If you’re planning to spend Easter in Madrid you should expect to be blasted into the past and completely taken away by the festivities. Also known as “Holy Week” or “Semana Santa” in Spanish, this is a time of year when the Catholic world celebrates the Passion of Christ. While many parts of the world might be celebrating with white rabbits and chocolates, Spain honours many of the traditions that were set nearly 600 years ago. This year Semana Santa in Madrid will take place from Sunday April 13th – Sunday April 20th. Keep reading to discover everything that will be taking place!
Want to learn even more about celebrating Easter in Spain? Take a look at our guide to the best Easter foods!
Day 1: Palm Sunday (Domingo de Ramos)
This is the first day of the Semana Santa processions. Palm Sunday honours the icon of Cristo de la Fé y del Perdón and Santa María Inmaculada Madre de la Iglesia and simulates Jesus Christ’s coming to Jerusalem. You will find that many people participating in the ceremonies will be in costume – these clothes are similar to those worn in late 14th century.
There will be several processions taking place on this day. The most notable being the Borriquita, starting at the Plaza de San Ildefonso at 15:15 and the Procesión del Silencio, starting at the Iglesia del Santisimo Cristo de la Fe at 15:30.
Holy Wednesday (Miércoles Santo)
On Wednesday Madrid will celebrate the “third fall of Jesus Christ” or las tres caídas with live music and a street walk that will start and finish at the Plaza de San Andrés at 9:00 pm.
Holy Thursday (Jueves Santo)
There are two interesting events during Jueves Santo, and the first is El Cautivo Divino. A procession that started with prisoners after the Civil War, it features the image of Jésus el Divino and will take place at 19:00 outside of Colegio Calasancio in the Salamanca neighborhood. The other tradition, also at 19:00, is the procession of Nuestro Padre Jesús Nazareno “El pobre” y María Santísima del dulce nombre en su soledad. Members of the Illustrious, Primitive, and Fervent Brotherhood of Nazarenes will present the massive images of Virgin Maria Santísima de la Esperanza and Jesús del Gran Poder on top of a beautiful altar carried by monks dressed in traditional clothes. The procession will start and end by the Church of San Pedro, called “El Viejo”.
Good Friday (Viernes Santo)
One of the more eerie processions of Semana Santa is the Procesión del Silencio (Procession of Silence). You will notice that those in the parade are in some of the most traditional outfits you have ever seen. Not only are they completely covered in black and white cloth (including their faces) but, as the name suggests, they are completely silent. The parade begins at Plaza de la Parroquia around 21:00.
Holy Saturday (Sábado Santo)
At 16:30, the city will host the last procession before Easter Sunday called La Soledad. This procession will begin and end from the Church of the Royal Conception of Calatrava.
Easter Sunday (Domingo Santo)
This is the most important and last shebang of the Holy week. The city will gather in Plaza Mayor at 12:00pm to witness the the Tamborada del Domingo de Resurección, which means the Drums of the Sunday of the Resurrection. The Plaza is filled with brotherhoods as they rhythmically bang on hundreds of different drums to simulate the earth tremors from the day of Jesus’ death on the cross.
