Holy Week in Seville

The core events in Semana Santa are the processions of the brotherhoods, known as estación de penitencia (stations of penance), from their home church or chapel to the cathedral of Seville and back. The last section before arriving to the cathedral is common to all brotherhoods and is called the Carrera Oficial.

The standard structure of a procession is:

• A great cross (the so-called Cruz de Guía – Guiding Cross) is carried at the beginning of each procession.
• A number of people (sometimes barefoot) dressed in a habit and with the distinctive pointed hood (capirote), and holding long wax candles (only lit by night), marching in silence. These are the nazarenos. Colours, forms and details of the habit are distinctive for each brotherhood – and sometimes for different locations within the procession. Usually the Nazarenos march in pairs, and are grouped behind insignia. Moving between the lines are diputados de tramo, guardians who keep the formations organized.
• A group of altar boys, acolytes, dressed in vestments (many of them wearing dalmatics), with chandeliers and incense, and other servants.
• The Paso.
• When applicable, the musical group follows (bands) or precedes the paso (chapel music)
• A number of penitentes, carrying wooden crosses, making public penance. They wear the habit and the hood of the brotherhood, but the hood is not pointed.

This structure repeats itself depending on the number of pasos (up to three). Usually the last paso is not followed by penitentes, and the procession should be closed -presided- by the titular chaplain in full processional vestments known as el preste

Although this is the standard structure, depending on the traditions of each brotherhood, details (and even the plan) may vary.

A procession can be made up from a few hundred to near 3,000 Nazarenos and last anywhere from 4 to 14 hours, depending how far the home church is from the cathedral. The largest processions can take over an hour and a half to cross one particular spot

At the centre of each procession are the pasos, an image or set of images set atop a moveable float of wood.

The first one would be a sculpted scene of the sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary:

1. The Agony in the Garden. Fruit of the Mystery: Sorrow for Sin, Uniformity with the Will of God
2. The Scourging at the Pillar. Fruit of the Mystery: Mortification, Purity
3. The Crowning with Thorns. Fruit of the Mystery: Contempt of the world, Courage
4. The Carrying of the Cross. Fruit of the Mystery: Patience
5. The Crucifixion and Death of our Lord. Fruit of the Mystery: Perseverance, Salvation, Forgiveness

The structure of the paso is richly carved and decorated with fabric, flowers and candles. As of 2007, all but one of the dolorosas are covered by an ornate canopy or baldachin (palio) attached to the structure.

The sculptures themselves are carved and painted, and often lifesize or larger. The oldest surviving were carved in the 16th century, though new images continue to be added. Those highly regarded artistically include the Jesus del Gran Poder and Cristo de la Buena Muerte by Juan de Mesa, Francisco Antonio Ruíz Gijón's Cristo de la Expiración (known as El Cachorro) and the two virgins named Nuestra Señora de la Esperanza from Macarena and Triana. All of the principal images of the Semana Santa are on display for veneration in their home churches all year round.

Overseer giving orders to the costaleros

A distinctive feature of Semana Santa in Seville is the style of marching of the pasos. A team of men, the costaleros (literally "sack men", for their distinctive – and functional – headdress), supporting the beams upon their shoulders and necks, lift, move and lower the paso. As they are all inside the structure and hidden from the external view by a curtain, the paso seems to move by itself. On the outside an overseer (capataz), guides the team by voice, or through a ceremonial hammer el llamador (caller) attached to the paso.

Depending on weight (most weigh over a tonne), a paso requires between twenty-four and fifty-four costaleros to move. Each brotherhood has a distinctive way to raise and move a paso, and even each paso within the procession.

Golden 'caller'

Singing a saeta

Some processions are silent, with no musical accompaniment, some have a cappella choirs or wind quartets, but many (and especially those historically associated with poorer neighbourhoods) feature a drum and trumpet band behind the image of Christ and a brass band behind the Virgin playing hymns or marchas from a standard repertoire[4] Those associated with the images of Christ are often funeral in nature, while those associated with the Virgin are more celebratory.

As each procession leaves its home church, (an event known as the salida), at its return (the entrada), and along the march route, improvised flamenco-style songs may be offered by individuals in the crowd or from a balcony. These songs are generically called saetas (arrows).

Whenever the images depart or arrive at their home churches or chapels, Marcha Real, the national anthem, is played and proper courtesy is done for both the images and the performance of the anthem.

Many of the processions pass through an official viewing area which occupies some of the city's main streets, beginning in Campana, followed by Calle Sierpes, Plaza San Francisco, and Avenida de la Constitución, before reaching the cathedral. Due to the increasingly tight schedule over the week, and also the urban growth of the city, a number of recently formed brotherhoods have to procession on Passion Week before Palm Sunday and do not march into the cathedral at all.

• Pino Montano.
• Pasión y Muerte (Passion and Death). 1991.
• La Corona (The Crown). 1989
• La Misión (The Mission). 1949.
• Agrupación Parroquial Bendición y Esperanza (Polígono Sur) (Parish Association Blessing and Hope). 1992.

• La Milagrosa (Ciudad Jardín) (The Miraculous). 1998.
• Divino Perdón (Parque Alcosa) (Divine Forgiveness). 1992.
• Torreblanca (WhiteTower). 1961.
• Padre Pío (Padre Pio). 1986.
• Agrupación Parroquial Rosario (San Jerónimo) (Parish Association Rosary). 2015.

• La Borriquita (The Little She-Donkey) depicting Christ's triumphal entry into Jerusalem.[1] The nazarenos corp is exclusively formed by children (except guardians and costaleros). The first section of the Brotherhood of El Amor that goes in Procession
• Jesús Despojado (Stripped Jesus). 1936.
• La Paz (The Peace). 1939. The paso represents the moment when they are giving Jesus the cross. It is also the first one to go out.
• La Cena (The Last Supper). 1591.
• La Hiniesta (The Broom). 1412.[5][6] The paso represents the moment when Jesus is in the cross and Mary Magdalene crying below.
• San Roque (Saint Roch). 1901.
• La Estrella (The Star). 1560. Also known as the Valiente (Brave), since it was the only brotherhood which processed in 1932.
• La Amargura (The Bitterness). Late 17th century. The Virgin of the Amargura was the first Dolorosa to be crowned, in 1954.
• El Amor (The Love). 1508.

• Cautivo del Polígono (Captive of Polígono). 2008
• El Beso de Judas (Judas' Kiss). 1959.
• Santa Genoveva (Saint Genevieve). 1958. This brotherhood's image of the captive Christ is usually escorted by a sizable number of street-dressed women undertaking private penance.
• Santa Marta (Saint Martha). 1946. The nazarenos of Santa Marta dress in black because their paso depicts the transportation of Christ's body to the tomb.[1] As of 2007, the only brotherhood whose costaleros are still "de jure" paid for the task.
• San Gonzalo (Saint Gundisalvus). 1943
• Vera-Cruz (True Cross). Founded in 1448 and revived in the early 20th century.
• Las Penas (The Sorrows). 1875.
• Las Aguas (The Waters). 1750.
• El Museo. (The Museum) 1575.

• San Esteban (Saint Stephen). 1926.
• El Cerro (The Hill). 1989. It is the brotherhood travelling furthest to make station; the procession lasts some 14 hours.
• La Candelaria (The Candlemas). 1922.
• San Benito (Saint Benedict). Founded by shipbuilders in Triana in the 16th century.

The Pilatos's Paso from San Benito

• El Dulce Nombre (The Sweet Name). 1584. It is known popularly as the Bofetá (slap in the face) because its current paso represents the moment when, after Jesus has been detained, he is slapped in the face by a servant.
• Los Javieres (The Xaviers). 1946.
• Los Estudiantes (The Students). 1924. The image of Cristo de la Buena Muerte (1620) is considered the masterwork of Juan de Mesa.
• Santa Cruz (Holy Cross). 1904.

• El Carmen (The Carmel). 2007.
• La Sed (The Thirst). 1979.
• San Bernardo. (Saint Bernard) 1748.
• El Buen Fin (The Good End). 1590.
• La Lanzada (The Spearthrow). 1591.
• El Baratillo (The Secondhand Shop). 1693.
• Cristo de Burgos (Christ of Burgos). 1883. The Christ is considered the masterpiece of Juan Bautista Vázquez the Elder (16th century).
• Las Siete Palabras (The Seven Words). 1561.
• Los Panaderos (The Bakers). 18th century.

• Los Negritos (The Black people). Prior to 1400. Up to the mid 19th century, only black people (both free and slave) could be full members.
• La Exaltación (The Exaltation). 16th century. Nicknamed los caballos (the horses).
• Las Cigarreras (The Cigarmakers). 1563. It is the brotherhood of this day with the fewest nazarenes. The image of the Virgin of the Victory is considered by several experts as one of the most beautiful in the city.
• Monte-Sión (Mount-Zion). 1560.
• Quinta Angustia (Fifth Anguish). 1541.
• El Valle (The Valley). 1590.
• Pasión (Passion). 1531. The image of Jesus is a masterpiece of Juan Martínez Montañés.

Starting a little while after midnight into Good Friday, and lasting sometimes until midday, the Madruga (dawn) is the high point of the processions in Seville.

• El Silencio (The Silence). 1340. Considered the oldest existing brotherhood. The whole procession is followed by the watching crowd in silence. Penitents and the Jesus Nazareno image carry the Cross backwards (embracing it).
• El Gran Poder (The Great Power). 1431. The image of the Lord is one of the most venerated in Seville and elsewhere. It's called "El Señor de Sevilla" (The Lord of Seville in English). This image has got a lot of followers.
• La Macarena (Our Lady of Hope Macarena). 1595. The most popular image of the Virgin in Seville. It's called "La Señora de Sevilla" (The Lady of Seville in English). Her presence arouses passion in the watching crowds. At 14 hours, it is one of the longest, and also one of the most applauded.
• El Calvario (The Calvary). 1571. The smallest and shortest procession of the night.
• La Esperanza de Triana (The Hope of Triana). 1418. The Virgin of Triana. She is also known as the "Reina Madre y Capitana de Triana" (Queen Mother and Captain of Triana). The only image of the Virgin Mary in Seville canonically crowned with a Papal Bull, by Pope John Paul II on June 2, 1984. A long and festive procession.
• Los Gitanos (The Gypsies). 1753. Even now, the hermano mayor (principal of the brotherhood) is expected to be a gypsy.

• La Carretería (The Cartwright's Shop). 1550.
• Soledad de San Buenaventura (The Loneliness, Saint Bonaventure). 1847.
• El Cachorro (The Puppy). 1689. The image of the crucified expiring Christ, made in 1682 by Francisco Ruiz Gijón, is a masterpiece.
• La O (The O) 1566. Was the first brotherhood of Triana to process across the river to Seville, on 9 April 1830.
• San Isidoro (Saint Isidore). 1605.
• Montserrat 1601.
• Sagrada Mortaja (Sacred Shroud). 1692.

• El Sol (The Sun) 2010. One of the newest to be formed.
• Los Servitas (The Servants of Mary) 1696.
• La Trinidad (The Trinity) 1507.
• Santo Entierro (Holy Burial) c. 1570. With representatives of public authorities, civic bodies and legations from most other brotherhoods.
• La Soledad de San Lorenzo (The Loneliness, Saint Lawrence). 16th century.

• La Resurrección (The Resurrection). 1969. It is the last of the brotherhoods to make their procession, ending Holy Week celebrations.