Andalucia Articles

Semana Santa 2012 (1st to 8th April)

During the seven days of Semana Sa

 

nta (Holy Week), Andalucía is surrounded by a spiritual halo that is repeated year after year.

The religious fraternities and brotherhoods are those who take the saints on parade. They have the responsibility of maintaining the statues as well as coordinating the penitents and musicians. Sometimes up to two thousand members of the brotherhood take part, some carry candles, rods or banners depending on their level of seniority. The most senior member of the brotherhood is the president who carries the gold rod and walks in front of the float.

The "costaleros" who carry the weight of the floats are directed by the overseer or head of the group who ensures that the floats are carried with maximum seriousness, grace and tradition. The thrones are followed by "nazarenos" dressed in tunics, hoods and masks and women dressed in traditional costume.

The high point of the procession is when the float exits and enters the respective church. This is the moment when art and religion are merged into one. The sculptures are images created by superb craftsman, the best floats date back to the 16th and 17th century and can still be seen today.

Emotions are stirred by the show of rhythmic beating of the drums and professional marches, the swaying paces of the bearers and the poignant wailing of the of the "seta" which is a sacred song, similar to Flamenco and sung through the Semana Santa processions.

Malaga and Seville are the two Andaluz cities where the festivities are the best known for their sense of spectacle and size.



Semana Santa in Cádiz

Here like the rest of Andalucía, Semana Santa is a religious event, which is above all an event where a series of elements blend together to create a wonderful event. The most famous fraternity in Cádiz is the "Nazareno" which is derived from the miraculous cure of various epidemics suffered by the local people. Easter Sundays parade features the fraternity of "Santo Entierro" which is the only float that is on wheels, steered by 14 men.



Semana Santa in Cordoba

Cordoba has lost a great deal of traditions and customs, like that of installing altars in the houses or the ringing of the church bells to announce the resurrection. Women used to play "almiretes", bells. However, the tradition of the brotherhoods has been reborn and new fraternities are emerging.

Semana Santa in Jaen

This city has a strong religious influence but is not so well known as some of the other cities. The most important day is "Maundy", Thursday, when the best loved image is the parade of the "abuelo" (grandfather) a full body sculpture of a "Nazareno". During the procession the crowning moment is the joining of "Nuesto Padre Nazareno" (Our Nazareno father) and "La Virgen de los Dolores" (Virgin of Pain). As well as the "saeta" there is a typical chant called the "tracto" which is particularly unique, just one of the reasons why Semana Santa in Jaen is different to anywhere else.

Semana Santa in Malaga

One of the most spectacular features of the Semana Santa in Malaga is that the floats are monumental in size and can weigh up to 6 tons. They are made to house velvet and gold drapes which reach up to nine metres and cover the "dolorosa" (statues). More than a hundred men support each float. The "Virgen de las Penas" (Virgin of Sorrow) is not dressed in the traditional velvet robe, instead clad with natural flowers comprising more than twenty thousand carnations.

Semana Santa in Seville

This city has 55 fraternities that parade with a total of 195 floats. The images are mainly of the master sculptures, such as Juan de Mea, Martinez Montaner and J. Antonio Illanes. The night of Maudy, Thursday, is Seville´s main fiesta when their favourite Virgen "La Macarena" and the floats from "Triana" and "El Gran Poder" emerge into the crown lined streets.



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