HOLY WEEK

  HOLY WEEK

Spain is completely transformed during Easter week. Everybody, everywhere, turns out to experience one of Spain's most traditional events. Don't miss the chance to come to Spain at this time of year: you'll be able to share some very special moments.

However, if you've never visited Spain during Easter week, then you simply have to come. And even if you already know this famous party, it's well worth making another trip, as each region of Spain has its own way of celebrating the event.

In Spain, Easter week is celebrated with a great deal of emotion. People take an active role in its events and traditions. All day and night the streets are filled with the beat of the drums, masses of colorful flowers, and the consummate art of religious sculpture.

Easter week is celebrated in every city, town and village in Spain. Nevertheless, there are some cities ( most of them in Andalucía)  that are especially well known for their uniqueness and beauty, and have received the International Tourist Interest designation; some of them are: 

HOLY WEEK IN SEVILLA

Throughout the city thousands of people lined the streets waiting to catch a glimpse of the processions, each of which takes many hours between leaving its parish and returning there after following a set route around the city. Each of over 50 brotherhoods (cofradías) have two floats.

For the ‘costaleros’ who carry the float it’s a once in a lifetime honor to do so as the numbers wishing to be carriers far outnumber the places available. Unfortunately, there have been some years when heavy rain has caused the cancellation of many processions and grown men were left crying in the streets knowing they would never again get the opportunity to be a ‘costalero’. The floats often weigh over 2000kg and it takes many months of practice before the important day. On average there are 40 ‘costaleros’ per float with each one supporting a weight of around 50kg for around 8 hours.

Following the float, penitents are dressed in capes and “CUCURUCHOS” looking head gear. This hides their identity, the meaning being that God is the only one who knows who they are. Easter week is a religious occasion and the mood of each day’s procession changes from the lighting ones on Palm Sunday to the dark ones of Good Friday which depict the crucifixion of Christ and finally the joyous ones of Easter Sunday which celebrate Christ’s resurrection from the dead.

The Good Friday processions leave churches at midnight and are carried throughout the night with huge crowds following their every step. A particular highlight of note is around 3am when La Macarena, Seville’s most revered Virgin, reaches the official route.

El Cautivo

Virgen de la Macarena

                       

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k47BFePixPM  Proc. Estrella

“PROCESION DE LOS LEGIONARIOS”: MÁLAGA

At midday on Holy Thursday, the legionaries bring shouldered the “Christ of Mena” from the port of Malaga towards the Church of Santo Domingo. Thousands of people are waiting for hours his entrance. In addition, the armed forces are the one who carry the image just as a symbol of protection.  

It is impressive and one of the most exciting moments of the Easter week, since cornets sound while the silence is startling while, in fact, everybody waits for his arrival. Then, after the sound of the “Bridegroom of Death”, Malaga break into applause.

“PROCESION DE LAS TURBAS”: CUENCA

At dawn on Holy Friday, the procession called “Camino Del Calvario” begins which consists of five steps. Nazarenes of all brotherhoods meet to stage through bugles out of tune and noisy drums the taunts that Jesus suffered in his way to the crucifixion.

“LOS SALZILLOS”: MURCIA

On Holy Friday, nine brotherhoods go through the streets as well as an additional parade called the “Promises” formed mainly by devout citizens. This procession is called “Los Salzillos” due to the sculptor Francisco Salzillo, who was the one that built the images during s. XVIII.  In addition, they go barefoot the whole procession.

“PROCESION DEL YACENTE”: ZAMORA

This brotherhood was founded in 1941 to worship the image of Christ Recumbent, which had been found abandoned in the Church of the Conception. That said, the procession starts at 23 pm on Holy Thursday. Jesus’ body is simply covered with a shroud and is led to the sepulcher accompanied by brothers in complete silence and a mild drumming.

INTERVIEW TO MARIA BERJANO TORRADO

                                      INTERVIEW TO MARIA BERJANO TORRADO


What motivated you to participate in the “Extraordinary Prize”?
     The fact that there was an opportunity for my effort to be externally recognized and that this would be included in my record. Also taking part of the regional stage I could pass to the national one.

Do you consider this contest a good incentive for young people?
       I think that the true incentive that young people taking part of this competition can have is winning the national prize in the final stage,  that is one thousand euros. To get this amount of money you should have passed the regional stage.

Is the effort you did compensated with the marks you got?
      What I think is that, more than with the marks, my effort has been rewarded for having stayed between the first ten ones in the regional stage.

Do you think that the proposed tests have been of an acceptable level, too complicated or they have turned out to be easy for you?
      The English and language examinations correspond more or less with the level that we were given in the ESO. However, the mathematics one, in my opinion, was more than difficult and the majority of the students failed it.

How do you feel after having won the regional prize?
      I feel really happy for that and I also feel encouraged to continue getting good qualifications to obtaining more and more achievements in the future.

In case you win the first prize in the national stage, what would you do with the money?
     If I win, I will save the money to go to some summer camps or courses. Also, it would be a good idea to make them abroad so I can learn more English and I can have different experiences.

CARNIVAL IN SPAIN

CARNIVAL IN SPAIN: HAPINESS, ORIGINALITY AND RYTHYM

Carnival in Spain is known for its amazing costumes and masks; although it is not as impressive as in Venice or Brazil it is surely worth seeing. People of all ages participate and enjoy, even those with little resources. Participants dress up according to their possibilities and imagination and take to the streets to celebrate both night and day; crazy days in which nothing is what it seems and anyone can become into whoever or whatever they have always dreamed about.  In addition, there are parades, troupes, contests for the best costume and street theatres. This celebration ends on Ash Wednesday with the “Entierro de la Sardina” tradition. The Burial of the Sardine is a parody of a funeral in which the sardine is buried, symbolically marking the farewell to life's pleasures and the arrival of Lent.

Nevertheless, the most celebrated Carnival event in Spain takes place in the southern part; such as Cadiz, and the Canary Islands; Tenerife and Las Palmas De Gran Canaria. They are broadcast on national television, attracting thousands of tourists from all over the world.

Although in our region carnival is not as known as in the southern part, you can find lots of parades and contests. In Castilla-La Mancha Carnival is very widely celebrated in those towns near Ciudad Real; in Alcázar de San Juan, Madridejos or Herencia. We are going to talk about Carnival in Villafranca de los Caballeros , which is close to Madridejos; 1 hour away from Torrijos.

                   

 CARNIVAL IN VILLAFRANCA DE LOS CABALLEROS

There, in Villafranca, Carnival is hold in a very intense way. The weekend previous to the “Ash Wednesday” the party begins. On Saturday morning, people go out to the street, they have lunch with their friends until the sun sets. Then, people go to their houses to change clothes and go out later. Next day, on Sunday, after having spent a funny day with friends; in the morning there is a contest known as “MASCARITAS”, in which people of different ages get costumed and have a good morning; after this, families have lunch together and, later, they go altogether to see the Carnival parade; where there are several prizes: three for local groups and three for foreign groups.

The first prize for local groups this year went to EUPHORIA DANCE, a group of “funky dance” in which I myself got costumed. And the first prize for foreign groups went to LAS HURÍES, a group from Quintanar de la orden. 

CARNIVAL IN SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE

It is, without a doubt, the most “Brazilian” of all the Spanish carnivals, and it is famous all over the world for its originality year after year. For fifteen days, the streets of the city come alive with freedom, extravagance and rhythm.

The gala to elect the Carnival Queen is held on the Wednesday of the first week. In this spectacular competition, all the candidates parade on a square stage wearing the most fantastic costumes, which can weigh more than a hundred kilos!

 Once the queen has been elected, the parade announcing the start of the Carnival takes place on the Friday, where thousands of people and musical groups fill the streets in a multi-colored chain of happiness. Over the three next days, the city organize different carnival groups perform. In fact, lyrics of the songs are not usual since they use social and political themes as their subject, but always with humor!

 

CARNIVAL IN CADIZ

In February, Cadiz becomes a big party. It’s carnival time!

You can hear carnival music in any corner of the city, and the last touches are put to the fancy-dress costumes (in Cadiz they are known as tipos), some of them real works of art. The locals put their hearts and souls into what is one of the most eagerly awaited events in the city, and perhaps the most fun-filled and entertaining of all the Spanish carnivals.

Compared with the spectacular nature of other carnival celebrations, the light-hearted fun and entertainment of the Carnival of Cadiz makes it a unique party which is well worth getting to know.

And there is no lack of other events during this time to ensure that the days of Carnival in Cadiz are complete.

The costume is the real king of the carnival. It is almost obligatory to wear fancy dress, above all on the first Saturday of the carnival.

The whole city is involved. This is a perfect time to get to know it and to enjoy the inventiveness and sense of fun of the people of Cadiz. You can’t lose it!