Today was Domingo de Ramos. Semana Santa (Holy Week) here is from Saturday to the next Sunday. Now, this is what I really wanted to see here in Spain for Easter! I thought I was going to have to go to Sevilla to see it, but it's just as big right here in Almeria. Here in Andalucia they have processions every day of the week, maybe 3 or 4. There are tons! And this is the typical outfit. Don't worry, don't be scared!! They are NOT the Ku Klux Klan revived. It's crazy cause being from the U.S. we have that negative connotation. It's interesting to say the least....
So Kirsten and I had a front row standing position and were able to see everything super well. A typical procession leaves from a church and there are lots of these people with Klu Klux Klan hats (sorry, I don't know what they're called) and also huge images like these along with bands who play music while the many people underneath the images do their steps. They can't see where they are going you see. There are people to guide them and they have practiced a lot. Some of the more penitent people walk barefoot. These processions last a loooong time! We are talking like between 4-6 hours. Can you imagine carrying an image like this for that long? They have to prepare the whole year before. So the 2 images in this particular procession were the Last Supper (let me tell you, it was ginormous!!) and then the Virgin Mary. It was all that I had hoped for and more!! And we still have many to see as today is only the beginning of the processions.
We were standing so close that I could touch the images and I even took these close-ups of the side. Elise, you should be proud....
MORE TO COME FOR SEMANA SANTA.....STAY TUNED!!
2 comments:
Wow, that all looks so cool! Someone in Sunday school actually brought up this celebration. She compared how they have all these events and rituals all week to prepare for Easter, and how we should use each day of the week to prepare for the next Sunday. And I thought that was a GREAT idea! So my goal this week is to study some part of Easter in the scriptures everyday in preparation for this coming Sunday.
Good job on the photos, Kristina...I am proud! That's quite the celebration they have. At least they keep the religious tone to Easter, rather than commercializing it so much like we do in the U.S. Do they have the Easter Bunny and candy galore like we do here? Too bad we've lost some of the real meaning in our country.
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