Semana Santa (Holy Week) – Seville, Spain

Author and Editor: Gabriella Grace

Semana Santa, or Holy Week in Seville, Spain is known for its religious devotion and cultural tradition, and the notable events that takes place in the city each spring is Semana Santa, also called Holy Week. This annual celebration is a time for Catholics to honor the passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ and is one of the most important religious events in the country.

During Holy Week, visitors to Seville will have the opportunity to witness a variety of unique and colorful celebrations that take place throughout the city. The most notable of these celebrations is the processions, which feature ornate floats known as pasos, depicting scenes from the Bible and carried by members of local religious brotherhoods known as cofradías.

The processions take place in the streets of Seville and are accompanied by thousands of people dressed in traditional robes, known as nazarenos, who walk alongside the floats while holding candles and singing hymns. The processions are also accompanied by marching bands, playing traditional music, and are an impressive sight to behold.

Another significant aspect of Holy Week in Seville is the beautiful floral decorations that adorn the city’s streets and buildings. These decorations are created by local florists and often feature brightly colored flowers and intricate designs. They are used to decorate the pasos, as well as the streets, squares, and churches throughout the city.

In addition to the processions and floral decorations, visitors to Seville during Holy Week will also have the opportunity to witness other traditional celebrations such as the “procesión del silencio” on Maundy Thursday, where the streets are silent, and the “madrugá” on Good Friday, where the processions begin in the early hours of the morning.

Holy Week in Seville is an unforgettable experience for visitors. The processions, floral decorations, and other traditional celebrations make for an unforgettable and moving experience that showcases the richness of the city’s culture and history. If you are planning a visit to Seville, make sure to plan your trip during Holy Week to experience all that the city has to offer.