SEMANA SANTA

Easter in Spain

Semana Santa

• “Holy Week”

• Celebrated throughout Spain but the most spectacular celebrations are in Sevilla in Andalucia.

Semana Santa

• Begins on Domingo de Ramos (Palm Sunday) and ends on Lunes de Pascua (Easter Monday)

• Celebrated with 8 days of processions (cofradias) through the city

Semana Santa

• The Procession starts with the Cruz de Guía

Semana Santa

• The cross is followed by the brotherhoods – nazarenos – dressed in tunics, hoods and masks and carrying candles and banners

Semana Santa

• Each brotherhood carries 2 floats – huge religious scenes carved out of wood

• The floats are carried by the “costaleros”

Semana Santa

• One float depicts Christ

• The other depicts the Virgin Mary

Semana Santa

• The procession is followed by marching bands

Semana Santa

• Other Easter traditions include:• Wearing new clothes on Palm Sunday• On Maundy Thursday and Good Friday, women

dress in the black “traje de mantilla” – to represent the mourning of Christ’s death

• Foods eaten include Torrijas and pestihos