Easter celebration in Spain is a manifestation of ancient rituals that provide glimpses to the country's fiercely religious history. The Easter Week, known in Spain as Semana Santa, begins with the Domingo de Ramos (Palm Sunday) and end with Lunes de Pascua (Easter Monday). The holy week of Easter consists of 2 holy days - Ash Wednesday, and Good Friday.
On Palm Sunday, people go to mass in the morning and children carry palm leaves to be blessed by the priest. On Palm Sunday most churches organize a parade to mark the arrival of Christ into Jerusalem. The congregations in Spain carry huge, leafy palms or olive branches that have been blessed in the church.
As Ash Wednesday is the first day of the penitential season of Lent in Spain, the day is marked by a special ceremony where the ashes are placed on the foreheads of the worshippers as a sign of remorse.
On Easter Sunday, in Almaden de la Plata near Seville, rag and straw effigies of famous people are placed at different locations of the village. These dolls are finally torn apart and the pieces thrown into the air. In Castilblanco de los Arroyos, they place similar dummies in the streets which are later set on fire. The dolls are known as ‘Judas dolls’.
The feast of Easter Sunday on Spain is also special. On this day, godfathers presents their godchildren with a cake known as ‘La Mona’. These are generally traditional pan shape found in various shapes from simple round or oval to Disney characters, toys and anything else. Another popular Spanish Easter dish is the torrijas. It is a blend of slices of warm bread soaked in milk, sugar and egg, then fried in olive oil. They are served along with wine, syrup, honey, sugar or cinnamon for extra touch of festivities.
Note no chocolate Eggs!
Hi from Castilblanco:
ReplyDeleteYou haven't dealt the Holy Week with my village. The images pass for the streets and seats, but they fire is not lit. They are images of the devotion, of fervor: they hide in his interior the religious feelings of many neighbors.
Nevertheless, I estimate your aptitude to explain something that is very difficult to understand... if you don't feel it.
=)
Castilblanco,
ReplyDeleteI was trying to give a general impression of Easter week.
I hope you enjoyed yours in your village.
Regards
Spenner