HOLY WEEK IS COMING!: FIND OUT THE HISTORY OF THE MOST POPULAR CELEBRATION IN SEVILLE

Holy Week of Seville commemorates the passion, death and resurrection of Christ. This popular celebration takes place in spring time, between Domingo de Ramos and Domingo de Resurrección, when up to 60 religious brotherhoods walk towards the Cathedral.

Holy Week of Seville is one of the biggest and most famous celebrations of the city along with the Feria de Abril, being declared International tourist interest in 1980. This religious celebration has thousands of followers not only in Seville but also in the whole country. Among their faithful, there are many members belonging to brotherhoods that participate in the ritual of carrying or accompanying the Christ and the Virgin. The processions along with the numerous followers create an amazing environment that must be witnessed for every culture lover. Would you like to know more about Holy Week of Seville?, take a look at this post!

History of Holy Week (Easter):

During the middle age the first brotherhoods started to appear, but it wasn´t until the counter reformation, in XVI century where they decided to have more presence by doing a penitential station. In XX century, during the government of the second republic there was a social and political confrontation that affected to the celebration of Holy Week but, in 1965, cardinal and bishop Bueno Monreal approved the realization of Holy Week  perennially. In 1980, Holy Week of Seville was declared “International Holiday”. In 1800 the average of brotherhoods was ten. Today, up to 50 are registered and make their itinerary every year.

Itinerary of the Processions:

In the beginning, brotherhoods make their itinerary around the churches where they had their headquarters. In 1640 an obligation was established that made all the brotherhoods to include the Cathedral of Seville among their itineraries, except for the Triana´s brotherhoods, which had to go to the church of Santa Ana. Official race is known as the common itinerary that all brotherhood must follow in their march to the Cathedral. The main itinerary usually start at Plaza de la Campana, continues through calle Sierpes, then Plaza San Francisco and Avenida de la Constitución and ends up by getting inside the Cathedral of Seville. Many of these processions walk through beautiful secrets places of Seville that only locals know, so be aware and make sure you don´t miss any of them!. If you want to know in deep the itinerary of every precession visit the official Holy Week website.

Professional courting / membership:

• Cruz de guia:

  It´s the insignia that opens up the procession. It is carried by one of the nazarene brothers in the cortege head. In some brotherhoods the insignia constitutes a magnificent artwork as El Gran Poder´s one, which was made in XVII century.

• Nazarens:

  Nazarens are the members of a brotherhoods that do penance dressed with the clothes that are listed in the brotherhood´s rules. Each brotherhood has its own rules, and every nazaren can carry a candle, rod, badge and lantern. 

• Costaleros:

  Costaleros are the guys in charge of carrying the “Paso” with the Christ and Virgin on it. These strong guys always have over their heads a stuffed handkerchief that help them to support the heavy structure. They not just carry the paso but also move it softly in a Synchronized in order to give more dynamism to the Christ and Virgin, something that is normally applauded by the crowd. 

Music:

Music is a very important thing of Holy Week. Most of brotherhoods have their own band of trumpets and drums, and even clarinets saxophones. Some Silence brotherhoods have just a quartet of musicians that play bassoon and clarinet. The bands always go behind the pasos and interpret processional marches. To listen to some of the best ones visit this link on Youtube.

Days of Passion:

• Viernes de Dolores:

  It´s the first day that Nazarenes go out, and up to 6 processions go out, as “Hermandad de Pino Montano”, “Pasión y muerte”, and “la Corona” among them

• Sabado de Pasión:

  Some processions of this day are “Hermandad de la Milagrosa”, “Divino Perdón”, and “San José Obrero”.

• Domingo de Ramos:

  Domingo de Ramos initiates the Holy Week, and the first procession in going out is “Hermandad de la Paz”. The church reminds this day the triumphal entrance of Jesus in Jerusalem as server of the word of God.

• Lunes Santo:

  The procession of this day remember scenes of the life of Jesus.

• Martes Santo:

  The processions evokes the las moments of the life of Jesus.

• Miercoles Santo:

  Some of the most popular processions of this day are “Hermandad del Carmen”, “San Bernardo”, and “Las siete palabras”.

• Jueves Santo:

  On this day, Jesus had his last dinner, where instituted the Eucharist and cleaned the feet of his followers disciples in order to teach us to follow the fellow. After being betrayed by Judas Iscariote, Jesus is arrested and tried. Some processions of this day are Hermandad de las Cigarreras and Hermandad de la Quina Angustia.

• La Madrugá:

  La Madrugá (the early morning) takes place between Thursday nigh and Friday early morning. This is without a doubt the most important night of the Holy Week in Seville. At down is remembered the judgement upon Poncio Pilatos, The scourging and crowning of thorns, The death sentence of jesus and his walk carring the cross to the Gólgota. On this day go out the most popular processions of the week, as La Macarena or El Gran Poder. 

• Viernes Santo:

  During this day take places the commemoration of the Passion and death of Jesus.

• Sábado Santo:

  Holy Saturday is the day of waiting before the Resurrection.

• Domingo de Resurrección (Easter Sunday):

  Also called Easter Sunday. Jesus rises and leaves his tomb.

We hope you found in this post the information you needed in order to understand and enjoy the Holy Week of Seville!. Remember that you can always book one of our numerous activities and immortalize your trip to Seville forever.