HOLY WEEK: Andalusia (Spain)
An activity by Isabel Pérez Torres
Fill the blanks with the words given below
death Good Holy Holy images Last Maundy ornate Palm Passion
To visit Andalucía in _______ Week is to see the other side of the coin as religious fervour takes over and the normally exuberant Andalusians assume an air of solemn respect for what is the most important festival on the religious calendar.
_____ Week is the re-enactment of the Passion but the story is presented in many different ways across the Andalusian geography and while processions with floats bearing _______ of Christ and the Virgin are the most traditional there are also ________ plays, drum marathons and representations in which the actors are dressed as Roman centurions. The celebrations respect the succession of events in the life and ______ of Christ beginning on ______ Sunday with processions representing Christ's entry into Jerusalem and the ______ Supper continuing through the week with his capture by the Romans, crucifixion, burial and final resurrection on the following Sunday. In Málaga and Seville the processions with their sumptuously _______ floats parade practically every day while in the smaller towns and villages they may only take place on ________ Thursday and _______ Friday and are usually much simpler although by no means less moving.
(Andalucía Costa del Golf, March 1997)
HOLY WEEK: Processions
An activity by Isabel Pérez Torres
Fill the blanks with the words given below:
bearers bearers candles floats guilds hoods Nazarenes shoulders throne visible
The Holy Week processions are a tradition of centuries and interest is increasing especially among the younger generation. The processions are organised by "cofradías"and "hermandades" religious ______, and it is not uncommon for parents to put a child's name down as soon as it is born.
The processions follow a time-hallowed ritual. The images of Christ and the Virgin are born on separate floats and form part of a cortege of robed ______ with pointed ______ carrying the paraphernalia (standards, staffs, incense burners) or simply long ______ and black lace mantilla-ed "widows" parading to a musical accompaniment. Although some of the guilds parade during the day the majority start in the very early evening and follow an official route which may take as much as seven or eight hours to complete and the atmosphere when the throne finally returns to its chapel is charged with emotion.
Málaga and Seville stand out for the sheer magnificence and tradition of their celebrations and it is curious to note how different the two are. In Seville ______ the are hidden from view beneath the ______ and proceed with a somewhat jerky step while in Malaga the ______ are ______ and carry the throne on their ______, marching with a swaying gait. Even the terminology differs: in Seville the ______ are called "pasos" and in Málaga "tronos" while the throne bearers are referred to as "costaleros" in Seville and in Málaga "hombres de trono" or "portadores".
(Andalucía Costa del Golf, March 1997)
