The week before Easter is known as Holy Week, and is celebrated by Christians around the world to commemorate the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Holy Week marks the last week of Lent, during which Christians are called on to fast, pray and give alms to the needy.
In Spain, Holy Week, or Semana Santa, is the most important religious period of the year. Hundreds of processions featuring hooded figures are held around the clock during Holy Week in cities and towns all over Spain, drawing thousands of visitors. Each city has several religious brotherhoods, often dating back to the Middle Ages. The colours of the hooded robes, known as capirotes, signify membership of different brotherhoods.
Penitents of La Paz brotherhood take part in a Holy Week procession in SevilleJesus Moron/Reuters
Holy Week processions vary from region to region; those in the south are lively affairs accompanied by marching bands, while northern cities see more sombre parades. Processions start on Palm Sunday and continue until Easter Sunday, with the most solemn on Maundy Thursday.
In this gallery, IBTimesUK looks at Holy Week processions in several cities around Spain.
Penitents of Nuestra senora de la Asuncion brotherhood wait for the start of a Palm Sunday procession during Holy Week in Palma de MallorcaEnrique Calvo/ReutersPenitents of the Santa Monica brotherhood enter a church before the start of a Palm Sunday procession, during Holy Week in Palma de MallorcaEnrique Calvo/ReutersA penitent of El Silencio brotherhood is pictured at the start of a Holy Week procession in Palma de MallorcaEnrique Calvo/ReutersPenitents of La Estrella brotherhood take part in a procession on a street in SevilleJesus Moron/ReutersPenitents of La Estrella brotherhood take part in a procession during Holy Week in the Andalusian capital of SevilleJesus Moron/ReutersPenitents of La Estrella brotherhood take part in a procession under a full moon in SevilleJesus Moron/ReutersPenitents of the Santo Cristo de la Sangre brotherhood take part in a procession during Holy Week in Medina Sidonia, southern SpainSusana Vera/ReutersCostaleros of the Los Gitanos brotherhood take part in a procession during Holy Week in RondaJon Nazca/ReutersNuestra senora del Socorro pentitents wait for the start of a Holy Week procession in Palma de MallorcaEnrique Calvo/ReutersA penitent of San Jeronimo brotherhood waits for the start of a Palm Sunday procession in Palma de MallorcaEnrique Calvo/ReutersPenitents of Creuada del amor divi brotherhood wait the start of a Palm Sunday procession in Palma de MallorcaEnrique Calvo/ReutersA penitent carries a cross during the Palm Sunday procession of the Estudiantes brotherhood in OviedoEloy Alonso/ReutersPenitents get ready before the Palm Sunday procession of the Estudiantes brotherhood in OviedoEloy Alonso/ReutersPenitents of La Borriquita brotherhood are illuminated by light streaming through stained glass windows inside a church in SevilleJesus Moron/ReutersPeople take photos during a Holy Week parade in SevilleJesus Moron/ReutersHooded penitents take part in a procession during Holy Week in SevilleJesus Moron/ReutersHooded penitents of La Paz brotherhood walk to a church in the Andalusian capital of SevilleJesus Moron/ReutersA penitent of the Lagrimas and Favores brotherhood blows out candles during Palm Sunday procession in a church in MalagaJon Nazca/ReutersSpanish actor and director Antonio Banderas prays inside a church with penitents of the Lagrimas and Favores brotherhood in Malaga, southern SpainJon Nazca/ReutersTwo hooded penitents of the La Paz brotherhood parade during Holy Week in SevilleCristina Quicler/AFPPenitents of the La Paz brotherhood walk along a street in SevilleCristina Quicler/AFP
