Entertainment in Spain Essential Guide to What's on when and where in Spain Spanish Fiestas, Concerts, Festivals, Events
Semana Santa- Holy Week in Spain March and April Easter Celebrations in Spain
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Misterio de la Pasión - Mystery of the Passion
Mystery of the Passion (Lleida) Historic religious play where more than 500 local people play roles that has been shown since 1481 2 March - 27 April 2008 Spain is famous for its fiestas and celebrations and among the most important are the celebrations of the Holy Week, or 'Semana Santa'. Semana Santa (Holy Week) is in fact celebrated all over Spain from Domingo de Ramos (Palm Sunday) to Domingo de Resurreccion (Easter Sunday), though some smaller towns only have processions on Jueves Santo (Maundy Thursday) and Viernes Santo (Good Friday). Major towns will have processions every night of Holy Week, each with their cofradias (lay brotherhoods) and penitentes (penitents), which incidentally have nothing to do with the KKK despite their pointed hats. The cofradias tend to have long important names such as Pontificia y Venerable e Ilustre Hermandad de Nuestra Madre y Señora de la Soledad y Sagrado Descendimiento de Nuestro Señor Jesucristo. The procession is a serious affair and usually has two tronos (heavy religious floats) bearing valuable sculptures of the Virgin Mother weeping tears of jewels and of Christ, not always crucified. Preceding the pasos are hundreds of nazarenos - Nazarenes but just another name for penitents. They dress in long hooded túnicas (gowns) made of velvet and satin, and carry the flickering velas (candles) that leave the streets slippery with wax. Others carry luxurious sceptres. Each trono is extremely heavy for the numerous throne carriers underneath who have to carry it along the route of the procession. In Seville and Jerez thet are called costaleros, in Malaga simply hombres de trono. In addition to the the valuable religious image, the trono has a lot of silver candelabra, aromatic flowers and richly embroidered robes which sway as the float creeps along its ritual path. Semana Santa (Holy Week) is in fact celebrated all over Spain from Domingo de Ramos (Palm Sunday) to Domingo de Resurreccion (Easter Sunday), though some smaller towns only have processions on Jueves Santo (Maundy Thursday) and Viernes Santo (Good Friday). Major towns will have processions every night of Holy Week, each with their cofradias (lay brotherhoods) and penitentes (penitents), which incidentally have nothing to do with the KKK despite their pointed hats. The cofradias tend to have long important names such as Pontificia y Venerable e Ilustre Hermandad de Nuestra Madre y Señora de la Soledad y Sagrado Descendimiento de Nuestro Señor Jesucristo. Castilla y León
Semana Santa de Salamanca - Easter Week in Salamanca (Salamanca)
Semana Santa de Valladolid - Easter Week in Valladolid 5th to 12th April 2009 Alzira FESTIVITIES OF EASTER WEEK Declared a Fiesta of National Tourist Interest in 2005. There are many processions that are celebrated during the days of the Passion but those that stand out most are the colourful Palm Sunday Procession accompanied by the living representation of the entrance of Jesus in Jerusalem, the Procession of Silence that takes place in the small hours of Good Friday, in which the Nazarene and La Soledad of the parish of La Encarnación (The Incarnation) participate, and the Procession of the Santo Entierro (Holy Burial) in the afternoon of the same day, in which 24 floats represent culminating points of the Passion. 
Sagunt/Sagunto
FESTIVITIES OF EASTER WEEKThe Holy Week in Sagunto, National Tourist Interest Festivity, has been consolidated as a social and religious phenomenon that has been kept for more than 500 years. The young confreres who form the 'Mayoralía' are the people in charge of the preparation of the acts that take place in mostly in the ‘ermita de la Sangre'. Starts on Palm Sunday with the blessing of the Palms and the Palm procession. A representation of the Passion scenes of Crist performed by actors form Sagunto takes place starting at the church of Santa María and continues around the streets of the old neighbourhood. In the Calvary, the Crucifixion is staged. On Wednesday evening, the impressive Silence Procession takes place. On Holy Thursday solemn services are celebrated, one of which includes the movement of the "Jesús Sacramentado" effigy to the Monument installed in the ‘ermita de la Sangre'. The big day of the Holy Week in Sagunto comes on the Good Friday with the Vía Crucis from the hermitage when the image of Jesus Nazareno travels up to the Holy Calvary. In the evening, a traditional auction takes place in the square of the hermitage, where the ‘Mayorales' request, economic collaboration from the inhabitants of Sagunto. The "Sermó del Desenclavament" in the church of Santa Maria and particularly the "vespertina" procession of the Holy Burial are other interesting acts. The acts end with the Resurrection Mass, celebrated in the church of Santa María concluding with firworks. 
Orihuela
FESTIVITIES OF EASTER WEEKOn Holy Saturday, the city lives one of its most enduring festive moments, when the paso (processional sculpture) La Diablesa, allegory of the victory of the Cross, of which only two exist in the whole of Spain, takes to the streets. During the week, also celebrated, is the traditional benediction of the palms, processions and the Via Crucis. Sculptors of religious images like Salzillo, Valera, Sánchez Lozano or Nicolás de Bussi turn the city into an authentic museum "Empalaos" Valverde de la Vera Cáceres, Extramadura 20th March A re-enactment of Christ's walk carrying the cross on which he was to be impaled at the hill of Calvary, Jerusalem. |
Semana Santa Dates
Religion, colour and drums These are some of the most important religious festivals in Spain. A noisy colourful way to celebrate the life of Christ and his death. The Baena Easter week celebrations are the most important fiesta in the town (Cordoba province). Semana Santa de Cabra Easter Week in Cabra 5th to 12th April 2009 The Easter week celebrations in Cabra (Cordoba province) are outstanding for their mass participation, with the whole town getting involved in the festivities. They are also known for the artistic wealth of the processions that can be found at almost any time of day. Semana Santa de Granada Easter week in Granada 5th to 12th April 2009 A wonderful, once seen never forgotten religious celebration in a great city Semana Santa de Málaga Easter Week in Málaga 5th to 12th April 2009 A beautiful procession in honour of the Virgin of the Sorrows, which takes place early Friday morning, illuminated only by the long candles of the Nazarenes is one of the many highlights of this fascinating week. Semana Santa in Valencia Semana Santa (Holy Week, Easter) 5th to 12th April 2009 is the second biggest fiesta in Valencia after Las Fallas. Ten days packed with colourful processions in the maritime district of Cabanyal. Although it is a world-wide celebration, Valencia has its unique features. It has the most colours in Spain - there are 28 brotherhoods participating, and each has their own uniform and regalia. Well worth seeing it live, but if you can't, you will see all those colours on display in the museum of ... Read More Semana Santa de Sevilla Easter Week in Seville 5th to 12th April 2009 There are many good reasons to holiday in Seville, this week is a particularly good one. See the famous statues of the Virgin Mary with canopies: they are Baroque statues with silver and gold crowns, embroidered cloaks and velvet tunics which only reveal face and hands.  Semana Santa de Zamora Easter Week in Zamora 5th to 12th April 2009 Activity: Popular Holidays. Theme: Arts and culture. / Popular Holidays. Field: International Tourist Interest Music plays a special role in these celebrations: Gregorian chant and choral pieces contribute to the splendour of the processions and intensify the feelings of spectators...Read More Semana Santa de Riogordo Easter Week in Riogordo 5th to 12th April 2009 Popular Holidays in Spain. Arts and culture in Spain Semana Santa de Riogordo (Málaga) The representation of the death of Jesus Christ The most important event of the Easter week celebrations in Riogordo is the theatrical representation of the Passion. Read More Semana Santa de Cáceres Easter Week in Cáceres 5th to 12th April 2009 Popular Holidays in Spain. Arts and culture Semana Santa de Cáceres Solemnity and religious fervour in a unique setting Cáceres has interesting Easter week celebrations. We should make special mention of the beautiful religious statues, the traditional music that washes over Cáceres’s stunning monuments and buildings, and the cofradías (religious associations), some of which date back to the 15th century, Read More Semana Santa de El Ferrol Easter Week in El Ferrol 5th to 12th April 2009 Popular Holidays in Spain. Arts and culture in Spain. Holy Week in El Ferrol Processions with maritime spirit Read More Semana Santa de Viveiro Easter Week in Viveiro Popular Holidays in Spain. Arts and culture in Spain An emotive representation of the death of Jesus Christ. ..Read More Semana Santa de Baena Easter Week in Baena 5th to 12th April 2009 Popular Holidays in Spain. Arts and culture in Spain Easter Week of Baena (Córdoba) Religion, colour and drums The Baena Easter week celebrations are the most important fiesta in the town (Cordoba province). Although it is a religious fiesta, the town is filled with noise and colour for a few days, to commemorate the death of Jesus Christ. ..Read More Semana Santa de Ocaña Easter Week in Ocaña 5th to 12th April 2009 Activity: Popular Holidays. Theme: Arts and culture. / Popular Holidays. Field: National Tourist Interest. Ocaña, in the province of Toledo, has been holding its Easter week celebrations in the streets of the town for 400 years. Its processions stand out for their order and silence, as well as for their colour. Especially noteworthy is the Good Friday procession – it has moving statues. Read More Semana Santa de Ciudad Real Easter week in Ciudad Real 5th to 12th April 2009 Popular Holidays in Spain. Arts and culture in Spain Participatory, austere and with great artistic beauty. The Easter week celebrations in Ciudad Real are of great artistic and cultural interest. ..Read More Semana Santa de Valladolid - Easter Week in Valladolid 5th to 12th April 2009 Pastry Festival On Easter Sunday and Monday, the people of Avilés celebrate with the Fiesta del Bollo (Pastry Festival). Originally set up with the intention of putting an end to the bitter rivalries between the local religious guilds at Easter, the gastronomic event has now been going strong for over 100 years. Today, festivities highlight a common ground for all to share. The theme is Asturian folklore, featuring regional dress, music and cuisine. There are cultural events and processions throughout Holy Week, but on Easter Sunday it is customary to wash down a traditional Asturian iced bun with a half bottle of white wine. These are on sale from kiosks in the centre. On the Monday there is a feast in the streets of the central part of the city. Tables and chairs are set up and families bring along Asturian dishes. You can also buy food from the local bars and restaurants. Get there early because there will be at least another 13,000 people with the same idea Avilés Town Hall Number +34 985 54 88 11 Email festejos@ayto-aviles.es Asturias
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