Semana Santa en España

Semana Santa (Holy Week) is one of the most important celebrations in Spain. This is also called Pascua (Easter).

Las celebraciones People in towns and villages all over Spain take part in Easter celebrations.

Domingo de Ramos Domingo de Ramos (Palm Sunday) marks the beginning of Holy Week. Many people go to church for a special mass. Children are given a palm branch by their godparents. This represents the olive branches laid on the ground to welcome Jesus into Jerusalem.

Semana Santa en Sevilla Seville has some of the most spectacular and elaborate celebrations.

Las procesiones Large floats called “pasos” make their way through the streets. They have religious figures on them. They are often very elaborate and always very heavy!

Los costaleros The “pasos” are carried by groups of men called “costaleros”. Here they are practising with sandbags. They move very slowly.

A very large ‘paso’ in a Palm Sunday procession

Viernes Santo Good Friday is commemorated with very serious and sombre processions. They are usually either silent or accompanied by slow drumming.

Processions can also be accompanied by “una banda de música”.

Los penitentes “Los penitentes” carry a wooden cross and wear a floppy hood - “un antifaz”. They are often in processions on Good Friday.

Los nazarenos Los nazarenos wear stiff conical hats called “capirotes”.

Los nazarenos

Sábado santo – Easter Saturday This is perhaps the most mournful day of processions, as people remember Christ’s burial.

Domingo de la Resurrección – Easter Sunday Easter Sunday processions are louder and more joyous.

Easter Sunday

Some of the work that goes into preparing for Semana Santa… …making “capirotes” for “los nazarenos”;

…embroidering the cloths for a “paso”.

…practising carrying “el paso”.

A child’s Easter in Spain Children can take part in the processions and play in the bands. Many families watch the processions, even the ones late at night.

A child’s Easter in Spain In Cataluña, in northeastern Spain, children are given a “mona” by their godparents. This is an Easter egg or special Easter cake in an amazing design.

“¡Feliz Pascua!” “Felices pascuas”