Semana Santa is the Spanish name for Holy Week. The celebration of Semana Santa dates back to the 16th century, when the Catholic Church decided to present the story of the Passion of Christ in a way that the layperson could understand. From that point on, every year in Spain, scenes from the story of the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ are displayed through a series of processions on the streets.
At present, Semana Santa is still celebrated in all the pomp and circumstance of 16th-century Spanish Catholicism in cities across Spain. Andalusian cities like Seville and Malaga particularly shine in this regard, but some Spaniards argue that «true Semana Santa» takes place in the region of Castile and León, in cities like Zamora, Valladolid, Salamanca, Avila, and Segovia.
Even if the style of Semana Santa in Spain changes from city to city, the basic components remain the same. Each day there are a number of processions, one from each religious brotherhood in the city, made up of floats that are carried from their church to the town’s central cathedral and back again.
Most brotherhoods carry two floats, one with Christ and one with his mourning mother, Mary the Virgin. Each procession is different and has its own particular followers, either due to the location of the church or the exact nature of the procession.
Being the floats really heavy, strong men carry them. Even though, with the procession lasting many hours, they feel the pain. The suffering experienced is likened to that experienced by Christ and the men, known as costaleros, consider it a great honor to carry the float, despite the pain involved.
In Andalusia, specifically Seville, you can also expect to witness several saetas during Semana Santa. These performances of flamenco are sung from one of the balconies in the narrow streets of the city.
Best Places to Experience Semana Santa in Spain
Depending on what type of celebration and how long do you want to enjoy the festivities, there are many options and cities in Spain to experience Semana Santa. Castile and León cities for example, celebrate longer and feature more events.
Although the time of Semana Santa processions varies, most cities across Spain carry on similar traditions, and while some cities may offer fewer processions than other may, they offer other events and celebrations during this period.
The mass of Easter Sunday, the last day of Semana Santa, is also important. The hoods that have been worn throughout the week to signify mourning at the death of Jesus Christ are taken off to celebrate the resurrection.
