View source for Holy Week procession

{{Short description|Processions held in Christian countries to celebrate the Holy Week}}
{{More citations needed|date=April 2022}}
[[File:Procesión del Milagro en la provincia de Salta - Argentina.jpg|thumb|250px|Procession of Our Lord of the Miracle in [[Salta city]].]]
A '''[[Holy Week]] procession''' is a public ritual march of clergy and penitents which takes place during [[Holy Week]] in [[Christian country|Christian countries]], especially those with a [[Catholic culture]]. Various images of the saints, especially the [[Virgin Mary]], and most importantly the image of the [[Jesus Christ|crucified Christ]] are carried aloft by foot on shoulder-borne ''pasos'' (or on wheeled ''carrozas'' in the Philippines) as an act of [[penance]]; acts of [[mortification of the flesh|mortification]] are carried out; traditional [[Christian hymn]]s and chants are sung (except during the silent processions of [[Good Friday]]). In many [[confraternity of penitents|confraternities of penitents]], the faces of the members are covered by elaborate hoods, such as the ''[[capirote]]'', as a way of hiding one's identity in order to not ostentatiously draw attention to oneself while performing penance. Crosses, and biers holding Catholic holy images surrounded with flowers and offerings of candles, are carried usually from one parish church to another led by the clergy, monastic orders, or heads of the penitential orders.<ref>[https://www.theatlantic.com/photo/2018/04/the-rituals-and-traditions-of-easter-and-holy-week/557075/ Taylor, Alan. "The Rituals and Traditions of Easter and Holy Week", ''The Atlantic'', April 2m 2018]</ref>

==Holy Week processions==
[[Image:Domingo de ramos astorga.jpg|240px|thumb|right|Palm Sunday procession in [[Astorga (Spain)|Astorga]] (Spain)]]
*[[Palm Sunday]]: The day when Jesus arrived in Jerusalem.
*[[Maundy Thursday|Holy Thursday]]: The day when Jesus shared the [[Last Supper]] with His [[Apostles in the New Testament|Apostles]], followed by the beginning of his [[Passion (Christianity)|Passion]].
*[[Good Friday]]: Jesus' [[crucifixion]], performed in 14 [[Stations of the Cross|stations]].
*[[Holy Saturday]]: Loneliness of the [[Blessed Virgin Mary]] and the day that [[Jesus Christ]]'s body lay in the [[tomb]].
*[[Easter Sunday]]: The [[resurrection]] of the [[Christ]].


==Spanish Speaking cultures==
{{main|Semana Santa}}
[[Image:Capuchones2.jpg|thumb|240px|[[Holy Week in Valladolid|Holy Week procession in Valladolid]] (Spain)]]
[[File:Cristo Buena Muerte 2012 508 (recortada).jpg|thumb|240px|[[Holy Week in Zamora]]]]
In [[Holy Week in Spain|Spain]], [[Semana Santa]] processions are among the most elaborate and culturally significant in the world. These events, rooted in [[Middle Ages|medieval]] and [[Baroque]] traditions, are organized by Catholic brotherhoods (''[[Cofradía|cofradías]]'') that carry ornate floats (''[[Paso (float)|pasos]]'') through the streets, depicting scenes from the [[Passion of Jesus|Passion of Christ]] and the Sorrows of the [[Mary, mother of Jesus|Virgin Mary]]. Participants often wear penitential robes and conical hoods (''[[Capirote|capirotes]]''), walk barefoot, or carry wooden crosses as acts of penance. While southern cities like [[Holy Week in Seville|Seville]], [[Holy Week in Málaga|Málaga]], and [[Holy Week in Jerez de la Frontera|Jerez de la Frontera]] are known for their dramatic and vibrant processions, northern regions such as [[Holy Week in Zamora|Zamora]], [[Holy Week in León|León]], and [[Holy Week in Valladolid|Valladolid]] feature more austere and solemn commemorations. These processions combine religious devotion, public spectacle, art, music, and local identity, and many have been declared [[Fiestas of International Tourist Interest of Spain|Festivals of International Tourist Interest]] by the Spanish government.

In many Spanish-speaking countries of [[Latin America]], Semana Santa processions are among the most important religious and cultural events of the year. These processions, introduced during the [[Spanish colonization of the Americas|Spanish colonial period]], often mirror the structure and aesthetics of [[Holy Week in Spain|Spanish Semana Santa]] while incorporating local traditions and artistic expressions. In [[Holy Week in Mexico|Mexico]] Spanish colonial traditions are often combined with indigenous influences, resulting in highly localized and varied observances. Cities like [[Iztapalapa]], [[Taxco]], and [[San Luis Potosí]] host elaborate [[passion play]]s and processions, with some involving thousands of participants reenacting the final days of Jesus’s life, while rural and Indigenous communities incorporate unique regional customs. [[Holy Week processions in Guatemala|Guatemala]] also has elaborate processions during Holy Week which have drawn comparisons to [[Maya civilization|Maya]] practices and survived despite some severe challenge from various anti-clerical regimes.

[[Holy Week in the Philippines|The Philippines]] which was under Spanish control [[Spanish-American War|until 1898]] shows a marked Spanish heritage, and the time is still known as ''Semana Santa''. Other areas such as [[Misteri di Trapani|Trapani]] in Sicily, have shown Spanish influence due to their [[Spanish Sicily|time under Spanish control]].

==Non Spanish Speaking cultures==
===Malta===
[[Maltese Holy Week processions]] have a number of influences, with a guild linked to  [[Franciscan friars]]  in [[Rabat, Malta|Rabat]] being the first to organise a procession in Malta. Malta's inclusion up to 1807 in the [[diocese of Palermo]] meant that there were strong influences from Sicily that in itself had influences from both Genoa and Spain.<ref name=TimesMalta /> Participants in Holy Week processions often dress in elaborate biblical or Roman costumes,<ref>{{cite web |title=Good Friday Procession in Gozo|url=https://www.maltatina.com/easter-procession-in-malta-gozo/ |website=MaltaTina |access-date=23 April 2025}}</ref> while in some towns, penitents walk with chains around their ankles in an echo of a medieval devotional practice.<ref name=TimesMalta>{{cite news |title=Holy Week: Of faith and folklore, pomp and pageantry |url=https://timesofmalta.com/article/holy-week-faith-folklore-pomp-pageantry.1023665 |work=Times of Malta |date=April 2, 2023}}</ref> [[Easter Sunday]] is marked by celebratory processions featuring statues of the [[Resurrection of Jesus|Risen Christ]], often carried at a run through the streets by local youths to symbolize joy and victory over death.<ref>{{cite web |title=Good Friday & Easter Sunday in Malta – All You Need to Know |url=https://www.maltatina.com/good-friday-easter-sunday-all-you-need-to-know/ |website=MaltaTina |access-date=22 April 2025}}</ref>

===Mainland France===
*[[Sanch Procession]]

===Corsica===
*[[Calvi, Haute-Corse|Calvi]], [[Sartène]] (See {{ill|Catenacciu|fr}} )

===Italy===
[[Image:Misteri-Prozession (Taranto) - Wasserall.jpg|thumb|240px|Holy Week procession in [[Taranto]] (Italy)]]
[[Misteri di Trapani|Trapani]], [[Taranto]], [[Chieti]], [[Sulmona]], [[Holy Week in Barcellona Pozzo di Gotto|Barcellona Pozzo di Gotto]]

===Portugal===
{{Main|Holy Week in Braga}}

==See also==
*[[Triduum]]

==References==
<!--- See [[Wikipedia:Footnotes]] on how to create references using <ref></ref> tags which will then appear here automatically -->
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons|Taranto}}

*[https://web.archive.org/web/20071019075430/http://www.holyweektaranto.com/ Holy Week in Taranto &ndash; Italy (in English - Spanish)]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070929141715/http://www.lacomarca.net/noticia.asp?m=6195&s=1 Holy Week in Lower Aragon]
*[http://www.vianica.com/go/specials/12-holy-week-nicaragua.html Holy Week in Nicaragua]

{{Liturgical year of the Catholic Church}}
{{Easter}}

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[[Category:Holy Week processions| ]]