Semana Santa has officially begun in Spain as millions across the country celebrate Palm Sunday today.
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Palm Sunday, or Domingo de Ramos in Spanish, is one of the most important days of Holy Week.
In major cities across the country today, you will see – and hear – huge religious processions.
The Palm Sunday celebrations recognise and reenact Jesus’s entry into Jerusalem.
The biggest marches are witnessed in the religious southern region of Andalucia, and in particular its capital city of Sevilla.
Processions
- The processions, which can stretch for several kilometres, are organised by so-called ‘brotherhoods’ of local churches and parishes.
- These brotherhoods are called hermandades or cofradias, and some of them are hundreds of years old.
- Participants often wear traditional robes and hoods (nazarenos), and they carry floats (pasos) that depict scenes from the Passion of Christ, especially Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem.
- The colour combinations on Palm Sunday will depend on the cofradia, but they are typically white and gold (representing joy and resurrection themes), red (representing Passion of Christ), light blue (honouring the Virgin Mary), or brown or cream (representing humility).
Blessing of Palms
- Locals will bring palm branches or olive branches to church to be blessed by the priest.
- In some regions, especially Andalucia, children will carry intricately woven palms leaves.
- These blessed palms are often kept at home for the year as a symbol of protection.
Mass and Church Attendance
- Locals around the country today will attend a Palm Sunday mass that includes the reading of the Passion and a procession into the church that re-enacts Christ’s entry into Jerusalem.
Best Palm Sunday processions
- Sevilla is especially famous for its Semana Santa celebrations, and Palm Sunday is one of its most attended days.
- In Elche, Alicante the Palm Sunday procession is so unique that it’s been recognised as a piece of cultural heritage by UNESCO. People carry white palm leaves that are specially grown and bleached.
Food Traditions
- While Palm Sunday isn’t particularly known for unique dishes, it kicks off a week of Lenten and Easter treats, like torrijas (a Spanish version of French toast soaked in milk, egg, and honey or wine).
