all Spain galleries : Andalucia Mallorca La Mercé Barcelona Catalonia Semana Santa

Semana Santa

The photos below illustrate and explain the Semana Santa procession of the penitents on Good Friday 2008 in Soller, Mallorca. More celebrations from other countries   A group of penitents arrives from a nearby village, walking towards the church to the sound of a hooded drummer   A confraternity (cofradía) walks out of the church, following their banner   Penitents wear a "nazareno" or penitential robe and a hood with conical tip called "capirote". The hood hides their face so that they can demonstrate their penance while still masking their identity   Each confraternity (cofradía) wears a different colour. This dress may remind you of the Ku Klux Klan, but its origins date from medieval times, and the Ku Klux Klan, ironically anti-religious, copied the style.   The "Nazarenos" carry processional candles   Some penitents walk bare-foot or carry shackles and chains on their feet as penance   A paso with Mary is carried out of the church. In larger cities, pasos may be much more elaborate than in Soller.   Flow of events of Good Friday in Soller : - arrival of the cofradías from surrounding villages (ca. 8 pm) - ceremony in the church when the statue of Jesus is taken down from the cross and laid down onto a paso - the cofradías walk out of the church, while a brass band is playing, and walk around the village streets - the paso with the statue of Jesus follows the many cofradías, with the brass band closing the procession. Local people stand on the pavement and then follow behind the brass band - the procession goes back into the church where Jesus is laid into a coffin, thus closing the reconstitution of the death of Jesus.