Semana
Santa
(Thursday
and Friday are National Holidays)
The
opposite of Carnaval, this is the somber celebration of the Holy Week before
Easter. The date changes each year, depending on Easter, but is usually
in April. The celebration begins on Palm Sunday (the week before Easter) with parades
that go from the churches throughout the town. On Holy Thursday and Good
Friday, there are solemn, silent processions that begin and end at the church.
During these processions, groups of men called brotherhoods carry enormous
platforms on their shoulders, bearing the weight of the church’s treasured
statures of Jesus and Mary. It is a huge honor to carry the platforms, and
brotherhoods train together for the event. The penitents wear tall pointed
caps, which to Americans look like the Ku Klux Klan outfit.
However, in Spain, they date to the Inquisition period, and designate someone
who is doing penance to earn forgiveness for his or her sins. Crowds from the
town will turn out for these processions and carry candles. Children collect
balls of wax from the candles as souvenirs. Schools are closed all week, and
businesses are closed Thursday and Friday.
(This is an excerpt from the Book 'Welcome to Rota').
There are Semana Santa activities in every local town. As with many events, the activities in a smaller town (like Rota) will be smaller and quieter than in a larger town, like Sevilla. The processional traditions originated in Sevilla, (so a native assured me), so if you really want to see some bells and whistles, plan to attend their events. However, be warned that they come with huge crowds.
For information about Rota's activities, go HERE and click on the "Activities and Events" pdf, which is updated weekly.
For information about other towns, including Sevilla, Google their "Turismo" site (Tourist information) and Semana Santa.
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| Penitents on Palm Sunday in Rota |
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| Wooden platform in Rota |
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| Huge wooden platform in Sevilla |
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