Easter, or Semana Santa as it’s known locally, is Spain’s most important religious festival. The celebrations date back to the sixteenth century, and include sombre processions with ornate floats commemorating Jesus Christ’s arrival in Jerusalem, crucifixion, burial, and resurrection. The most famous Easter Week celebrations take place in Andalucia, in southern Spain. However, cities throughout…
Tag: processions
A Man With as Many Noses as There Are Days Left In the Year
L’Home dels Nassos (the man of the noses) is a mythical figure from Catalan folklore with as many noses as there are days left in the year. On January 1st he has 365 noses which he then loses, one per day, as the year advances. During most of the year, the nose man hides away…
The Tres Tombs Horse Parade
Every January, in towns and cities across Spain, animals take to the streets to celebrate the feast of St Anthony Abbot. Saint Anthony was a Roman Catholic monk born in Egypt in the 3rd century and is the patron saint of (among others) domestic animals, basket weavers, farmers, grave diggers and the sick. Several towns…
La Casa dels Entremesos: The Giants Museum
No Catalan festival would be complete without a procession of dancing giants. The papier mâché giants date back to the 14th century when they first appeared in Corpus Christi celebrations. Over the years they have been joined by “Capgrossos” (big heads), dragons and other animals. All of which can be seen dancing and whirling their way…
