Traditions in Spain During Holy Week
In Spain, Holy Week, called Semana Santa, is largely considered the most important religious holiday. From Palm Sunday until the Monday after Easter, Spanish cities and villages have a festival to celebrate the passion of Christ. This celebration is most extravagant in Andalusian cities, but is largely celebrated in any cathedral city.
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Parades
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A procession through the streets is organized every night during Holy Week. These nightly events are organized by the religious brotherhoods active in a area. The parade traditionally goes on for miles, and will continue until well after midnight. The climax occurs as the procession enters and exits the local cathedral. The atmosphere and specific details of the parade change each day of the festival, but these changes are not obvious to an observer who is unfamiliar with Semana Santa traditions. The overall atmosphere is supposed to be one of mourning, like a traditional funeral procession.
Pasos
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Pasos is the name used for the floats carried in the parades. These floats contain life-size statues of saints and biblical characters. The most simplistic will simply contain an important figure, like the Virgin Mary, on a throne. The most elaborate often depict grand scenes such as the crucifixion or the Last Supper. Many of the pasos were created by artistic masters as far back as the 16th and 17th centuries, and are now maintained by the brotherhoods. The largest of the pasos weighs as much as 11,000 lbs. and is carried during the parade by men called Costaleros.
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Costaleros
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The Costaleros are low ranking members of the brotherhood. These Costaleros are hidden under a skirt, attached to the bottom of the pasos, so that is appears that the pasos is moving on its own. Generally, 20 or 30 men are assigned to carry a single float. The pasos is, then carried, depending on size, on either the shoulders or the heads of the men assigned to carry it.
Nazarenos
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The Nazarenos are more prominent members of the local brotherhood. These men follow the pasos and wear long tunics, capes and pointed hoods. This style of garmet, though now associated with the Ku Klux Klan, was originally used by the Catholic church as a form of penitence. Those who had sinned were expected to wear the garments as an outward sign of sorrow and repentance for sins committed. These robes are often bright, and different colors are used for different brotherhoods.
Followers
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The penitents, also members of the brotherhood, follow behind the Nazarenos, and act out other acts of penitents. Some carry full-size crosses, while others may be shackled or drag a ball and chain. The penitents are followed by the cofriada's marching band. The band is followed by manolas. The manolas are women dressed in all black with a shall and headdress, and traditionally bring up the end of the procession.
Saeta
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The saeta is a song, sung without accompaniment as a solo. It is in the flamenco style, and is meant to be a song of lament and mourning. This song is traditionally sung by some member of the crowd or procession, spontaneously. It is a sign that they are moved by the emotionally appeal of the procession. When a member of the crowd breaks out in song, the parade stops and waits until the song is over to proceed.
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References
- Photo Credit mary in the snow image by Richard Kane from Fotolia.com
