Easter in Spain

Published on 11/15/2006 in Spanish Culture

If you are visiting Spain during Easter don’t expect the Easter bunny as Spain celebrates the true meaning more than most other European countries.

In fact The Holy Week or rather “Semana Santa” is taken very seriously. It is a time to remember the Resurrection of Jesus and is observed as a religious festival.

Many holidaymakers will be heading for Andalucia, whose cities host the most spectacular processions in the country. Every town and city will have spent months preparing for the parades that begin at the churches and slowly wind their way through white washed streets conjuring up an atmosphere of mourning.

People carry statues of saints on floats or wooden platforms including life-like sculptures of Christ on the Cross and the Virgin Mary. The streets become crowded with locals who all turn out for the annual processions.

The processions take place during the week leading up to Easter Sunday (April 16th 2006).

Written by: Susan Pedalino

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Women In Spain




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Comments:

christineinseville said:
Sunday, March 26, 2017 @ 3:20 PM

Regarding Rolypoly's comment, referring to 'thous shalt not put graven images before me', this, in my opinion, means that you cannot worship teh statute more than you worship the god.
The use of effigies and floats is to focus the mind on the events, to aid empathy. The village I live in Pruna, really goes to town for Easter.

The first time I attended this event I was at the crossroads were the float carrying Christ to the crucifixion was being carried, it came to the crossroad and at that junction there was a float of Mary, his mother, then, the 36 men who were carrying the figure of Christ knelt in order to give the effect of Christ bowing to his Mother while on the way to his death, the trumpets shrilled, the people sighed en masse, I burst into tears. That is what you experience.

It is an amazing experience, and a great time to come to Pruna if you want to imbibe some deeply-held traditions that seem have less to do with religion than with the death of a son at the hands of authority. You will experience some real emotions



rolypoly50 said:
Sunday, March 30, 2014 @ 1:00 PM

I am a born again Christian, it's nice to see that easter is remembered, at least outwardly, but Christ is more interested in what's in the hearts of people and how they treat their fellow man than plastic (wood and yeso) images being paraded about, these just take away the real focus of the meaning of the death and resurrection of Jesus, it's usually the town hall and the local business people who provide the money for the event, imagine how wonderful it would be if all those people who took part gave the money that they spend to the genuine poor in Spain, or even overseas, I suggest we celebrate the life of Jesus and the fact that He rose from the dead rather than focus on His death, and regarding the images and figures I suggest the people who carry them read the secound commandment,


Georgia Buckley said:
Tuesday, June 18, 2013 @ 7:24 PM

Right this is easy Peasy


georgeanold franklin bates said:
Tuesday, February 5, 2013 @ 10:56 AM

i am gay with daniel mary cole
xxx



alexander graham turner said:
Tuesday, February 5, 2013 @ 10:41 AM

anal with logan abel:)


Gina said:
Monday, April 23, 2012 @ 11:42 AM

This was so helpful and interesting, lovely getting to know more about the culture and tradditions.


commenter1234 said:
Saturday, April 21, 2012 @ 3:22 PM

this was quite helpful. i needed some elo with homework and this gave me a bit of information. the only problem was that is was slightly vague at points and there wasnt enough information. please could you add more that would really help. thankyou anyway. :)


commenter1234 said:
Saturday, April 21, 2012 @ 3:22 PM

this was quite helpful. i needed some elo with homework and this gave me a bit of information. the only problem was that is was slightly vague at points and there wasnt enough information. please could you add more that would really help. thankyou anyway. :)


wrapper said:
Tuesday, April 3, 2012 @ 2:24 AM

Reallyy coolio


randomer said:
Thursday, March 29, 2012 @ 10:22 AM

very good


CAllie said:
Wednesday, October 26, 2011 @ 11:36 PM

that didn't really help if you could add more info it would be really helpful!


bob said:
Wednesday, April 6, 2011 @ 8:05 PM

cool that helped with a project


CAsh said:
Tuesday, February 16, 2010 @ 5:29 PM

It helped alot with a project do for school....

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