This past week was Semana Santa, or Holy Week. It was our first time to experience a Spanish festival of this magnitude. There are many events and experiences that go into these unique days, and we were only able to mentally process a few of them.

Observations:
Around this special week one will find signs in nearly every dining establishment advertising “Limonada,” or “Lemonade.” This is a beverage consisting of various ingredients including some form of alcohol, fruit beverage, and a variety of flavors. It has a long history which goes back to the persecution and expulsion of the Jews under Ferdinand and Isabella (15th and 16th centuries).

There are multiple processions throughout the city at varied hours. Some starting at 6 am, and others going late into the night. They normally include trumpets, drums, religious garb (the pointed hats hold a very different meaning here than they would in the United States), and prayers. These lengthy processions have special meaning for the community in which they are enacted, the day on which they take place, and the float which they are displaying.

Those who participate in the processions are normally part of a specific brotherhood, some which originated in the Middle Ages, others during the Counterreformation, and some in modern times. To outsiders like ourselves, it appears that this is often a family affair.
There are multiple celebrations of the Mass in the cathedrals around town, restricted hours of service in stores and restaurants, and an increase in visitors (at least in our city!).

Thoughts:
This is both a cultural and religious time. It would be completely naive to think that this is religious for all the participants and observers.

What I appreciate:
This is a very solemn time, at least during the processions, fitting of the final days of Jesus.
I can appreciate the great lengths to which these participants have gone to commemorate the life, work, and death of Jesus.
This is a time where families unite and spend extended time together, made possible by a seemingly nationwide vacation.
This is a cultural bonding time in the life of the city and surrounding pueblos, something which is often missing in other parts of the world. It may be equivalent to a small town 4th of July parade.

Where I disagree:
Because of the cultural aspect, the religious aspect can be pushed aside.
I cannot discern the heart motives, but appearance point toward a pursuit of righteousness by works, something to which Jesus was adamantly opposed (Matthew 23).
There is a great emphasis upon the days leading up to the crucifixion, but the Resurrection is all but forgotten. In contrast, Jesus, the apostles, and the early church proclaimed the life, death, burial, AND resurrection of Jesus. This final act is what stood as the seal to the completed work of Christ, and therefore takes special priority in the life of the followers of King Jesus (1 Corinthians 15).

Summary:
To live in Spain is to participate in Semana Santa. It is our desire that those here might experience it not only in deed, but also in transformational belief.

To see more photos, you can check our our Spain Photostream here