Easter In Spain, Pure Feeling

If there is a country where to celebrate Holy Week with all the letters, Spain is the chosen one. The intensity of this important date for the Catholic calendar is lived and breathed in every town and city on the Peninsula. Some traditions are centuries old and are the pride of their people. We invite you to take a look at the biggest Holy Week celebrations in Spain.

Religious fervor at Easter

In the country there are 20 Holy Week celebrations that have been considered of International Tourist Interest, with Valladolid being the first to receive this distinction. The others are carried out in Castilla y León, Andalusia, Murcia, Castilla la Mancha, Galicia, Aragon, Valencia and Extremadura. Here we review some of them:

1. Valladolid

In the streets of this Castilian city we can see beautiful carvings of polychrome sculpture that come out in procession. In total, there are 104 images that show the close relationship between religion and art.

The Passion of Christ and faith are present in every corner. Don’t miss the General Procession of the Sacred Passion of the Redeemer and the Sermon of the Seven Words.

2. Seville

If you want an intense celebration, you have to travel to this Andalusian city. Here from Palm Sunday to Easter Monday there are religious demonstrations that will make your skin crawl.

The Sevillians and brothers live these days with total fervor and the processions go through the city by day and by night. One of the most breathtaking and beautiful moments is the “Madrugá”, on the night of Thursday through Good Friday.

3. Murcia

Activities begin on Dolores Friday and end on Easter Sunday. It is one of the oldest and most important Holy Week celebrations in all of Spain due to the great historical and sculptural heritage it presents. Some of the carvings that come out in procession are from the 16th century, although the best known are those of Salzillo, from the 18th century.

In addition, the short and blunt hoods that reveal the faces of the Nazarenes stand out, a tradition that dates back more than 400 years.

Some of the brotherhoods choose to walk in silence in their procession. The 15 in Murcia parade and take out the 93 processional steps. You cannot miss the one of the Santísimo Cristo del Perdón and the one with the “Coloraos”.

4. Granada

The city, with the Alhambra as a witness, dresses up for the occasion during Holy Week. Every year the same traditions of yesteryear are carried out by the hand of the 32 brotherhoods that take their spectacular steps in procession, such as the Cristo de los Gitanos. The narrow streets of Granada and the large number of people are not suitable for those who are not used to the tumults.

5. Malaga

The origins of the celebration of Holy Week in this city date back to the time of the Catholic Monarchs. The processions take place between Palm Sunday and Good Friday. The thrones are accompanied by Nazarenes and women with a mantilla on their heads and covered by beautiful arrows sung with fervor.

The processions of the Passion and that of the Virgen del Rocío are the most famous and popular.

6. Toledo

The medieval city that seamlessly combines Christianity with Islam and Judaism offers a celebration of Easter that is worth witnessing at least once in your life. It is quite sober compared to others,  but draws attention to the ability of the brothers to pass through the narrow streets of the old town carrying the images.

7. Salamanca

One of the great celebrations in Castilla y León. Locals and tourists participate with a deep feeling in the 22 processions and religious acts of the city, among them the Descent, the Holy Burial and the Encounter. Salamanca has 16 brotherhoods, brotherhoods and congregations.

8. Olesa de Montserrat, Cervera and Esparreguerra

In these towns of Catalonia, Holy Week is lived in a special way. For centuries some towns have celebrated “The Passion” with sacramental acts and theatrical shows showing the life, death and resurrection of Jesus.

These are just some examples of how Holy Week is lived in Spain, although each town and each region has its own traditions.