Holy Week again!

We're in the midst of Holy Week again, and in Spain Semana Santa = processions in almost every town and city across the country!!!

I missed out on my favourite procession this year, Palm Sunday, because I was out hiking (very cold and windy hike, but a fabulous outing! Will write about it asap). But because it was such a nice day when we got back into Alicante, a few of us didn't feel like heading home! So we wandered around downtown for a bit and popped into a place to have a merienda (snack). 2h later (lots of talking!) as I'm walking back to where I left the car I found I couldn't cross the Rambla because that evening's procession was underway!!! So I stayed and watched for a bit... and of course filmed it for you guys! ;o)

It's just one "paso" ("paso" = statue of a Saint, or the Virgin or Jesus on its throne, accompanied by the faithful and a marching band or two), I didn't stay around for any more (tired and in desperate need of a shower, lol!), but I thought you'd enjoy it! So here you have the Cofradía de San Pedro Apóstol, completing a loop through downtown (they had started off from the Cathedral and were only 2 blocks away from returning there). You can see members of the brotherhood wearing a medallion with their emblem, and three ladies carrying the symbols of St Peter (keys, fishing boat, net) on cushions.

I don't know if I'll be able to see any others this year... I wanted to last night but had to work late. I might talk with a friend about going to Elche on Sunday to see their Easter Sunday procession (is supposed to be beautiful), but we'll see. Anyhow, if you want to see what I wrote about other Semana Santa processions in the last couple of years follow these links:

• Semana Santa Española (an introduction to Holy Week in Spain)
• Palm Sunday in Elche in 2010 and in 2011. (They make some beautiful and very elaborate palms, and each year send one to the Pope!)
• Palm Sunday in Alicante in 2011.
• Procesión de la Hermandad de la Santa Cruz on Holy Wednesday in Alicante (2010 and 2011), probably the most unique procession in Alicante!
• Procesión del Silencio in Callosa del Segura on Holy Thursday. The Procesión del Silencio (Silent Procession) is always a goosebump-inducing one! Town only lit by the candles of the faithful, and the only sound the beat of a lonely drum (and maybe a dolçaina).
• Domingo de Resurrección (Easter Sunday) in Alicante in 2011. A joyful procession! :o)

And going through this I just realised I didn't write about the Procesión del Silencio in Elche last year!!! Well then, looks like I've got work to do this week! Hopefully I'll be able to make some time for that... Kind of depends on how many photos and video I took... :p