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 Semana Santa (Holy Week)
Staying in Spain during the week before Easter (Semana Santa) is an outstanding experience. People around the nation celebrate this week with large processions. In Cordoba more than 30 of these processions occur, attracting many thousand tourists, as well as local residents.
Traditionally, Easter festivities begin on Palm Sunday with “La Borriquita” procession. “La Borriquita” represents how Jesus Christ entered Jerusalem on the back of a jackass.
Each of the processions is to symbolize a certain situation during the way of the Cross.
Members of so called brotherhoods, associations of believers, bear adorned Jesus and Mary statues through the city’s streets. The oldest statue visitors can look at is the statue of the Suffering Christ from the 13th century. Processions are joined by penitents and singers of religious flamenco chants, and the scent of incense can be smelt everywhere.
Some of the brotherhoods may look back at several hundred years of history and tradition. “Del Rescatado”, “Cristo de Gracia” and “Cristo de Ánimas” are among the most significant brotherhoods of Cordoba.
So if you are staying in Cordoba around Easter, don’t miss one of the processions. It’s truly worth seeing. To make observing one or more of these processions a comfortable experience, visitors can rent folding chairs that are available along the procession route and are available on a daily basis.
Below we have listed the brotherhoods that make their processions during the Holy week:
Domingo de Ramos (Palm Sonntag)
La Borriquita – Real Parroquia de San Lorenzo Mártir
El Amor – Parroquia Jesús Divino Obrero
Las Penas de Santiago – Parroquia de Santiago Apóstol
El Rescatado - Parroquia de Nuestra Señora de Gracia
La Esperanza - Parroquia de San Andrés Apóstol
El Huerto - Parroquia de San Francisco y San Eulogio
Lunes Santo (Monday)
La Merced - Parroquia de San Antonio de Padua
La Sentencia - Parroquia de San Nicolás de la Villa
La Vera Cruz - Parroquia de San José y Espíritu Santo
La Estrella - Parroquia de San Fernando
Vía Crucis - Parroquia de San Juan y Todos los Santos. La Trinidad
Ánimas - Real Parroquia de San Lorenzo Mártir
Martes Santo (Tuesday)
La Agonía - Parroquia de Santa Victoria
El Prendimiento - Iglesia de María Auxiliadora
La Sangre - Iglesia Conventual de Santo Ángel. Padres Capuchinos
La Santa Faz - Parroquia de San Juan y Todos los Santos. La Trinidad
El Buen Suceso - Parroquia de San Andrés Apóstol
Miércoles Santo (Wednesday)
La Piedad – Parroquia de San Antonio María Claret
La Pasión - Parroquia de Nuestra Señora de la Paz. San Basilio
El Perdón - Iglesia de San Roque. Calle Buen Pastor
La Paz - Iglesia Conventual del Santo Ángel. Padres Capuchinos
El Calvario - Real Parroquia de San Lorenzo Mártir
La Misericordia - Basílica Menor de San Pedro
Jueves Santo (Holy Thursday)
Sagrada Cena – Parroquia del Beato Álvaro de Córdoba
El Nazareno - Iglesia del Hospital de Jesús Nazareno
El Caído - Iglesia Conventual de San Cayetano
Cristo de Gracia (El Esparraguero) - Parroquia de Nuestra Señora de Gracia
La Caridad - Parroquia de San Francisco y San Eulogio
Las Angustias - Real Iglesia de San Pablo
Madrugá (Good Friday Eve)
La Buena Muerte - Real Colegiata de San Hipólito
Viernes Santo (Good Friday)
Los Dolores - Iglesia Hospital de San Jacinto
El Descendimiento - Parroquia de San José y Espíritu Santo
La Soledad - Parroquia de Santiago Apóstol
El Santo Sepulcro - Parroquia del Salvador y Santo Domingo de Silos. Compañía
La Expiración - Real Iglesia de San Pablo
Domingo de Resurrección (Easter Day)
El Resucitado - Parroquia de Santa Marina de Aguas Santas
Want to know more?
If you are interested in getting more familiar with local words and phrases regarding the Holy week processions, then go ahead. We explain some of the most significant words you may get in contact with while being here around Easter.
Bacalao: Flag with the brotherhood crest
Banda (band): Most processions are accompanied by music bands, playing march music. Some brotherhoods however pass on music (Procesión de silencio - silent procession).
Capataz (bearer): This person is responsible for conducting the procession through the narrow streets.
Capirote (cusp hat): The Nazarenes wear a cusp hat covering all face only leaving two sights.
Carrera oficial (official route): the official procession route goes from Claudio Marcelo street through Tendillas Square, where a jury rates the procession. Along the route there are boxes with chairs that can be rented.
Círio: A large wax candle conveyed by the Nazarenes.
Costaleros (bearer): Invisible for the audience, between 40 and 50 bearer walk under the so-called Paso and bear it on their heads or shoulders through the streets.
Cruz de Guía (Lead cross): A large wooden cross, adorned with silver, opens the procession and paves the way.
Estación de penitencia (Penitence station): Various processions make a stop at Cordoba Cathedral. Entering and leaving Mezquita Cathedral are worth attending.
Hermandad (Brotherhood): Also known as Cofradías, brotherhoods are religious associations. their members are called Hermanos (brothers).
Hermano Mayor: Brotherhood principal
Mantilla (Veil): Behind the Paso there are often women walking with a black veil to deliver a promise or do penance for something.
Nazareno (Nazarenes): Hooded penitents, marching in rows of two before the Paso, bearing large candles and other insignia.
Paso (Supporting frame): This is a stage showing an image of the Christ ordeal or an effigy of the Virgin Mary, respectively. These stages are beared by the so-called Costaleros. Many processions come with two Pasos.
Penitentes (Penitents): Penitents bear a wooden cross and walk, in many cases, barefoot.
Recorrido (Procession route): This is the complete route of a procession. Depending on the distance between the respective church and the official route in the city center, a procession may last up to ten hours.
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