As the holy week approaches in Spain, thousands of people are getting ready to participate in one of the country’s most revered and spectacular holiday periods, Easter. The festive atmosphere is palpable, with colorful and noisy street processions filling the streets, attracting multitudes of spectators. The central pieces of these processions are the grandiose floats, adorned with rich decorations and sculptures of Jesus or the Virgin Mary, often weighing up to a tonne or more. These floats are the culmination of a year-long preparation process, involving a range of small and family-run businesses.
Artisans are responsible for producing elaborate regalia, from conical hats and huge candles to palm leaf bouquets. Workshops dedicated to the conservation of religious sculptures, dresses, and adorning cloths are also an essential part of the preparation process. Paqui Serrano, an artisan palm leaf bouquet-maker, stresses that the preparation is an all-year affair, requiring constant attention and dedication.
Spain Prepares for a Colorful Easter Celebration
The float bearers, dressed in monkish robes and hoods, carry or escort the magnificent carriages through the ancient streets of cities and towns nationwide. According to Fernando Chicharro Mendez, the head of the team float bearers in Madrid’s Jesus of the Great Power and Macarena Brotherhood, the task of carrying the floats has remained relatively unchanged over the 83-year history of the brotherhood. He and his family are constantly occupied with the processions and their preparations, and, as he puts it, “We live it daily. In my family, all are brotherhood members and experience it with great faith.”
The practice sessions of the float bearers are a treat for both tourists and locals, winding their way through the streets in the weeks leading up to Easter. The holiday’s grand finale is Palm Sunday, which falls on April 2 this year, marking the start of Easter celebrations in Spain. Millions of Spaniards are expected to take trips out of town to witness the processions, making it a truly unforgettable experience for all involved.
