Palm Sunday marks the start of Holy Week (Semana Santa) in Spain, our first experience of this incredible time was in Seville in 2009. In this blog we look behind the scenes and the different ways in which cities throughout Andalucia commemorate Easter.

Spain is famous for events held during the Christian Easter period, it includes religious holidays of Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday (Holy Thursday) and Good Friday.

The dedication and teamwork of the cofradias in the Easter processions

A key part of the Semana Santa calendar are the processions, where the various religious cofradias (brotherhoods) showcase their devotion, skill and strength whilst carrying the thrones (tronas) and religious sculptures (pasos) through the towns and cities. The processions can last seven hours, with the costaleros carrying over 1000kg on their backs, manoevring through small corners and streets in front of the crowds.

The costaleros are responsible for carrying the religious platforms, and begin training in earnest many months before for their physical efforts. They must be 18 years old or have permission from their parents. There are different ways of carrying the thrones dependent on the city. In Malaga for example the hombres de trono support the thrones on one shoulder using outside supports.
Keep an eye out for the costaleros in Seville under the platform too who carry the weight on their neck (actually it’s the seventh vertebrae). They wear the “costal” to help the pressure, made of sack cloth with a rolled-up pillow to protect the neck.

Who does what in the religious processions?

Working alongside the costaleros (often between 160 and 280 men per throne)… The monaguillos are responsible for lighting the candles, the hooded nazareno carry the candles and the portador de insignia carry the brotherhood’s flag. The costaleros know when to lift and when to put down the throne through the use of a big bell (a foot high) which is rung with a hammer.

Explore Andalucia throughout Holy Week

Luckily for our guests at Cortijo de los Cien Canos, we are in easy reach of some famous cities that are known for their Semana Santa processions. We advise that you try various towns and cities, because of the differences (and because the cities are so stunning); if you’ve seen one you definitely haven’t seen them all! Here are our top picks (on top of our local town Villanueva del Trabuco):
Cordoba has more than 30 processions throughout Holy Week and the ancient city provides a stunning backdrop.
Malaga’s thrones are carried by more than 250 members of the Nuestra Senora de la Esperanza brotherhood with the nazarenos wearing purple robes followed by women in black bearing candles. The climax of the Easter calendar is during Good Friday, when there may be more than a million people viewing the procession.
Granada offers a unique landscape to the parades which take place mostly in the afternoons; with the Alhambra and the Sierra Nevada in the background. Here you’ll see silent processions (without the more usual band of trumpets) too.

The Easter public holidays are a perfect chance to dive into Spanish culture and spend time enjoying the local traditions and hospitality within Andalucia. Check our convenient location and availability for booking your Easter holiday in Spain with us.