Påsk i Spanien - en mäktig uppvisning

Easter in Spain is very different from Easter in Sweden. Easter is celebrated for the same religious reason as in Sweden, i.e. to commemorate the suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus. However, many of the Swedish Easter traditions, such as Easter baskets and Easter eggs, have nothing to do with the suffering of Jesus, but originate from folklore and non-religious traditions... In Spain, it is easier to understand the religious connection!

Easter in Spain

Easter week, Semana Santa, is Spain's holy week. Historically, it has been an almost mournful week, but today it is perhaps celebrated with a little more joy. However, the celebrations are much more solemn than in Sweden, and it is much clearer that this is a religious event.

Semana Santa starts with Palm Sunday when people go to church. On Good Friday there is no mass but a service in honour of the cross. Good Friday is also a day of fasting. The Easter Eve night mass is then the highlight, and since Lent is over, many people usually have a big dinner after the Easter Eve night mass.

Spanien påsl — There is no mistaking that Easter is a religious holiday in Spain.

READ MORE: 10 facts about Easter - church, eggs and rabbits
READ MORE: Easter traditions in the world - 10 different Easter customs

Long processions

One of the most distinctive features of Spanish Easter celebrations are the processions. Dating back to the Middle Ages and penance, they symbolise Jesus' journey to the cross. The processions run for several hours through Spanish cities, carrying large 'barges' with icons illustrating the life and suffering of Jesus.

The barges are heavy and carried by strong men for many hours, and the heavy carrying is meant to remind us of the suffering of Jesus. The processions are apparently biggest in Andalucía, for example in Seville and Malaga, but we found it impressive here in Tarragona also!

The Roman soldiers march in step, the drummers beat their drums hard and rhythmically, and people crowd everywhere. Easter in Spain is a great experience!

Påskprocession — The carrying of the heavy "barges" will remind us of the suffering of Jesus.

Påsk i Spanien — It almost feels like being transported back to the Middle Ages.

Påsk Tarragona — The processions go on for hours, hours, hours ...

13 Comments

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Ama de casa says:

They have really great parades
🙂

04 April 2015 - 10:28

Steve says:

The Spanish Easter celebrations are powerful. They go all out. I have experienced it myself once, in 2005 in Nerja.
I wish you a Happy Easter.

04 April 2015 - 11:05

BP says:

WOW! You definitely picked the right place! Another lavish and colourful procession à la Spain. They really love processions.

Some images remind me of the world-famous parade in Southern Germany, in Oberammargau. There, a Jesus is selected (very desirable mission with applicants from all over the country) who carries a very heavy cross all the way...

PS.Oh a group that you show reminds of Klu Klux clan;-) DS.

04 April 2015 - 13:21

Anja says:

Jeeesus! ...but why these creepy hoods, you ask?
Happy Easter Helena!

04 April 2015 - 15:12

Comment by post author

admin says:

Ama de casa, indeed!

Steve, really cool! Glad you experienced it too! I read that the celebrations were big in Nerja too.

BP, interesting to hear about the parade in Germany! I haven't heard of it, but it sounds really special. The hoods remind me a bit of the Ku Klux Klan, I know, but has nothing to do with it. (Possibly I read somewhere the other way round, that the Ku Klux Klan was inspired by these processions).

Anja, I read something about it being related to mourning. When Jesus is resurrected, they take off their hoods. Or something like that. Happy Easter, Anja!

04 April 2015 - 15:39

Matts Torebring says:

What a positive difference, compared to our Easter bunnies shouting, 'Trick or treat. Have a nice Easter

04 April 2015 - 18:08

Comment by post author

admin says:

Matts, I too think this is nicer actually, even though I'm not religious!
🙂

04 April 2015 - 19:32

Ditte says:

Easter celebrations in Spain are certainly different from what we are used to at home. Nice for you to experience, I imagine.
We were there last year and watched parades for several days. Powerful and fun to have experienced it. This year we are at home, but next year we will probably be there again during Easter.

05 April 2015 - 21:16

Steel city anna says:

That's too scary for me! There was a procession here in Sheffield also on Good Friday when they carried a big cross. They had police protection! What a world we live in. Well, now the happy message of Easter is here and new times begin, one can hope.

06 April 2015 - 14:26

Comment by post author

admin says:

Ditte, great to see! You have the opportunity to see it whenever you want. For us, it was fun to have the chance to experience it!

Steel city Anna, that doesn't sound fun, why do they need police protection?

06 April 2015 - 16:50

Comment by post author

admin says:

You who call yourself "your mum", Jesu is an old genitive form still used in some expressions e.g. "the suffering of Jesus".

24 March 2016 - 14:23

Anonymous says:

Not to be that way, but their masks look like kkk.

05 April 2019 - 9:47

Gudtav says:

Lol why are they only 2015 here

30 March 2021 - 9:02

Easter in Spain - a mighty display!

Easter in Spain

Long processions

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13 Comments

Ama de casa says:

Steve says:

BP says:

Anja says:

admin says:

Matts Torebring says:

admin says:

Ditte says:

Steel city anna says:

admin says:

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