Celebrating Easter in Spain. Semana Santa in Malaga: the most spectacular processions of Holy Week

The Christian calendar is rich, magnificent and the most solemn rituals. Even the not very devout Spaniards during this period - and Easter is celebrated during the week, which is called Saint(Semana Santa) - observe the customs of their ancestors, participate in all kinds of religious processions, if not as costumed characters, then at least as spectators. But since this kingdom is unthinkable without a tourist component, the celebration Resurrection of Christ in many cities of Spain it has turned not only into a liturgical ritual, but also into a touristically significant event.

During Holy Week, all of Spain prepares to celebrate the great holiday and goes on Easter holidays. During the same period of time, the first influx of tourists of the year to the warm Mediterranean coast of the country occurs.

However, many travelers strive to see amazingly magnificent processions in various parts of Spain, and not just in the beach area. Usually such processions are genuine theatrical performances, with magnificent costumes prepared with the utmost attention to the smallest details by the many brotherhoods participating in the celebration. The platforms on which the figures of saints are installed and scenes of the Passion of the Lord are recreated can be real works of applied art. Thus, in Salamanca, a spectacular night procession along the ancient bridge, preserved from the Roman era, attracts visitors. Penitents in closed, pointed robes, as if coming from ancient times, are accompanied by statues of saints, who are moved through the streets on luxuriously decorated platforms. Women carry the image of the Virgin Mary on their shoulders.

In Palencia, on Good Friday, a ritual takes place that is incredibly powerful in its emotional intensity. Members of the Santo Sepulcro brotherhood in the Plaza dela Inmaculada repeat Easter tradition, which existed in these parts back in the 16th century - the removal of the Savior from the cross. Participants in the action, depicting Nicodemus, the secret disciple of Christ, and Joseph of Arimathea, in whose tomb the Son of God was buried after being taken down from the cross, repeat the great scene of suffering, which is more than twenty centuries old. The audience usually freezes in silence, only the words of the narrator accompanying the ritual and quiet music with bells can be heard.

Processions of amazing beauty and grandeur can be observed in the small town of Medina de Rioseco, where processions move along narrow medieval streets, literally “floating” out of ancient history. Spectators are located not only along the roadsides, but also go out en masse to the balconies to touch the miraculous images of saints. It seems that people literally surround the ceremonial column from all sides, which is not only perfectly prepared - it is cinematic in every step, giving those present the feeling of participating in the filming of a large-format historical film. Similar processions can be seen in the town of Medina del Campo: floats are carried through the streets, the figures on which are authentically made by skilled craftsmen, and you will not find others like them in all of Spain.

In Valladolid on Good Friday, a hooded herald arrives on horseback in festive decorations and reads out a parchment that “today all citizens will be able to hear the seven gospel phrases of the Savior spoken by him during his suffering on the cross.” After which the messenger, accompanied by a retinue of seventy horsemen, rides through the streets and squares of Valladolid, announcing the onset of the great event, and Catholics gather near the Archbishop's Palace and in the central square of the city to take part in the celebration of one of the main days of Holy Week.

In Leon, the processions look especially large-scale, they take place in the historical center and are attended by over 4 thousand members of religious brotherhoods, specially prepared for the celebration of Holy Week. The main ritual takes place in the main square of the city (Plaza Mayor), and residents of Leon, as well as tourists, try to take a place there early in the morning, since a lot of people gather.

In Avila, the procession around the famous city wall, which was erected in the 11th-14th centuries and represents the unique historical and architectural heritage of Spain, is amazing.

In Zamora, on the contrary, the processions look very ascetic, their participants in modest clothes move in the shape of a Latin cross, although the platform itself with the figure of the Savior is priceless and unique, the sculpture was created in the 17th century and has been participating in Easter processions for centuries. It is believed that the Easter procession in Zamora is a very intimate event, an opportunity for a true believer to be alone with himself these days.

In Alicante, the current Easter Easter Sunday procession was greeted by thousands of people: from balconies and terraces, citizens and guests scattered more than 300,000 colorful pieces of paper praising the Lord - hallelujah. These are small sheets of paper consisting of several images on religious themes. This custom of scattering paper pious “advertisements”, which look like confetti from a distance, is typical for the regions of Valencia and Catalonia (where Catalan is spoken), and the tradition itself dates back to XVI century and came from France.

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During Holy or Easter Week (Spanish: Semana Santa) - the week between the end of Lent and Easter - large-scale and extremely spectacular religious holidays throughout Spain. In every corner of the country these days are celebrated on an extraordinary scale.

Starting from Palm Sunday, which in Spain is called Palm Sunday, every day throughout the week cities and villages are filled with solemn processions going from chapels and sanctuaries to the main churches and back. The procession of the cross is a symbol of grief over the death of Christ. As a sign of repentance, many walk the streets barefoot.

Some participants in the processions carry on their shoulders the so-called “pasos” - richly decorated platforms on which figures of saints are installed and scenes from last days earthly life of Christ. Others, traditionally dressed in long robes and conical caps with slits for eyes, accompany the procession to the sounds of drums and music.

These medieval headdresses - capirot - appeared back in the 13th century, they were worn by flagellants - representatives of the “flagellation” movement. During the Inquisition, capirotes were also placed on the heads of those sentenced to death, and at the same time these caps became part of the attire of members of religious brotherhoods.

The culmination of the holidays occurs on Thursday and Friday, when the number of processions in a single city can reach several dozen per day. Noisy daytime processions with music and quiet night processions constantly replace each other. All of them are accompanied by a special atmosphere and take place strictly following long-standing customs.

The main participants of the holiday, its driving force, are the so-called cofradias - religious brotherhoods, similar to monastic ones, but consisting of ordinary townspeople. To join a fraternity, you must be a family member or a childhood friend of someone who is already a member. Business as usual It is considered to admit into the ranks of the fraternity a newborn child whose parents are registered there.

Historically, fraternities have been extremely closed structures. The foundations and traditions of any brotherhood oblige, first of all, to be a faithful Catholic and not to forget about the needs of the brotherhood itself.

The tradition of celebrating Easter with solemn processions symbolizing the path of Christ to Golgotha developed in Spain back in the 16th century.
Members of the cofradias wear long robes and caps with slits for the eyes. They cover their faces because mourning for Christ is an intimate act.
In 1974, Holy Week in Valladolid was added to the list of holidays of World Tourist Interest. The main attraction for tourists are the marvelous carved statues of Jesus Christ and the Virgin Mary participating in the festive processions, some of which were created back in the 16th century. Of particular interest in the city is the National Sculpture Museum, which houses one of the best collections of ancient Spanish religious sculpture.

The highest honor that a member of the fraternity can receive is the transitional position of majordomo. The majordomo presides over all acts during the holiday, and also bears great responsibility during the celebration and a significant financial burden.

On Holy Thursday and Holy Friday, all brotherhoods in full force move to the municipality building, where the ritual of welcoming the authorities takes place, after which they disperse to their chapels and sanctuaries, from where at a certain hour they will go in procession.

Throughout childhood and adolescence, a member of the fraternity, in addition to history and traditions, studies necessary equipment so that when the time comes, you can complete the honorable duty: take the “paso” out of the sanctuary and carry it along the desired route. This honor falls to those whose age is not less than 20 and not more than 55 years, since the paso is an extremely heavy thing, and good physical training is required from its bearers.

As a rule, pasos are made of wood, carefully painted and dressed in real clothes. The magnificent decoration of pasos is an ancient tradition, on which no expense is spared - real gold is often used and precious stones, nor time - many of them were created over decades and continue to be restored and expanded to this day.

The list of those who will be entrusted with the paso is approved annually by the brotherhood council. The list always includes two spare porters in case someone from the main team is unable to take part in the procession. The “porters” are distributed according to height and experience: the tallest and most experienced will go in front, the less stately ones will go behind, and the short and inexperienced ones will go on the sides of the paso. In total, the large platform is supported from the sides by about 20-25 people, not counting those under it.

On the day of the procession, a mandatory paso measurement takes place before it begins. The porters take their places under the platform, use a stretched rope to measure the difference in height and determine which of their colleagues does not reach the stops with their shoulders. For those who do not have enough, wooden spacers of the required thickness are installed.

Ascents and descents, narrow streets, balconies and other natural obstacles require full dedication of physical and mental strength from those carrying paso. The procession often has to be delayed, waiting for those in front to cope with their platforms. During the procession, every step must be calculated, the back must be kept straight, otherwise the accumulating fatigue and pain from the wooden stops cutting into the shoulders can undermine the most resilient man.

Thousands of Spaniards, young and old, gather on the streets along which the procession route passes. The audience watches what is happening standing, and only a few manage to take seats. Both those watching and participating in the processions cannot hold back their emotions. People cry when they see scenes from the last days of Christ’s life, or, on the contrary, falling into religious ecstasy, they begin to laugh, sing songs, and dance. © Chema Concellon/Flickr

The most impressive processions declared as being of international tourist interest take place in Valladolid, Cuenca, Leon, Salamanca, Zamora and Seville.

2 comments

I noticed that in Spain, in general, many holidays are bright and very interesting. That is why many tourists come to Spain to see it all with their own eyes. In what city was this photo report taken?

Most of the pictures were taken in the city of Valladolid, in northwestern Spain.
And for me, an unexpected discovery was to learn that Antonio Banderas comes to Malaga every year to celebrate Semana Santa and, together with his brother, takes part in the solemn procession. It turns out that Banderas is not only a member of the fraternity, but also holds the honorary position of majordomo, that is, the leader of the procession.

. Semana Santa is also an opportunity to prepare traditional Easter sweets in the kitchen with your family, or to organize a short trip to take a break from everyday work.

How to celebrate?

Kulich, or Easter cake, – Mona de Pascua – is not popular in all regions of the country. This confection is considered typical of Catalonia, Murcia, Aragon, Valencia and the Castilla-La Mancha region. Thus, in Barcelona during Holy Week this year, about half a million Easter cakes will be sold. Mona de Pascua is a pastry made with almonds and jam and an egg baked inside, which is eaten on Easter Sunday.

In Andalusia, Easter cakes are rather rare; there they prefer brushwood glazed with honey and sugar - pestiños.

What to fear?

Rain. Or snow, which is still practically impossible in Spain at the end of March. Only precipitation can prevent the brothers from going out to repentance. They are afraid, of course, not for themselves, but for their precious pasos, which they must never get wet. Many of these iron men"they cry when they learn that the brotherhood will not go out into the street. It’s understandable – a year of hard preparation is taking its toll.

This year, weather forecasters promise rain (it is believed that it always rains on Semana Santa - this is how the sky itself sheds tears for Christ), and an umbrella will not be superfluous. However, the weather forecast is too often wrong; for example, in 2015 in Seville, many people suffered heat strokes instead of being soaked to the skin.

Easter in Spain (Spanish: la Pascua) is the brightest and most anticipated religious event in the country. Thousands of Christian believers begin preparing for the holiday long before it begins. It is with the arrival of Easter that the tourist season unofficially begins, and tourists from all over the world plan their trip to Spain in advance at this time to enjoy this unforgettable holiday.

Traditions of celebrating Easter in Spain

From time immemorial, Easter is considered the most significant event for all Christian believers, because according to the New Testament it marks the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

During Easter, many religious processions take place in Spain. This tradition dates back to the 16th century, when various religious brotherhoods began to appear in the country, which organized processions symbolizing the path of Christ to Calvary.

Today, several million people take part in Easter processions in Spain. Most of them belong to some religious fraternity. During the holiday, participants in the procession, or otherwise “penitents,” dress in long robes or cloaks and high cone-shaped caps covering their faces. The color of clothing and the symbol on the chest of the “penitents” indicate their belonging to one or another brotherhood.

The festive procession is accompanied by singing, drumming and throwing confetti. Also, an integral part of the procession are special platforms that depict scenes of the Passion of Christ. All these attributes create an indescribable atmosphere that attracts tourists from all over the world to Spain.

Traditional Easter Sunday treats include eggs and an Easter cake called Mona de Pascua. In Spain, the same phrase can be used to designate small festive dough figures in which Easter eggs are placed.

Semana Santa

Holy Week, or in the Spanish version Semana Santa (from Spanish - Holy Week) begins in Spain with Palm Sunday and lasts until Easter.

During the Semana Santa period, all Spaniards rest. Many of them go to the coast or to the mountains, and during this week it is customary to spend time with family and visit distant relatives and, of course, take part in the holiday.

First day Holy Week - "Domingo de Ramos"(Domingo de Ramos from Spanish - Palm Sunday). On this day, the famous procession with palm branches takes place in Spain. City residents come to churches for festive masses and illuminate the branches, and then place them in their houses.

This day in Spain corresponds to Orthodox Palm Sunday.

Another remarkable day of Semana Santa - Good Friday. On this day, processions may begin early in the morning and end after sunset.

The most important procession begins late in the evening. Participants in the column carry relics of their religious brotherhood and make short stops along the way, symbolizing the obstacles that all believers must overcome.

And of course, the most important day of Holy Week is Easter Sunday and the end of Lent (La Cuaresma).

The most magnificent celebrations take place on Easter Sunday. Music sounds everywhere, and white doves are released into the air. On this day, all Spaniards gather with their families at the festive table.

Also, in many regions of Spain, a day off is also considered Easter Monday(Lunes de Pascua).

Holidays in Spain during the Easter holidays

Easter in Spain not only a major religious event, but also the unofficial start of the tourist season.

During the Easter holidays, he comes to the country large number foreign tourists, and the cost of hotel accommodation increases markedly. If you decide to visit Spain on Easter, you should worry about buying tickets in advance, booking a hotel room or renting an apartment.

Also, it is worth considering that Easter holidays in Spain are not working, so almost all organizations and shops will be closed at this time.

Schedule of Easter holidays in Spain 2015

As in Russia, Easter dates in Spain change from year to year. As a rule, the celebration of Catholic Easter begins earlier than Orthodox Easter. This is due to the fact that Catholic Easter noted by Gregorian calendar, and Orthodox according to Julian. Easter in Spain usually falls at the end of March - beginning of April.

Calendar Easter week in Spain 2015