Easter, Spanish popular traditions

In Spain a 73,2% of the population are Catholics and the country has a strong Christian tradition. During the first week of April, Catholics celebrate Easter - the most important Christian holiday after Christmas.

In Spain there are a total of 41 considered Holy Week celebrations of National Tourist Interest. It is also visible that Spain celebrates Easter Week much more than most European countries. The Semana Santa (Holy week) refers to the the Christian holy period that runs from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday. It is specially important for Catholics and it is one of the most popular religious celebrations in Spain. The Spanish people deeply feel and live the Easter holidays.

Ash Wednesday is the beginning of the Holy Lent period which remember the humanity that “We came from dust, and we will become dust again” and represents the 40 days of preparation for Holy week in which people realize their sinful situation and gives the opportunity to develop during these forty days of prayer, alms-giving and fasting. Easter ends on Resurrection Sunday of Jesus Christ.

Palm Sunday, an age-old tradition on the first day win which Spain brings out with the mantle for the Christian Holy Week. This day represents, according to the Catholic tradition, the entrance of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem. This day is the beginning of the Holy Easter week. During this time, Christians should remember the Passion, Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. The start of this holiday is marked by the first full moon after the Spring Equinox. Palm Sunday is the Sunday prior to that moon, therefore, every year the dates vary.

Festivity and tradition

Easter holidays in Spain takes different forms and has different traditions in in each part of Spain. In the North, in places like in Zamora, Burgos or Valladolid, they have the most ancient traditions where the first processions were held in the fifteenth century. This celebration has particular relevance in southern cities of the peninsula, since people tend to be more devout.

Córdoba, located in the South of Spain in Andalusia, holds a popular tradition for the commemoration of the last days of Jesus´ life. Representations of Jesus and the Virgin Mary are carried on the backs of believers´ in a procession through the streets of the city to show their splendor. They are accompanied by bands, solemn music and dressed to depict the Nazarenes, people from Nazareth. Each procession belongs to a neighborhood church. People go out on the streets to praise the Lord and the Virgin, while the streets are covered in the fog and smell of incense and wax, which is burnt by people performing the procession.

After Easter, Pentecost is celebrated. This represents the “Ascension of the Lord into heaven” and the “Coming of the Holy Spirit to the Apostles”.

There are many other festivities and celebrations after this period. In the Southeast of Spain, in Alicante, there is a pilgrimage to see the Holy Face a veil at a Monastry which was used to wipe off Christ’s blood. On the other hand, in Seville, Andalusia, people celebrates the pilgrimage of Rocio´s Virgin. Each year millions of pilgrims from around the world begin a journey on foot, horseback or in wagons to get to your destination, the hermitage of Rocio Virgin in a town called Almonte. This year it will take place on May, 27^th. It can be said that the majority of Spanish population feels and moves to the beat of religious holidays throughout the year.