Irlanda and Semana Santa

The Kane in Ire-lain-d (didn't really work) appreciating Europe

Hola guapos, back again. We had a week off college for Semana Santa (Holy Week before Easter) so I returned home to the nest to witness the tail end of the coldest Irish March in quite some time. I was feeling worn out so a week home, mostly spent on the sofa, was just what the doctor ordered. It was nice to see family and friends again and even though saying goodbye is always tough, it's the last time I'll be leaving them for Seville! Tomorrow marks 7 months here and with only 3 left, the whole thing will be over in no time. Completely unbelievable. 

My homeland being pretty

Necessary though going home was, in doing so I was missing one of the biggest events on the Sevillan calendar, and certainly something the city is very well known for, the insanity of Semana Santa. I was only back in Seville for Easter Saturday and Sunday so I missed most of it but I have never seen a bigger deal made of Easter in my life. Apparently, although celebrated all over Spain, it is at its most flamboyant in the South. Andalusian pride strikes again, there's no chance they'd ever be second best at anything ;) According to my friends who were around to see it, the city came to an absolute standstill. Even on Saturday, supposedly the quietest day of the week, there were still enormous crowds lining the streets and around the Mushrooms, and it was almost impossible to go anywhere. 

PEOPLE

A friend who lives in the centre of the city was essentially trapped in her apartment and one night was refused admission into her street due to blockades. The ceremony of Semana Santa is down to the processions which fill the city, led by almost sinister robed figures and brass bands and containing large statues of the Virgin and Jesus telling the story of Easter. While I found the two I saw interesting I agreed with my friends when they said I was lucky to have been missing on Thursday and Friday. There were so many people and so much noise I'm not sure I could have hacked it! Many of the main streets were closed off to ticket holders who had paid for expensive seating to get the best views of the processions, and as you can see many people decorated their balconies for the occasion. 

spooky

Apparently it is considered quite prestigious to take part in the processions, and I certainly saw what a big deal it is. People come from all over to see them. If you don't like crowds this definitely wouldn't be for you. Not all Sevillanos enjoy the week, however, and apparently many use it as an opportunity to take a holiday out of the city. I can understand how seeing the same thing every year could get tiring and why you'd appreciate the break seeing as you'll get nothing done in Seville anyway! Semana Santa seems quite a solemn event, but in only a fortnight's time the other big social event of the year takes place in Seville; the Feria de Abril. I'll definitely be writing about that so until then, hasta luego x