GRANADA PHOTO GALLERY

EASTER IN GRANADA

Experience the heart and soul of Spain in Semana Santa ("Holy Week")

Semana Santa, or Holy Week, is one of southern Spain’s most famous religious celebrations, commemorated in every town and city with ornate processions that have a long and rich tradition. The history of the Semana Santa processions dates back to the Re-conquest era and the expulsion of the Moors from the kingdom of Spain in 1487, led by the Catholic monarchs. After centuries of Arab influence they were eager to assert Catholicism as Spain’s true religion. And so in the 16th century, the Church began to promote its values and traditions, with religious processions or ‘pasos’. The widespread use of religious images became a key element to educate the largely illiterate masses.

Some of the most outstanding Easter week processions are in Granada.  The processions start from the churches and wind slowly around the streets, with lifelike statues of Christ on the Cross and his mother the Virgin Mary in mourning, and are led by an Hermandad (Brotherhood) each with its own history and traditions.

Processions take place throughout the city, the undoubted highlights being the Procession of Silence on Maundy Thursday and "Los Gitanos"  the night before, a 12-hour march to ascend the Sacromonte mount among bonfires and chants. Scenes from the ‘pasos’ often whip up such a frenzy of emotion that many onlookers are brought to tears.

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