Easter in Spain / La Semana Santa en España
- Apr 17
- 7 min read
Updated: Apr 21
Hello and welcome to my blog! / ¡Hola bienvenidos y bienvenidas a mi blog!
I have been meaning to write about Easter in Spain for a very long time, in fact for this very reason I requested my friends and family who live in Spain to send me footage and photos of Easter festivities from the areas where they live. They all very kindly obliged and I have used it to illustrate this blog and to create a video for my new online course soon to be launched. (A massive thanks to the wonderful people who took the time to film and send me the footage)
However, I hadn´t realised how long this project had been on the back burner until I saw the beautiful videos my friend had sent me with her son introducing two of the Easter processions in Hervás, Cáceres. In the footage he was around 10 years old and now he is in his late teens!!!!!! Crazy how time flies!!!!! But as the saying goes "Better late than never" / "Más vale tarde que nunca".
Easter in Spain / Semana Santa en España.
Easter in Spain is a complex cultural and religious tradition with profound roots that stem from medieval times. During the Easter period the streets become a feast for the senses, the haunting beat of drums, poignant singing, the smell of incense and the thrill down your spine when the penitents and the heavy floats go by.
All in all Easter is an incredibly moving experience, it evokes deep genuine and passionate feelings that are tangible in the solemn and beautiful processions. They range from sadness, penitence and grief to love and exaltation.
So what is Easter and how is it celebrated in Spain? This is not an easy question to answer due to the complexity of these rich, varied and ancient traditions. There are many elements that make it unique and it is a very special period for many people in Spain. However I will do my best to try and explain it by breaking it down into sections. Here goes:
1.What is Easter? / ¿Qué es la Semana Santa?
Easter is a cultural and Christian celebration that commemorates the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus.
Photo of an Easter float taking part in a procession
2.When does Easter take place? / ¿Cuándo se celebra la Semana Santa?
Easter is celebrated during the last week of Lent. Lent lasts for 40 days and 40 nights and it is a period of purification and preparation for Easter. The preparation and purification are achieved by fasting, praying and helping those in need.
The custom is to abstain from meat on Fridays during Lent and eat fish instead. And this, believe it or not, is why people in the UK traditionally have fish and chips on a Friday - or so the story goes!!!
Easter as a Christian celebration is of course much older, but the spectacular processions we know today are thought to have their roots in medieval times, around 800 years ago.
3.Which are the most important days? / ¿Cuáles son los días más importantes?
Easter celebrations start on Palm Sunday and end a week later on Easter Sunday. Each day of the week has a special significance with its unique celebrations. These are the most important days:
Palm Sunday:
Palm Sunday is the first day of the Easter celebrations. On this day people commemorate the arrival of Jesus in Jerusalem. The processions bear olive branches and blessed palms.
Maundy Thursday:
On this day the betrayal of Judas and the last supper are remembered.
Good Friday:
This is the saddest day, as people remember the death of Jesus on the cross. Many places in Spain have very emotive and solemn processions.
Holy Saturday:
This is a day of grief, mourning and reflection.
Easter Sunday:
This is the happiest day, as people celebrate Jesus´ resurrection. It is an ending full of joy and hope.
4.The processions / Las procesiones
Processions are one of the most spectacular celebrations of Spanish Easter. They are very important and deeply engrained in the culture. Processions are organised by the “cofradías” or “hermandades” (religious associations). There are many different ones in Spain and the members of these associations take part in the processions. Everyone, children, women and men can take part.
The processions have many special elements; here I explain some of them:
The floats / Los pasos
The floats are the centre of the processions. They are big platforms beautifully decorated with scenes of Jesus’ life, flowers and candles. They are often antique works of art and they are transported on the shoulders of the float bearers.
The float bearers / Los costaleros
This is a really tough job, the floats are heavy and the “costaleros” are often under the float unable to see where they are going, so they have to be guided by a foreman (capataz).
The Nazarenes / Los nazarenos
Nazarenes are also called “capuchones”, “penitentes”, “encapuchados” and many different names depending on the Spanish region. They take part in the processions and they are dressed in long tunics and pointed hoods that cover their faces completely apart from their eyes. The colours of their garments vary and each colour has a profound symbolic meaning. Their attire is a symbol of penance and humility and they must not be confused with the Ku Klux Klan, who used similar clothing with the intent to hide their identity in order to commit violent acts.
Music bands / Las bandas de música
The music during the Easter processions in Spain is very solemn, heartfelt and slow. Castilla (Castile) is known for its serious, intense and quiet devotion; however in the region of Andalucía (in the South of Spain) the music can be more expressive and happy especially during Easter Sunday.
The music bands play brass instruments and walk along with the procession. But the most typical instrument of this season is the drum. The rhythmical beat of the drums fills the streets; it is breath-taking and truly moving.
Religious chants / Las saetas
The saetas are an A Capella flamenco religious chant. They express a powerful and profound feeling. They are sung from the balconies and from the street. The procession normally stops for people to listen in silence.
The Virgin / La virgen
The figure of the Virgin is also celebrated and venerated during the Easter festivities, especially in Andalucía. During the processions she is often serenaded by the crowd who shout out, proclaiming her beauty.
From top to bottom and left to right: Float, float bearers, Nazarenes, music band, saeta and serenading of the Virgin Macarena.
5.Celebrations in different areas of Spain / Celebraciones por toda España
Spain, as you probably already know, is quite a big country. It is over twice the size of the UK. It is divided into different regions and each region has its own specific Easter celebrations, garments, floats, music, food, etc.
In the photos below taken in Murcia you can appreciate their beautiful traditional attire including intricately embroidered stockings , paired with esparto grass sandals. Even the drums are decorated to match.
6.Easter: Celebration, family and holidays / Semana Santa: Fiesta, familia y vacaciones
Although Semana Santa has deep religious roots, Spain has no official state religion and participation is entirely a personal choice. Easter is also simply a holiday, children don´t have school and many families go to the beach or the mountain for a break. It is also a time when families get together to enjoy meals and the delicious sweet treats typical of this time of the year.
7.Typical Easter sweet delicacies / Dulces típicos de Semana Santa
Last but definitely not least we´re going to talk about the wonderful array of delicious Easter sweet treats.
Easter bun and Easter egg / La mona de Pascua
Easter buns are a traditional Easter treat mainly popular on the East coast of Spain (Levante). It originates from medieval times when eggs were considered to be meat and they weren’t eaten until Easter Sunday. Due to the fact that hens kept laying eggs, people used to boil them to preserve them and then eat them on Easter Sunday.
An Easter bun is similar to brioche and it has a boiled egg with its shell on in the middle. It is traditional for the godparents to gift it to their godchildren on Easter Sunday.
As time has gone by the boiled eggs have become chocolate eggs. Nowadays you can find all sorts of beautiful chocolate sculptures too.
Spanish style French Toast / Torrijas
If I were to choose a single food that represents Easter I would choose torrijas. They are eaten everywhere in Spain. It is a simple delicious and nutritious food made with bread soaked in milk, sugar and cinnamon, dipped in egg and then fried in olive oil. You can pour syrup or sprinkle sugar and cinnamon over them; sometimes they are soaked in wine instead of milk. Most bakeries sell them everywhere in Spain and you can find different varieties for example with custard cream on top. I have never tried this variety but I am sure I would love them!!! Maybe next time I visit Spain during the Easter holidays I can try one for the purposes of this blog!!!
We have a whole blog post dedicated to torrijas, so if you would like to check it out please follow the link.
Other Easter sweet treats / Otros dulces tradicionales de Semana Santa
There are many more Easter delicacies, each region has its typical sweet treats. You can find leche frita (fried milk), rosquillas o rosquillos (ring shaped pastries), pestiños (honey covered pastries) and many, many more. If you ever find yourself in Spain during the Easter holidays I wholeheartedly recommend you pay a visit to the local bakeries or even better do a tasting tour around Spain and visit different bakeries in different regions.
I shall leave you with that sweet idea in your mind and wish you a very
Happy Easter / Feliz Semana Santa
I hope you have enjoyed learning about this incredible Spanish celebration.
If you would like to explore Spanish language and culture further with your children or students, our A Cuerpo online course brings Spain to life through videos, songs, crafts and animations, designed for preschool and primary school children. The course includes a full Semana Santa video with authentic footage from across Spain.
The course is coming very soon, please watch this space... click here for further information
