Santa Semana

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2006-05-30T18:03:00.000-07:00

Quiz
1. Who carries a golden rod in the parade in Andalucia? __________
2. What is the highest/ most important part of the procession? _____
3. When do villages hold their Santa Semana parades? ___________
4. What two citeis are best known for their large parade size? ______
5. What is the statue of the lifesize replica of Jesus called?_________
6. In Malaga, what are the floats made to hold? ____________
7. What were houses in Atotonilco decorated with? ______________
8. What are altars decorated with on the Friday before Holy Week? ______
9. Who leads the El Senor de la Columna procession on Good Friday?______
10. Who/what hangs from the ropes during the firing of the Judases on Easter Sunday? ______

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2006-05-26T06:02:00.000-07:00

El Senor de la Columna
In the procession during Santa Semana men walked from Atotonilco carrying a casson bearing one of the area's most beloved statues- El Senor de la Columna.This is a lifesize replica of Jesus bleeding and tied to a column. He is wearing a purple velvet cape and a pile of silk scarves.
After a prayerful mass in the town square, the statue continued to go to the stucco church called San Juan de Dios. After, this statue of Jesus would be carried to other churches then back to its home - the San Juan de Dios Church.
As the procession went on, people walked by houses all decorated with paper flowers for this special event. Mostly, the color of the flowers were white and purple. Flowers, balloons, and banners hung from wires over the streets.
Virgin de Dolores (The Virgin of Sorrows)
The Friday before Holy Week is dedicated to the Virgin of Sorrows. Altars sprung up everywhere throughout the towns. Vendors, in mule-drawn wagons, wove through the town selling their wares. Grain, bitter oranges, gold foil, and pictures of the Virgin of Sorrows decorated altars in windows and doorways of homes, in gardens, and in courtyards. The bitter oranges symbolize the Virgin's suffering, gold foil represents her purity, and the wheat symbolizes her ressurection.
The Concheros
The Concheros is a dance group that parades and dances around the jardin. These colorfully costumed dancers entertain for hours in the streets during the procession.
These dances incorporate many pre-Columbian religious symbols.
Palm Sunday
San Miguel de Allende is the most popular destination and it overflows with visitors. Pageantry and a Catholic Mass in the parroquoia (the church in the main square) is surrounded by children and people selling palms, flowers, handwoven wall hangings, and other items.
Good Friday
On Good Friday, there are processions organized by every church in town. The procession of the El Senor de la Columna goes from the San Juan de Dios Church to the Parroquia in San Miguel. Ninos lead this procession. Figures of San Roque also lead the procession, who was dying with an ulcerated leg and was saved by his dog. Centurions in full Roman garb head the parade riding horses. Statues of St. John, Mary Magdalen, Mary, and John stand on platforms carried by men. Blood drips from the crown of thornes on the person acting out Jesus. He is dragging a cross behind him.
Firing of the Judases on Easter Sunday
In San Miguel, the Firing of the Judases happens at 1 pm on Easter Sunday. There are no parades on Easter Sunday. Instead, families attend mass, festivities, and parties in their own homes. In the jardin, though, many people attend the firing of the Judases. Eight ropes are hung from trees to the balconies of buildings. Paper mache replicas of hated people hang from these ropes. This firing of Judas dolls has biblical roots. All of the hanging Judases were men, except for a witch in black and a superwoman in blue and yellow clothing. These figures held a round of fireworks. During the final boom, these hanging Judas figures explode and children go to get an ankle, wrist, or foot as a souveniere. In addition to this main celebration, there are many small celebrations and parades in front of neighborhood churches throughout the town. Everywhere you go, people are always celebrating.

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Andalucia is one of many places where Santa Semana is celebrated. During Holy Week, Andalucia is surrounded by a spiritual glory. Santa Semana is a yearly tradition; where devout people join together to take part in the procession that takes place on the streets. The religious priests/brothers maintain the statues and coordinate the people in the parade. Members of a brotherhood carry candles, rods, and banners. The president carries the golden rod. "Costaleros" carry the sculpted floats/thrones that represent scenes of the bible. After this comes the "nazarenos" dressed in tunics and women in traditional costumes.
The most important part of the procession is when the float comes into and out of the church. The scene is very exciting and joyous with many colors and beautiful sounds. During the procession there is the rythmic beating of drums, the swaying of the bearers, and the wailing of a sacred song known as the saeta. Holy Week in Andalucia is an honorable and sacred part of the culture.
Villages celebrate Holy Week and hold their parades on Thursdays and Fridays, while big cities hold their parades all week long. Malaga and Seville are the two Andaluz cities where the festivals are best known for their great size. In Malaga, the floats weigh up to six tons and are made to store velvet and gold drapes, which cover the "dolorasa" or statue. These floats cannot enter the church because of their immense size. The city of Seville has around 100 floats. Seville's main fiesta is the night of Maundy Thursday. There are floats like the "La Marcarena," "Triana," and the "El Gran Poder."