The Spanish Means of Solemnizing Semana Santa

Spain is a highly religious, Catholic country that has kept numerous habits, which remain unchanged over time regardless of the many things that have been revised every now and then. The Spanish people's means of solemnizing Semana Santa or Holy Week is living proof that there is no other country probably more Catholic than Spain itself.

Solemnizations are held for eight long days starting off with Palm Sunday and finishing off with Easter Sunday, which is characterized by numerous processions of saints' statutes carried around in wooden platforms or flashy floats. The people who carry these floats are called costaleros who believe they are following the habit with pride and should exude grace regardless of how heavy the wooden floats are or are how long the procession would take. The marchers, meanwhile, display clothes that are reminiscent of the people of Nazareth and are tasked to chase the costaleros.

If the first seven days are spent in wailing, deep prayers, silent worshiping, sacrifices, and fasting, the Easter Sunday brings back the people to a celebratory, festive mood filled with lights, colors, happy faces, and luscious dishes. Cathedrals ring bells gleefully as if it is Christmas, accompanied with the heightened, happy spirit all throughout the country.