Semana Santa in Spain

Quick Answer

Did you know that the Easter season in Spain lasts for over a week? Beginning on Domingo de Ramos(Palm Sunday), Spain’s Semana Santa(Holy Week) is truly special. In this article we are going to talk about the Semana Santa in Spain.

Questions This Article Answers

What is Semana Santa in Spain?

What are the processions during Semana Santa in Spain?

Where to see the Semana Santa processions in Spain?

All About Semana Santa

Pascua(Easter) is not a one-day celebration in Spain. Instead, many parts of Spain celebrate Semana Santa, or Holy Week! Starting on Domingo de Ramos, hermandadesand cofradías(brotherhoods) mark the occasion with daily procesiones(religious processions) that depict scenes from the Passion and death of Jesus.

Procesiones

Nazarenos Holy Week Semana Santa Spain

Processions are the key part of Semana Santa in Spain. Before we talk about these processions, let’s look at some of the words you can use to talk about Semana Santa in Spain!

Spanish Words to Talk About Semana Santa in Spain

Spanish	English	Notes
el capirote	pointed hood	Nazarenos(Nazarenes, see below) wear capirotes over their heads during procesiones.
el cirio	candle	Nazarenos tend to carry cirios, long wax candles, in the processions.
el, la cofrade	member of a brotherhood
la cofradía	brotherhood
el costalero, la costalera	float bearer	The costaleros are the people who carry the pasos in the procesiones. This is hard work, because you’re under a very heavy float, you can’t see outside of it as you walk, and you’re working together with many other people.
la Cuaresma	Lent
el Domingo de Ramos	Palm Sunday
el Domingo de Resurrección	Easter Sunday
la hermandad	brotherhood
la mantilla	mantilla	In some parts of Spain, people dress very elegantly for Semana Santa. Particularly in the south, you’ll see some women wearing black mantillas, or lace veils, over a large peineta(ornamental comb).
el Nazareno	Nazarene	Nazarenos are members of a cofradía who dress in a hood and a cloak and accompany a float in a procession. They often carry a cirio.
el paso	float	The pasos are the real stars of Spain’s Semana Santa. They depict scenes from the Passion and death of Jesus. Depending on the region, they may be relatively simple and austere, or they may be elaborately adorned with flowers and lit candles.
el penitente	penitent	Penitentes, like Nazarenos, are members of a cofradía. However, they do not wear a hood, and you may even see some of them go barefoot! They tend to carry a cross.
la saeta	saeta	Saetas are traditional songs that are often at least partially improvised. They are sung during procesiones.
las torrijas	Spanish-style French toast	Torrijas are common throughout Spain, but when they are eaten depends on the region. In most of Spain, they’re eaten during Semana Santa. One exception is Cantabria, where they eat torrijas at Christmastime, and they call them tostadas.

Hermandad vs. Cofradía

While, in the past, cofradías were for people of a certain trade, and hermandades were for everyone, now there’s little difference between a cofradía and a hermandad.

During the week from Domingo de Ramos to Domingo de Resurrección, daily procesiones take place all over Spain. Their elaborateness depends on the region, but most regions have at least some sort of procession. The most breathtaking Semanas Santas in Spain are reportedly in Sevilla(Seville), Zamora(Zamora), Málaga(Malaga), and Valladolid(Valladolid). Spain Holy Week Semana Santa Float So, just what is a procesión? Procesiones are essentially religious parades in which elaborate floats, called pasos, are carried through town. The pasos are accompanied by meticulously dressed Nazarenos and penitentes. Somber music also plays a big part in procesiones. In some regions, people sing saetas, mournful vocal pieces, to the pasos. In most regions, bands accompany the pasos, playing solemn marches. Procesiones are somber affairs, and silence reigns as the pasos go through town.

Even if you are not a religious person, the procesiones that take place throughout the country during the Easter season can be impressive and moving events!

You can learn more about holidays in the Spanish-speaking world with these articles!