Easter
The week long celebrations to be seen in the province of Malaga enable the tourist to witness expressions of faith, rich accoutrements of many different verities.
In the capital Velez Malaga eighteen different societies take part in the Holy Week processions whichis officially recognised as an event of national tourist interest. There are processions every day except Monday and the floats that take part are stunning. Meanwhile in Alhaurin El Grande is home to only two societies commonly known as the purples and the greens which have led to a long standing rivalry. One tradition which is quiet surprising is when group members carry silver and gold pitches along the route, begging alms from the devotees and others gathered to watch the procession in all its beauty.
One of the most unusal traditions is in the province of Malaga where a demonstration of the Easter story know as the El Paso de Riogordo is performed on an open air stage by the local village members, each year thousands of people flock to the location known as El Calvario to enjoy the fourteen scene depiction of the passion and death of Jesus Christ.
The origins of Holy Week in Rhonda date back to the conquest of the town by the Catholic Monarchs. This unequalled religious event is one of Rhonda’s most deep rooted, spiritual and cultural traditions, the earliest record of the event taking place in the town date back to 1538, and the status on show are of immense artistic value.
In Antequerra a total of nine societies express their penitence on the streets of the town, their rich ancient processional accoutrements o
nly help to embellish the beauty of the status that they carry.
In the mountains of Malaga religious and cultural is equal ly evident, Casabermeja has hosted processions since the XVIII century and four societies now parade through the streets in Holy Week.
Monday - The Cofradia de Jesus Cautivo takes centre stage, the statue of Christ dressed in a white tunic is also one of the main attractions for the religious devotees in an impressive cortege in excess of 30,000 penitents. An equally popular procession is that of Los Gitanos a gypsy society statue of Christ is known popularly as “Manue” also attracts a large following.
Tuesday - Another of Malaga’s Holy Week deepest rooted and most unusual traditions is the Cofradia de Las Penas parades, a statue dressed in a cloak of flowers. Flowers were used as money was not available for an embroidered garment, this majestic display is a perfect complement to the prcession whose float bearing the statue of Christ is one of the largest carried during Malaga’s Holy Week, while the Statue of the Virgin Mary is the only one fashioned in gothic style. Also another spectacular procession is the “Bride of Málaga” which receives popular acclaim as it passes before a flight of steps known as the Poor Peoples Seats.
Wednesday – This is the day when a criminal is freed this is a 200 year old tradition and one of the most emotive moments of the week. Another sight not to be missed is the passing of the Maria Santisima de la Paloma’s society’s float, which is one of the finest in its design and the quality of its figures.
Thursday – The biggest day of Malaga’s Holy Week features 7 different societies each with its own special character, the float of Corfradia de la Esperanza arguably one of the favorites of the people of Malaga. With its richly adorned floats, and costumes wind their way through the streets over carpets of rosemary.
Good Friday- The eight processions that take to the streets are marked with a deep sense of mourning, one particularly solemn moment comes at the end of Cofradia del Descendimiento procession in which the status are flanked by candles as they are laid to rest in their chapel at the Hospital Nobel. An equally somber affair marks the end of the Cofradia de Monte Calvario procession whose images are carried slowly in a show of penitence to the highest point of the city. However, one of the most worthy of the Good Friday Processions of the Corfradia del Sepulcro, whose image is set on a impressive granite catafalque.
Easter Sunday- This is marked by a single procession by Cristo Restucitado society, which sees the streets filled with light once more on the final morning of Holy Week