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With a history spanning hundreds of years, Holy Week (Semana Santa), or Easter Week, has become an indispensable part of the cultural and religious life of many cities throughout Spain. From Palm Sunday, marking the event of Jesus' entry into Jerusalem before his crucifixion, to Easter Sunday, commemorating his miraculous resurrection after being crucified and dying on the cross, throughout this solemn week, cities such as Seville, Valladolid, Zamora, Cuenca, Málaga... are immersed in the atmosphere of meaningful processions.
The most striking and impressive aspect of these processions is the enormous size and elaborate decoration of the palanquins themselves. Most palanquins are true works of art, colossal in size, requiring dozens, even hundreds, of people to carry them. Their surfaces are meticulously carved and lavishly decorated with fresh flowers, candles, and exquisite gold and silver gilding.
Tourists flock to certain regions of Spain to participate in giant processions during the week leading up to Easter.
On these palanquins, life-sized statues are placed, realistically and movingly recreating important scenes and events from the Bible about the Passion of Jesus, or depicting the profound grief of the Virgin Mary as she witnessed her Son being crucified. These sculptures not only possess high artistic value but also evoke compassion and deep reflection in the viewers.
Those who carry the palanquin, known as "costaleros" or "hermanos," typically wear special, head-to-toe coverings known as "penitential robes" (nazareno). These include a long robe, a headscarf, and a tall, conical hood that completely conceals the wearer's face.
The tradition of carrying giant floats during Holy Week or Easter in Spain.
The colors of these penitential robes usually follow the dominant color of the palanquin they carry, creating a sense of unity and solemnity. This could be black symbolizing mourning, purple representing repentance, green representing hope, or white representing purity. Wearing the penitential robes is seen as a way for participants to express remorse and empathy for the suffering Jesus endured to cleanse humanity of its sins. Furthermore, to demonstrate sincerity and atonement, some processions even require the palanquin bearers to go barefoot or wear shackles or chains around their ankles, creating a deeply moving image.
The life-sized statues, placed on palanquins, depict scenes and events from the Bible about Jesus' journey to his death.
These solemn and meaningful processions attract thousands of local residents and international tourists. As the procession moves slowly through the narrow alleys, it creates a unique and impressive cultural spectacle, especially in certain regions of Spain during Easter.
Most of these palanquins are enormous, requiring dozens, even hundreds of people to carry them. They are also elaborately decorated.
Among them, the processions held in Málaga, the capital of the province of the same name, are often considered the most famous and spectacular in the country. The floats in Málaga are significantly larger than those elsewhere, some weighing over 5 tons and requiring hundreds of strong men to carry them. The sheer size and splendor of these floats further enhance the awe and respect felt by the viewers.
Processions involving thousands of locals and tourists passing through narrow alleyways create a unique spectacle in some regions of Spain.
According to estimates by Spain's Minister of Industry and Tourism, Jordi Hereu, approximately 15 million tourists are expected to visit the country in March and April 2025, coinciding with the Easter season, marking an impressive 9% year-on-year increase. He also predicted that total tourist spending in Spain during this period will increase by 13% compared to 2024, reaching a record €20 billion, demonstrating the strong appeal of cultural and religious events to the tourism industry.
This is an opportunity for Spain to attract more tourists.
However, alongside the positive signs, hotel owners in Spain are also expressing concern about the possibility of many tourists canceling their bookings due to weather forecasts predicting rain on Easter Sunday 2025, which falls on April 20th, later than in previous years and coinciding with the start of the peak tourist season.
Notably, the Holy Week processions in Málaga in 2025 are expected to continue to be a highlight, attracting a huge number of tourists to the city. According to local government statistics, religious events and activities during Holy Week in 2024 alone contributed significantly to the Spanish economy, bringing in approximately 39.7 million euros for Málaga, demonstrating the immense economic importance of this unique cultural tradition.
