Seville’s festive period par excellence takes place
in spring.
The calendar begins with the renowned Holy Week (Semana
Santa). Processions date back to the 16th C when the Pasión
de Cristo (Passion of Christ) was commemorated and carried
by religious associations known as cofradías or
hermandades (lay brotherhoods).
At present during the Holy Week, starting on Domingo de
Ramos (Palm Sunday) processional parades are held in the
afternoon and at night time. On Holy Friday (Viernes Santo)
cofradías parade at dawn famous processions such
as Macarena and the Gran Poder (Greatest Power). Statues
of the Virgen son Dolorosas are decked with gold and silver
crowns, a long velvet shawl and decorated with flowers
and wax; these religious floats are carried on the shoulders
of the cofrade. Sculptures of Jesus are presented dragging
a cross and are decorated with red carnations or purple
iris’.
