These remarkable thrones depicting scenes from the Passion are escorted by groups of penitents wearing long purple robes and women in black holding lit candles. But if all you’re interested in is chocolate, don’t panic. For instance, the Silence Procession in Badalona dates back to the 17th century and distinguishes itself for being extremely quiet and lit only by candlelight. The procesiones de Semana Santa (Easter processions) vary greatly across Spain, but usually involve pasos, which are big floats that carry statues or representations or religious figures or religious imagery. to the cold winter? One of the most distinctive features, however, is the presence of tronos – huge ornate floats that are carried through the streets of Málaga by hundreds of church members. can take anywhere. ... to the joyous celebrations and church services of Easter Sunday a week later, the streets resound to the sounds of historic ceremonies that have marked this holy time for centuries. You can also watch authentic videos to pick up more words, as well as learn the grammar to string them together. Now you have plenty of vocabulary to talk about Easter and spring. FluentU is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Sign up, Don't have an account? The charming university town of Murcia celebrates Easter with the same stately and elegant processions that characterize the region, but thanks to the multitude of masterpieces by Francisco Salzillo – the city’s famous son, they seem even more spectacular in their baroque splendor. Arguably the most important words you’ll need are Pascua (Easter), Semana Santa (Holy Week) and of course, ¡Felices Pascuas! While the Semana Santa festivities in Andalusia are the most spectacular, the ones in Castile and León are often regarded as some of the most authentic, solemn, and austere in the entire country. Lively, colorful parades replace the sober processions; the floats are festooned with flowers; the weighty silence is expelled by exultant music; and people indulge themselves in all kinds of traditional sweets and pastries such as torrijas (slices of bread soaked in milk and eggs, and fried in olive oil) and pestihos. The age-old rituals that date back to the 13th century, along with the rich historical and architectural details of Salamanca’s UNESCO-listed Old Town add a dose of drama and splendor to the unique atmosphere. You can also talk about Jesús (Jesus) muriendo (dying) on la cruz (the cross) before la resurrección (the resurrection). Many places indulge in rituals specific to their town and seen nowhere else, some more extreme than others. There are some other words related to la primavera (the spring), which you may find useful. Like everywhere in Spain, the festivities begin on Palm Sunday (Domingo de Ramos) and last until Easter Monday (Lunes de Pascua), with the most dramatic and passionate parades held on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday. Review a complete interactive transcript under the Dialogue tab, and find words and phrases listed under Vocab. Well, the next peculiarity 2020 has in store for us will certainly be visible from earth, but will actually... As the All Saints bank holiday weekend kicks off, the Spanish government has taken steps to try to slow the second wave of coronavirus contagion by restricting movement around the country. In Valverde de la Vera, in Caceres, men wearing crowns made out of thorny branches walk in bare feet along a symbolic path to Calvary with their arms tied to a wooden bar on to which heavy swords are hung. Whilst in Madrid, people dressed in the medieval garb of penitents, including iron shackles, carry one of the images from the church around the city. Or you might want to pick or buy un tulipán (a tulip), or even un ramo de tulipanes (a bunch of tulips). You’ll also probably want to talk about la cuaresma (Lent), which lasts for cuarenta días y cuarenta noches (40 days and 40 nights). Historically, during this time people were en ayunas (fasting). The origins of these brotherhoods are said to date back from as early as the 13th century when they were bands of men organised to rescue the wounded from battlefields during the re-conquest of Spain from the Moors. The highlight of Holy Week in Seville is the night of Maundy Thursday, when all the processions start their march to the Cathedral. Are you already feeling nostalgic about Christmas? You may also note that there are more corderos (lambs) in the fields, or perhaps you’ve even spotted a conejo (rabbit), which you may want to refer to as a conejito (little rabbit). In Salamanca, Zamora, and Valladolid, Semana Santa has been declared Fiesta of International Tourist Interest of Spain. (Download). Music is part of all the processions, but the type of music that accompanies the paso is different depending on which part of Spain you are in. Read this and thousands of other news stories and articles on thinkSPAIN, the leading English language website for Spain. Handing out sweets is another traditional custom at Murcia’s Semana Santa parades. Each brotherhood in town is divided into small groups, whose members are meant to take care of a single float while wearing identical clothes. Among the cities that hold remarkable processions are León, Zamora, Salamanca, Avila, Segovia, and Valladolid. By far, the most spectacular events take place in Málaga and Seville, where the streets are taken over by flamboyant parades and intricate religious displays depicting biblical scenes. Your email address will not be published. Although not as spectacular as in other Spanish regions, Semana Santa in Catalonia has its fair share of peculiar celebrations. During these days, you might also hear the words ceniza (ash), ramos (palm) and la misa (mass). If you’re in Spain, don’t miss trying the Easter treat torrija. Regards. You might also want to think about getting a cesta de Pascua (Easter basket). In many towns there will be daily parades every evening starting at the parish church from where one of the huge wooden statues that usually rests in a side chapel will be carried through the streets to solemn music. Find more Spanish words at wordhippo.com! The destinations above feature some of the most famous and spectacular Easter festivities in Spain, but there are many other towns and villages throughout the country that are worth a visit during this special time of year. In some of the more traditional processions such as in Valladolid, there is a coro (choir) who sings traditional songs. I recomend you as first place to visit Valladolid, best sculptures in the world about holy week are there, there is no doubt about this point. Download: This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you We hate SPAM and promise to keep your email address safe, Get regular language learning tips, resources and updates, starting with the "Complete Guide to Foreign Language Immersion" e-book, Sign up for our weekly blog newsletter for a chance to win a free FluentU Plus subscription (value $240). If you liked this post, something tells me that you'll love FluentU, the best way to learn Spanish with real-world videos. The most remarkable of them is by far El Encuentro – the solemn moment when the pasos of Saint John and La Dolorosa meet in Plaza Mayor. In Málaga, Semana Santa is celebrated with religious and military parades accompanied by music, inviting incense and floral scents, as well as lots of color and cheer. Pointed hoods, reminiscent of those worn by the Klu Klux Klan are used by members of the parades and are said to represent penitents too shamed by the crucifixion to show their faces. First of all, you may want to comment on how beautiful las flores (the flowers) look. ), follow this recipe. In Seville, these are considered genuine artistic masterpieces, some of them dating back as far as the 16th century. Co-founder, editor & contributor at Veebrant. Another highlight is the extraordinary artistic value of the pasos, which have been created by famous Spanish sculptors such as Mariano Benlliure, Luis Salvador Carmona, or Alejandro Carnicero, and are regarded as some of the best artworks of the Castilian School of Imagery. There are also a couple of small museums in Lorca dedicated to these exquisite outfits. Each movable float belongs to a brotherhood, or cofradia (there are over 50 in Seville), and has its own distinctive characteristics. Other members of the public also follow the procession and are also penitentes. ), but you might also want to talk about other Easter-related things. And there’s no need to feel left out if you’re staying at home—you can impress your Spanish-speaking friends with your Easter vocabulary, or even talk about Easter with the new friends you’ve made via a language exchange. Don't have an account? And if you’re in Spain over this time, definitely don’t miss the Semana Santa (Holy Week) processions.

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