Holy Week Festivals
Holy Week, which commemorates the events of Jesus' passion, death and resurrection, is the most important part of the Christian year. Easter Sunday is traditionally accompanied by celebrations and gatherings in the United States and many Spanish-speaking countries have several festivals throughout the week. These events are marked by processions, prayers and vigils anticipating and then celebrating Jesus' resurrection on Easter Sunday.
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Palm Sunday
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Street processions usually begin on Palm Sunday and occur throughout the week until Easter Sunday, usually in the evening. In Spain, processions usually consist of people carrying statues of saints and wearing clothing that bears a striking resemblance to the traditional clothing of the Ku Klux Klan. The clothing is meant to represent "Nazareños," or people from the town of Nazareth, where Jesus was born.
Good Friday Processions
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Processions reach a high point on Good Friday, the most extravagant day of celebrations in most Spanish-speaking countries. It is on the morning of Good Friday that churches and religious groups stage elaborate reenactments of the Stations of the Cross, which depict the events of Jesus' passion, crucifixion, death and resurrection. In the afternoon there are are typically more elaborate processions lasting until late in the evening.
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Easter Vigil
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The Easter Vigil begins at sundown on Holy Saturday. Most churches conduct the vigil entirely in darkness, save for candles lit by attendees that symbolize the light of Christ. Some churches have the custom of exploding with fireworks and celebrations at sunrise, marking the end of the Easter Vigil and symbolizing the resurrection of Jesus Christ on the third day after his crucifixion.
Festival of the Resurrection
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The Festival of the Resurrection lasts all day, featuring joyous processions, streets and houses blanketed with flowers and confetti and extravagant feasts. Some of the most famous Easter celebrations occur in the Spanish towns in Andalusia, such as Toledo, Segovia, Burgos and Cuenca.
Weeklong Festivals
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Some countries' Holy Week celebrations last the entire week. In the Spanish-speaking The Philippines. The Moriones commemorates the Roman soldier Longinus whose blindness was cured by Christ. The Agoo Semana Santa features procession of mourning women clad in black and a parade of carriages. Colombia is one of many South American countries that stage dramatic presentations weaving the story of Christ with the particular heritage and culture of the region.
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References
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