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Monday, April 21, 2014

Easter in Spain

Last weekend was Easter, and I saw many people hiding and seeking chocolate eggs, stores and houses decorated with bunnies... and I kept thinking how different Easter is in Spain.

In Spain, traditionally a catholic country, Easter is called Semana Santa (Holy Week) and we have vacation for a whole week, finishing on Resurrection Sunday. During that week, procesiones or processions are held each day, consisting on the carrying of tronos, heavy statues representing a passage of the Bible. These tronos are carried by volunteers as a penance.

Here you can see one of my good friends in her penance:



Each one of the so-called processions has its own meaning:

Palm Sunday: commemorates Jesus' entry into Jerusalem.




Holy Monday: commemorates the anointing at Lazarus' house.

Holy Tuesday: Jesus anticipates to his disciples Judas' betrayal.

Holy Wednesday: Judas conspires to betray Jesus.

Holy Thursday: Last Supper.



Holy Friday: Vía Crucis. Representations depicting Christ Carrying the Cross to his crucifixion.




Holy Saturday: Paschal Vigil or Great Vigil of Easter. Commemorates Jesus being in the sepulcher.


Resurrection Sunday: Easter, el Encuentro. Commemorates the reunion of Jesus and the Virgin Mary.




Some of the typical Semana Santa attires are very shocking for American visitors, but we have to take into account our histories are really different and the meanings of these clothes are completely disconnected from one another.




I am actually from one of the towns where la Semana Santa is more famous in Spain, Cartagena, since it is said to be really beautiful. Besides, we have an extra day of vacation the Monday after Easter Sunday, and we call it Lunes de Pascua or Día de la Mona. La mona is a sweet pastry we eat that Monday. Traditionally, families get together and spend the day in the countryside and eat it. And here is where we can compare our tradition a little bit with America's, since in the middle of the pastry you find an egg, although is not made of chocolate... is a hard boiled egg!



And here you have my cousin and his little son prepared to go on procession!


Is Easter celebrated in your country? If so, which are teh main differences?


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