Photos from the Holy week in Spain : la Semana Santa

Flow of event and pictures from the processions during Good Friday 2008

- first, the so called brotherhoods (cofradías) arrive from surrounding villages (ca. 8 pm)

- a ceremony takes place in the church as the statue of Jesus is taken down from the cross and laid down onto a float (paso)

- the cofradías walk out of the church one by one, 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 the statue of Jesus is laid into a coffin, thus closing the reconstitution of the death of Jesus.

See more photos of 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.