Semana Santa is a rich, expressive, and ancient tradition in Spain.
Its intensity can be startling, but its beauty and profoundness will give you an unforgettable study abroad immersion experience.
The style and mood of Semana Santa festivities vary depending on region, city, and time of day. Some processions are very somber and gloomy while others are upbeat and lively. The processions are accompanied by emotional music. Each brotherhood within the city carries floats from their church through the city towards the cathedral. These floats are extremely heavy and the men regularly practice for months leading up to Semana Santa. The floats are ornately decorated with religious figures and symbols, most commonly with Jesus and Mary.
(photo credit http://www.semanasantasalamanca.es/)
In the southern cities, often times during the procession a singer breaks out in a saeta, a melancholy flamenco song. The religious floats and music stop mid-procession to listen to the singers outpouring of emotions. One thing that can be startling to Americans is the traditional dress of the nazarenos. To many Americans, those members of the church following the floats in costumes, resemble the KKK! In reality these costumes do not have a sinister significance nor are they associated with the KKK. The penitents are asking for forgiveness. Their cone shaped head covering represents them rising to heaven and the robes hide their identity to show equality and direct the focus to penitence.