Easter in Spain: Curious and Fun Facts About Semana Santa
Dive into the unique traditions of Semana Santa in Spain with our collection of curious and entertaining facts. Explore the essence of Easter celebrations in Spain on FENIX.info.
Once again, Easter is approaching in Spain... Every year, we introduce you to various aspects of this holiday: from recipes for traditional Holy Week, fasting, and Easter Spanish dishes, to extraordinary religious customs in different cities and regions of the country... Today, dear readers, we will acquaint you with interesting and little-known facts related to Holy Week and Easter in Spain.
This year, as meteorologists say, the first half of Holy Week will be warm. However, on Holy Thursday, expect rain and cooling temperatures, which will last until Bright Christ's Resurrection! That's the tradition established for Spain in the heavenly office!
Passion Fruit — An Aphrodisiac?
Another amusing fact that few people know... In Spain, there is such a wonderful fruit - passion fruit or, as it is also called, the fruit of passion (Spanish: la fruta de la passion). Most people believe that it is called so because it arouses passion, that is, it is an aphrodisiac. But that's not the case at all: although passion fruit is a very nutritious fruit, rich in vitamin C and various minerals, it has nothing to do with carnal passion...
When Spanish conquistadors discovered this tropical fruit in South America, being devout Catholics, they saw reflections of the Passion of Christ, scenes of the Crucifixion of Christ: nails, cross, hammer... I examined the image of the passion fruit flower - it is very beautiful, but I did not see any hint of what the first Spanish missionaries saw... The images are gone, but the name remains...
Spanish Matraca
Let's talk about an amazing musical instrument, that almost disappeared from everyday life, but is still encountered in Spain, especially in certain Spanish churches. It has a peculiar-sounding name - "Matraca" (Spanish: Matraca). It looks unusual too: a huge wooden cross with hammers, which is spun using a protruding handle - the hammers strike metal plates, loudly and not very melodically...
In the past, they were used in many monasteries and churches during morning liturgy and at Easter, replacing the sound of bells. And to this day, in some remote villages of Spain, in the last days of Holy Week, you can hear the dull hum of the Matraca, reminding believers of the death of Jesus Christ.
Not long ago, in the Cathedral of St. Anne in the Canary Islands, in the bell tower, amidst the garbage on the floor, a huge Matraca was found, in a deplorable state. It was made over 300 years ago, and it was restored by one of the last surviving masters who understood Matracas - Jacobo González Velásquez - and now its sound again accompanies the church masses of Holy Week.
Easter in Spain and the "Kuarezma" Ceremony
There is another church custom in Spain that precedes the beginning of Lent - "Kuarezma" (Spanish: Cuaresma). It is not particularly curious, but I like it... This ceremony, held on the last Wednesday before the start of Lent, reminds us of the transience and ephemerality of earthly existence, its finiteness, and the infinity of the life of the soul...
The day is called - Ash Wednesday or Ash Wednesday (Spanish: Miércoles de Ceniza). During the mass, the priest blesses the believers and applies a palm ash cross on the forehead of each of them, simultaneously saying: "Memento homo, quia pulvis es et in pulverem reverteris" - "Remember, man, that you are dust and to dust you shall return".
However, Ash Wednesday has also acquired a secular-entertaining character. This day also marks the end of carnival celebrations in Spain. On Ash Wednesday (the eve of Lent), Spaniards carry Giant Sardines through the streets of the city (usually made of paper or cardboard), and then burn them. The ritual of burning the sardine means bidding farewell to the festivities and the beginning of abstinence (that is, the beginning of Lent).
Theatrical Processions Pasos...
We have already talked in other articles about traditional processions that take place during Holy Week throughout Spain. They are very diverse, and each town or region has its peculiarities in their conduct... But they have the same history: they all originated from medieval sacred performances, narrating the death and resurrection of Christ.
Traveling Spanish actors, hired by the Church, traveled from village to village, organizing theatrical performances on Biblical themes. On the main square, 12 actors representing Christ, Mary, the Apostles, and the Saints would come out. They carried a platform on their shoulders, on which all the theatrical action took place. These Holy Week processions, or as they are called in Spain - Pasos (Spanish: Pasos). Over time, Holy Week processions abandoned theatrical stages, and now anyone can participate in them.
Members of different church Brotherhoods dressed in tall pointed hats and capes, in one solemn rhythm, carry huge coffers with figures of the Savior and the Virgin Mary on their shoulders... Drums rumble... Candles burn... Chorales sound... I must say, it sends shivers down your spine!
Brotherhoods in Capriote
By the way, another curious fact: the classic cone-shaped hat - "Capriote" (Spanish: Capriote), which members of some brotherhoods wear during festive religious processions. This custom has come down to us from the time of the Spanish Inquisition when a condemned criminal was put on a cardboard cap decorated with illustrations on the theme of the crime he committed. It was believed that in this way the sinner would be closer to Heaven.
The same Capriote, only covered with white fabric, completely covering the face and shoulders, was worn in the old days during Lent by repentant sinners. Spanish Capriotes have nothing to do with Ku Klux Klan hoods, although, undoubtedly, they have a common origin.
Interesting fact: Amnesty in honor of Holy Week
Yes, indeed... as a final note, another interesting tradition of Holy Week, which distinguishes Easter in Spain, is the humanitarian tradition! Every year, upon the request of the Brotherhoods participating in the celebrations, several well-behaved and genuinely repentant prisoners are granted amnesty.
When and how did this merciful custom originate?
There are two theories about the origin of this ancient tradition: some researchers believe that it is associated with King Juan II of Castile, who in 1447 proclaimed the Law of Forgiveness on Good Friday, according to which, in memory of the Passion of Christ, one prisoner was granted freedom each year.
Most scholars lean towards another, more recent date... In 1759, a terrible plague of the plague ravaged the city of Malaga. Fearing contagion, the authorities of Spain banned the holding of religious processions during Holy Week.
The prisoners of the local prison requested permission to conduct the procession themselves, but their request was denied. The prisoners then revolted and escaped from the prison. They entered the church, took the figures of the Savior and the Virgin Mary, and paraded through the entire city, after which they returned to the prison.
According to legend, immediately after this, the plague left the city of Malaga. Upon learning of this miracle, King Carlos III of Spain ordered the release of one prisoner every year before Holy Week. This tradition is alive and well to this day: every year, during the great holiday, from 15 to 20 people are granted amnesty throughout Spain.
