"Semana Santa" or Holy Week

Introduction:

Semana Santa is a Christian/Catholic tradition that is celebrated during the week leading up to Easter. The majority of schools in Spain are off for the entire week, and most businesses are closed the Thursday and Friday before Easter. 

What tradition did I learn about?:

The tradition that I learned about that happens during Semana Santa in a typical year (without COVID) is the procession. The different parishes in town create floats with different religious images. These floats are then carried through town with a band that plays different hyms. The people who carry the floats wear cloaks and very specific hats that hide their identity because they are supposed to remain "humble." Unfortunately, the hats that they wear were appropriated by certain hate groups in the United States, so to an American, pictures of these processions might seem shocking, but really they are completely unrelated to these hate groups. 

 

Semana Santa was quite limited this year because of COVID. Those who celebrate this festival for religious purposes were able to go to mass/service on Holy Thursday and Good Friday, for the Easter Vigil, and on Easter itself. Beyond that, various tents were set up throughout the city where the floats that are normally carried during the processions were on display. 

Pages