and I'm going to Barcelona with two great friends! I am so excited because there is so much to see!
In the meantime, here is a video of Semana Santa (Holy Week) in Sevilla. Semana Santa is one of the biggest and most popular celebrations here in Andalusia, especially in Sevilla. Every year in March, the week before Easter, people flood to Sevilla to see the processions of pasos (floats) pass through the streets. Brotherhoods of Catholics from a certain church are in charge of designing each paso and taking care of the sculptures that adorn them (usually, Christ during his Passion or the Virgin Mary mourning his death). Men, called casteleros, stand underneath the pasos and carry them upon their shoulders (these floats generally weigh a ton if not more). The object is to carry the paso gracefully and to move along with the music. Penitentes (which inspired the dress of the KKK, if you haven't noticed already) walk with the pasos carrying crosses. They are supposed to be making penance for their sins. The goal of the procession it to make people identify with the suffering of Christ; hence the carrying of heavy burdens, long hours of walking, and the sad nature of the images. It is very unlike anything I had heard of but interesting no less. Too bad I won't be here in March to experience it. These days, Semana Santa has become more commercial and less religious but remains very important!
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