Spain Holy Week.

[pachapapa]

The "pasos" in seville have been shortened by three hours due to the threat of rain.

But in general things got off to a good start, shortly after midnight "jueves santo".

As always "la virgen de la macarena" with her three thousand followers attracted much devotion.

For the first time in spanish history a "palio" was borne by a "hermandad" of women controlled by a lady " capataz".

After a long night , at an hour before midday "la caida del cristo" is finally returned to the basilica de la triana.

A similar scene at the basilica de la macarena televised for the spanish speaking community.

[LEO]

Hi Pachapapa, I read your post with interest and , I searched in wikipedia for more info which I have posted here.

Main article: Holy Week in Seville

Middle-aged woman wearing the mantilla on Holy Thursday.

Seville arguably holds some of the most elaborate processions for Holy Week. The tradition dates from Counter Reformation times, or even earlier. The "Semana Santa de Sevilla" is notable for featuring the procession of "pasos", lifelike painted wooden sculptures of individual scenes of the events that happened between Jesus' entry in Jerusalem

and his burial, or images of the Virgin Mary showing restained grief

for the torture and killing of her son. Some of the images are artistic

masterworks of great antiquity. These "pasos" (which usually weigh over a

metric ton) are physically carried on the neck of costaleros

(literally "sack men", for their distinctive -and functional-

headdress). The "costaleros" (from 24 to 48) are hidden inside the

platform of the "paso", so it seems to walk alone. Historically dock

workers were hired to carry the "pasos". From 1973 onward, that task has

been universally taken over by the members of the confraternities who

organize each procession.

[pachapapa]

I watch by satellite every year on Andalucia TV the event from midnight until midday on "viernes santo".

The wiki article is well done and very informative, just one quibble though in the use of the word "paso".

The structure on which the religious theme is carried is called a "palio", so a "costalero" is more correctly a "costalero de palio".

The "costaleros" are hidden below the "palio" in seville and this is the custom elsewhere, but a notable exception is in malaga where the costaleros bear wooden beams and are visible.

A you tube at the "encierro" the closing, the replacing in its normal resting position after completion of a "paso" a going outing.

The teamwork, precision rhythm is notable in the confined space of the chapel.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3pFcVeJqdDY&feature=related