processions

You may have seen it when you cycle or walk through the streets in Spain, a big procession of people walking through the city and taking a big religious view. This is one of the processions that you can see everywhere in Spain, and therefore also in Seville.

Processions are ceremonial processions, which are often religious in nature. In various religions, processions are organized. In Catholicism, a procession is a symbol of God's people on the way. There are various kinds of processions, such as the funeral procession, the liturgical entrance, the procession in honor of Mary or other saints.
The word procession is derived from the verb more procedural that means progress in Latin. What an appropriate name is because during a procession a group of people moves collectively.

History

Since the Middle Ages, there have been several brotherboards. It took until the sixteenth century before they began the processions, in order to honor the death of Christ and worship him. Cardinal Fernando Niño set out in 1604 some rules that are still at the heart of the current Seville processions. For example, the brotherboards were obliged to carry out their book station (places where brotherboards stop during processions) at the Cathedral and the Triana people had to wear a simple tunic of coarse linen in the Santa Ana church.
During the eighteenth century, the holy week (a week full of processions that I will tell you more about later this blog) went through a deep crisis. As a result, Seville was in a deep economic and demographic decline. Fortunately, at the end of the nineteenth century the holy week returned in all its splendor. Since then, it has been one of the most important festivals in Seville, which also attracts many tourists.

The Semana Santa

The Semana Santa, also known as the Holy Week, is the week before Easter, which originates from the Catholic Church and is celebrated very exuberantly.
Different brotherboards have their own Paso’s, which they carry through the city for a week at their own time and route. The starting point is always at the church of the brotherhood, then walk to the Cathedral and back again. You have different kinds of people who walk in. There are of course people who carry the Paso’s, they are under the Paso, they are called the Costaleros. This is named after the part of the fuselage with which they carry the image. If you look closely, you can see the feet of these people sliding under the cloth. You also have the Nazareno’s. They wear a long garment with a high dot cap that often covers the face, making them unrecognizable and anonymous. Often they carry candles or crosses.
Processions have a fairly solid principle. First, you'll see a group of Nazareno’s followed by a music corps. They make music and indicate the rhythm of walking. Finally, the people who carry the Paso’s come.

Be there this weekend!

Although most processions are held around Easter, they are performed throughout the year. Also in October there are a few beautiful processions to attend. On Saturday 22 October there is a procession of the brotherhood of the Resurrection. This extraordinary procession is in honor of the fifth anniversary of the brotherhood. The procession will depart at the Santa Marina church and will walk down El Rinconcillo and along the Metropol parasol. Calle Feria is also a nice street to admire this procession, after which you can enjoy the cozy bars that are located in and around this street.
On Sunday 23 October there will be a procession organized by the brotherhood of the Snow. It is held in honor of our Lady of the Snow. He will start at the Calle Santa Maria la Blanca church, known as one of the most beautiful churches in Seville and close to our shop. What makes this procession so special is that it will take place largely in the middle of the Jewish quarter, where the small beautiful streets only make the procession more interesting. The parade will start in the garden Jardines de Murillo, where you can see the procession in the shade of the ficus trees, and then go through Plaza de la Alianze to the Cathedral. Here, the procession through the Virigen de los Reyes Plaza will continue the road through the typical tapas street ‘Matheos Gago’, where delicious tapas await you.