Semana Santa Processions

Semana Santa is decidedly the most austere time to be in Sevilla, as per the Roman Catholic religion mandates. Apparently, though few Spaniards regularly practise their faith, everyone comes out of the woodwork to celebrate the holy week services and attend the religious processions that close off sections of the city at any given time. The pomp and circumstance of the week was sometimes difficult to understand, but I had to appreciate the ritual and tradition attached. On top of that, generations of family seemed to gather together to take part in the week's events.

The processions include marching bands, 'pasos'--wooden or carved sculptures of the events of Jesus's life during the holy week or of the Virgin Mary's grief, and hermandades--religious orders of brothers, carrying long candles and wearing nazarenos, capes with hoods to conceal the wearer's face. The processions start on random streets and end in any one of the city's many churches and cathedrals. The big procession is on Holy Friday and ends in the Cathedral of St. Mary. The week following Semana Santa is the Feria de Abril, the city's biggest festival. It's suposedly the most exciting time to be in the city; the Plaza de Toros opens for the season and everyone celebrates the resurrection of Christ. We left on Holy Saturday so didn't get to partake in the feast, but preparations were well underway all around the city.