebration and tradition in Spain, with various cities and regions hosting spectacular processions that attract thousands of visitors. One such event is the procession of Los Salzillos in Murcia, where up to ten floats, all carved by the Murcian sculptor Francisco Salzillo Alcaraz in the 18th century, are paraded through the streets. Nine brotherhoods participate, with "Las promesas," a group of devoted citizens, leading the way. The procession is especially impressive when the floats exit the church through a narrow doorway.
Another must-see event is the procession of Our Lady of "Os Caladiños" in Ferrol, located in the province of A Coruña. During Holy Week, Ferrol's population doubles, with thousands of people flocking to witness the procession. The silence that descends upon the streets when the images of Saint John the Evangelist and Our Lady of Sorrows pass by is awe-inspiring.
Tarragona, a city in Catalonia, has been hosting a spectacular Holy Week since the 16th century. The Good Friday procession is a particular highlight, featuring more than 4,000 participants, including the Roman cohort, the pasos, the habits, and the penitents. The procession is accompanied by religious music, making for a truly unforgettable experience. Holy Week is a time of deep-rooted tradition and celebration in Spain, and these processions are just some of the incredible events that showcase the country's rich culture and history.
In conclusion, Holy Week is a significant religious celebration that is observed across Spain with great devotion and enthusiasm. The processions and parades held during this time are a spectacle to behold, showcasing the intricate artwork and centuries-old traditions of the country. These locations mentioned in this blog are just a few examples of the many cities and towns that come alive during Holy Week in Spain. It is truly a time when the nation's rich cultural heritage is on full display, bringing together people of all ages and backgrounds to celebrate their faith and shared traditions.
Contact our team if you'd like to discover Murcia Region and Spanish Culture with us!
