If you are studying in Spain, you must already be enjoying your Easter vacations. If you are one of those who have already started working, you must be about to take your vacation. Holy Week in Spain is celebrated from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday. Even so, it is not celebrated the same in all parts of the country. In today’s post we explain how this tradition is lived, why it is celebrated, the best places to live this experience and everything you need to know to feel like a Spaniard during this week.
When is Easter Week celebrated?
The dates of celebration are not fixed, that is to say, every year the days vary, depending on the calendar. What is always the same is the celebration between Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday.
Even so, school vacations are not the same in all regions of the country. This means that, if your university is in the Balearic Islands, Cantabria, Valencia, Navarre or the Basque Country, your vacations will not be during the official Holy Week, but during the week after, that is, during Easter.
On the other hand, if you are already working, your holidays will be Holy Thursday and Good Friday, that is, this year, April 14 and 15. This year, the 14th is a holiday throughout the national territory except in Catalonia. On the other hand, Good Friday is always a holiday throughout the country. In addition, it is part of the so-called non-replaceable holidays, which are those that are always a holiday for everyone.
Why is this celebration held?
What is celebrated during Holy Week, according to the Catholic religion, is the passion, death and resurrection of Christ. Spain is a country with a great Christian tradition and the customs are passed from generation to generation. Although the actual religious meaning of this tradition may be lost over the years, the customs of the celebration are not lost. This means that, although the new generations live less and less closely the religion, they never lose the desire to celebrate, sing, spend time with loved ones and enjoy the good spring weather in the street.
How is Holy Week celebrated?
During these dates, the towns and cities of Spain hold different processions carrying religious images, known as “pasos”. These processions are usually accompanied by a musical band and, of course, by thousands of spectators.
Even so, the celebration is different in each part of Spain. In the south of the country, and especially in Andalusia, the processions are characterized by a large musical part, with wind and percussion instruments and popular chants. As we move northwards on the map of Spain, Christian processions are more solemn, long-suffering and silent. In any case, you will find it completely incredible to see any of them.
Besides the processions, another important part of this week is, of course, the typical gastronomy. The most famous food in Spain at Easter is the torrija. It is a typical sweet made of bread, soaked in milk, fried and sweetened with sugar. In addition to torrijas, it is also common during these dates to eat pestiños, cod fritters, Easter mona de pascua or garlic soups.
We invite you to experience Easter Week up close and visit the Christian processions to see what the tradition is really all about. If you still do not live in Spain and you would like to spend your experience here as an exchange student or young worker, learn the language, meet new people and new cultures, remember that in Lodgerin we have hundreds of perfect accommodations for you.
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